beowulf

• Beowulf is the first surviving epic written in the English language, though its author remains mysterious.
• The circumstances of the poem's creation are hotly debated by scholars.
• Many believe the story of Beowulf was conveyed orally before it took the form of a manuscript, as the only existing copy dates back to the late tenth century.
• Beowulf was originally composed in Old English, drawing from early Germanic legend and is set in pagan Scandinavia.
• The poem recounts the saga of Beowulf, a Geat warrior who defends the Danish kingdom, and then his own, from various bloodthirsty monsters.
• The poem opens on Hrothgar, the King of the Danes, who plans to celebrate his reign by building a grand hall called Heorot.
• Grendel, a monster descended from the biblical Cain, attacks during the night, leaving Hrothgar and his thanes to discover the bloodshed the next morning, marking the beginning of Grendel's reign of terror.
• Twelve years pass, and news of Grendel's campaign against the Danes spreads to another tribe, the Geats.
• Beowulf, a Geat thane, decides to help the Danes, sailing to Denmark with his best warriors.
• King Hrothgar gladly accepts Beowulf's help.
• During the celebration, a thane named Unferth engages Beowulf in a boasting match, accusing him of losing a swimming contest.
• Beowulf corrects Unferth with a story of his heroic victory in the contest, prompting the Danish queen, Wealtheow, to award him the ceremonial mead cup.
• Beowulf tells the queen he will either kill Grendel or be killed.
• Hrothgar is moved by Beowulf's bravery and promises him all of his gold if Beowulf should defeat the monster.
• Beowulf and his warriors spend the night in Heorot.
• Sure enough, Grendel arrives, gobbling up one of Beowulf's men.
• Beowulf fights Grendel unarmed, managing to catch the monster's arm in a death grip.
• Writhing in pain, the monster tears away, leaving his arm in Beowulf's grasp.
• Grendel slinks off to his lair, where he dies.
• Overjoyed at the defeat of Grendel, the Danes nail the creature's arm to the walls of Heorot as a trophy, bathing Beowulf and his men in riches.
• The Danes hold another feast for Beowulf, where Hrothgar's minstrel composes songs honoring Beowulf as the greatest hero in Danish history.
• The men bring Beowulf back to Heorot, where yet another celebration takes place.
• With a heavy heart, Beowulf decides to face the dragon alone, knowing this battle may be his last.
• Grendel's mother seeks revenge after the revelers fall asleep, snatching one of Hrothgar's counselors and retreating to her lair.
• Impressed with Beowulf's bravery, Hygelac gives him half the kingdom.
• The servant who stole the cup leads Beowulf to the dragon's lair, where Beowulf attempts to defeat the beast but is outmatched.
• When Hygelac is killed in battle, Beowulf becomes king of the Geats.
• When he reaches the bottom, Beowulf finds Grendel's mother, waiting to attack.
• Wiglaf returns to the Geats with the news of their king's death, declaring that no one should inherit the treasure and scolding the warriors who fled for their cowardice.
• Beowulf uses Unferth's sword but finds it useless against the creature and wrestles with the monster until he spots another sword, which he uses to slice off Grendel's mother's head.
• Hrothgar points Beowulf in the direction of the monsters' lair, and Beowulf persuades the king to accompany him there.
• With his dying breath, Beowulf tells Wiglaf that he should inherit the dragon's treasure.
• All of Beowulf's warriors flee except one, Wiglat, who vows to stay by Beowulf's side.
• Together, they face the dragon.
• Before leaving, Beowulf notices Grendel's dead body and cuts off his head too.
• Finding the cup missing, the dragon goes on a fiery rampage, destroying Beowulf's great hall.
• Just as Beowulf manages to behead the monster, the dragon bites him, sending a lethal poison through his body.
• Upon arriving, Beowulf takes a sword from Unferth and dives into a deep lake.
• The Danes have given up all hope of Beowulf's safe return, but to their shock, Beowulf surfaces carrying Grendel's head and the hilt of his sword, which melted in the heat of Grendel's blood.
• Beowulf and his men return home, regaling the Geat king and queen, Hygelac and Hygd, with tales of their victory.