BeowulfSummary:Beowulf tells the story of an ancient Danish hero who travels to Geatland to battle the epic monster, Grendel. Grendel has been terrorizing people of Herot for 12 years and has been undefeatable until he meets his match with Beowulf. In a disappointingly brief battle scene, Beowulf rips Grendel’s arm off and Grendel flees to his mother’s cave and dies. In retaliation for Grendel’s death, his mother kills another of King Hrothgar’s men and so Beowulf is forced to travel to her underwater layer to kill her with an ancient sword. After finally riding Geatland of its monsters, Beowulf travels home where he eventually rules as king for 50 years. At the end of his reign, a dragon threatens his kingdom and while he ultimately kills the dragon, the dragon also kills him and so our hero dies and the book ends with his Viking style funeral.

Effect:Beowulf became the corner stone for English literature upon its re-discovery in the early 12th century when the last remaining manuscript was rescued from a fire. The book reflects early Old English style writing as well as the feuding amongst tribes of early England. It also shows the heritage of the people at the time that were coming primarily from Denmark and Geatland. At the time of its written documentation, Monks recorded it giving it a Christian flair to try and seduce the people of England away from their previously pagan beliefs. It shows the shift in religion during the time period, the writing and language during the time, and the tribal fighting. It also went on to inspire future literature in Lord of the Rings by J.R. Tolkien and Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Beowulf is also the oldest remaining form of written English to date.

Characters:Beowulf: our hero and warrior- he is a Geat and becomes a great King later in life

Grendel: a monster born from Cain after he killed Abel who hates the people of Herot because they are too loud

Hrothgar: King of the Danes who was once a great warrior and a friend of Beowulf’s father

Unferth: he is a hero of the Danes but he can’t kill Grendel and so mocks Beowulf and his hero code

Wiglaf: Beowulf’s heir and right hand man, he is the only one to stand by him in the end when he fights the dragon

“When they joined the struggle there was something they could not have know at the time, that no blade on earth, no blacksmith’s art could ever damage their demon opponent.” (pg 53)