History of Beowulf

Beowulf started out as an oral narratve in the Anglo-Saxon Era between 449-1066. Around this time three groups of people were invading England including the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes creating a new language from different german dialects. In 600 the story of Beowulf was written down for the first time in Old English which is a lot like the German language. During the Anglo-Saxon Era the invaders brought with them their belief in pagan gods and the warrior code which stressed loyality to the king for life. This time period was a time were many people were warriors and this is reflected throughout all of Beowulf.

A Brief Synopsis

Beowulf is an epic poem that is focused around the heroic deeds and somewhat supernatural actions of the courageous protagonist, Beowulf. The poem starts out by concentrating on the king of the Danes, Hrothgar, and the times of prosperity that he has experienced within his kingdom. These times have come to a screeching halt when a monster named Grendel starts terrorizing Heorot, the mead hall, in acts of rage and jealousy. Grendel is the desendant of Cain, the first murderer in the world, and now his family cursed by God and forced to live their lives as social outcasts. Grendel's attacks continue for twelve years and the word of this terrible monster spreads throughout the land eventually reaching the Geats and Beowulf. Beowulf voyages across the ocean to Denmark to help the Danes fight Grendel and when he arrives he goes to meet Hrothgar to tell of his intentions to slay the beast. At night Grendel comes and Beowulf fights him with only his bare hands and fatally wounds him when he rips his arm out of his socket. After Grendel's death his vengeful mother comes back to terrorize the mead hall and gain revenge for her son's death. That night she comes to the mead hall and kills one man, Aeshere, one of Hrothgar's favorite men and then returns back to the murky swamp where she lives. Hrothgar recruits Beowulf to fight for his people again and save them from the terror that has arose once again. Beowulf then dives into the water and fights Grendel’s mother in her underwater lair and kills her with a sword forged by a giant. At last the Geats return home and after a period of time the king Hyglac and his son die leaving Beowulf to run the country. His becomes a great leader and leads his people for fifty years until a dragon starts to terrorize the country after someone stole some of the dragon's treasure. Beowulf gets involved and goes to fight the dragon. With the help of Wiglaf, Beowulf kills the dragon but at a huge price, his life.