Plot Summary
-King Hrothgar is a Danish ruler, who has built a great mead hall named Heorot. King Hrothgar holds great feasts in his mead hall, and a monster called Grendel is angered by the sounds of human joy.
Every night, Grendel emerges from the swamps in Hrothgar's kingdom, and kills Danes who sleep in the mead hall. Every time the Danes band together to try to kill Grendel, they are defeated and killed. This goes on for many years, and Hrothgar and his people are faced with death and sadness every day.
One day, word of their struggles reaches a Geatish warrior named Beowulf, who decides to help Hrothgar, bringing 30 of his best men to defeat the beast. Beowulf feels the obligation to assist Hrothgar in his time of need in order to repay a debt that Beowulf's father, Ecgtheow, had owed Hrothgar.
Beowulf arrives at Heorot, and the Danes throw a huge feast. everyone is enjoying themselves, except for Unferth, a Dane who believes that Beowulf is not as great as he says he is. Beowulf brags about his many accomplishments, and the troops become more confident knowing what a great and mighty leader they have.
Night falls, and Beowulf has chosen to fight Grendel with his bare hands, the same way Grendel fights. When Beowulf is resting, Grendel tries to snatch him up, but Beowulf grabs a hold of his arm. Terrified, Grendel tries to shake Beowulf off, but his arm is torn off in the process. Grendel runs back to the swamp, severely wounded and soon to die, while the warriors and Beowulf triumphantly hang Grendel's arm above the doors of Heorot. e
Every night, Grendel emerges from the swamps in Hrothgar's kingdom, and kills Danes who sleep in the mead hall. Every time the Danes band together to try to kill Grendel, they are defeated and killed. This goes on for many years, and Hrothgar and his people are faced with death and sadness every day.
One day, word of their struggles reaches a Geatish warrior named Beowulf, who decides to help Hrothgar, bringing 30 of his best men to defeat the beast. Beowulf feels the obligation to assist Hrothgar in his time of need in order to repay a debt that Beowulf's father, Ecgtheow, had owed Hrothgar.
Beowulf arrives at Heorot, and the Danes throw a huge feast. everyone is enjoying themselves, except for Unferth, a Dane who believes that Beowulf is not as great as he says he is. Beowulf brags about his many accomplishments, and the troops become more confident knowing what a great and mighty leader they have.
Night falls, and Beowulf has chosen to fight Grendel with his bare hands, the same way Grendel fights. When Beowulf is resting, Grendel tries to snatch him up, but Beowulf grabs a hold of his arm. Terrified, Grendel tries to shake Beowulf off, but his arm is torn off in the process. Grendel runs back to the swamp, severely wounded and soon to die, while the warriors and Beowulf triumphantly hang Grendel's arm above the doors of Heorot. e
Hrothgar praises Beowulf, and presents him with gifts, but meanwhile, Grendel's mother seeks to avenge his death. That night, she kills Hrothgars most trusted advisor, Aeschere. Beowulf and his men go out into the swamp to kill Grendel's mother, who lives in the bottom of a lake. Beowulf dives in, fights Grendel's mother, and finally kills her using a giant's sword he found in the lake. Beowulf cuts her and her son's heads off and brings them to Hrothgar as a prize. Beowulf has ended the evil that had once plagued Hrothgar's domain. Hrothgar bids Beowulf goodbye, treating him like a son, and Beowulf returns to Geatland.
Beowulf returns home, and Hygelac, the current king, rewards him for bringing home treasure. in time, Hygelac dies in battle, and his son dies as well, making Beowulf the new king. He reigns wisely for fifty years, but a thief who steals a golden cup from a dragon's lair causes it to wake from its sleep, and sets fire to the Geats homes and people. Beowulf has come to realize that he will die soon, so he sets out to kill the dragon with the help of the warrior Wiglaf. The dragon is killed, but in the process Beowulf is bitten in the neck, and dies soon after from the venom. As Beowulf requests as a dying wish, he is buried with much of the dragon's gold up on a hill overlooking the seas, where he will keep watch over them.