BEOWULF

• Type of work: Poem

• Author: Unknown
• Type of plot: Heroic epic
• Time of 'plot: Sixth century
• Locale: Denmark, southern Sweden (land of the Geats)
• First transcribed: c. 1000

Principal characters:

• BEOWULF, a Goat hero

• HROTHGAR, King of the Danes
• UNFERTH, a Danish warrior
• WIGLAF, loyal noble of Beowulf's court

Critique:

• This poem is the great masterpiece of Anglo-Saxon literature. Its scribes were writing
down a story transmitted orally for generations by Northern peoples. The poem is a
valuable record of the customs of the time, a pagan story overlaid with a veneer of
Christian theology, and a narrative of high artistic worth.

The Story:

• Once long ago in Hrothgar's kingdom a monster named Grendel roamed the
countryside at night. Rising from his marshy home, Grendel would stalk to the hall of
the king, where he would seize fifteen of Hrothgar's sleeping warriors and devour
them. Departing, he would gather fifteen more into his huge arms and carry them back
to his watery lair. For twelve years this slaughter continued.
• Word of the terror spread. In the land of the Geats, ruled over by Hygelac, lived
Beowulf, a man of great strength and bravery. When he heard the tale of Hrothgar's
distress, he set sail for Denmark to rid the land of its fear. With a company of fourteen
men he came ashore and asked a coast watcher to lead him to Hrothgar's high hall.
 There he was feasted in great honor while the mead cup went around, Unferth
reminded Beowulf of a swimming contest which Beowulf was said to have lost.
• Beowulf answered that not only had he won the contest, but he had also killed many
deadly monsters in the sea. At the close of the feast Hrothgar and his warriors went
to their rest, leaving Beowulf and his band in the hall. Then came the awful Grendel
and seized one of the sleeping warriors. But he was fated to kill no more that night,
for Beowulf without shield or spear seized the dread monster and wrenched off his
mighty right arm. Thus maimed, Grendel fled back to his marshland home. His arm
bloody was hung in Hrothgar's hall.
• The next night Grendel's mother came to avenge her son. Bursting into the great hall,
she seized one of the warriors, Aeschere, Hrothgar's chief counselor, and fled with him
into the night. She took with her also the prized arm of Grendel. Beowulf was asleep
in a house removed from the hall, and not until morning did, he learn of the monster's
visit. Then, with Hrothgar leading the way, a mournful procession approached the dire
marsh.
• At its edge they sighted the head of the ill-fated Aeschere and saw the stain of blood
on the water. Beowulf prepared for descent to the home of the foe. Unferth offered
Beowulf the finest sword in the kingdom, and thus forfeited his own chance of brave
deeds. As Beowulf sank beneath the waters of the marsh, he was beset on every hand
by prodigious monsters. After a long swim he came to the lair of Grendel's mother.
Failing to wound her with Unferth's sword, he seized the monster by the shoulder and
threw her to the ground. During a grim hand-to-hand battle, in which Beowulf was
being worsted, he sighted a famous old sword of the giants, which he seized and thrust
at Grendel's mother, who fell in helpless death throes.
• Then Beowulf turned and saw Grendel himself lying weak and maimed on the floor of
the lair. Quickly he swung the sword and severed Grendel's head from his body. As he
began to swim back up to the surface of the marsh, the sword with which he had killed
his enemies melted until only the head and hilt were left. On his return, the Danes
rejoiced and feted him with another high feast He presented the sword hilt to
Hrothgar and returned Unferth's sword without telling that it had failed him.
• The time came for Beowulf's return to his homeland. He left Denmark in great glory
and sailed toward the land of the Geats. Once more at the court of his lord Hygelac,
he was held in high esteem and was rewarded with riches and position. After many
years Beowulf himself became king among the Geats.
• One of the Geats by accident discovered an ancient hoard, and, while its guardian
dragon slept, carried away a golden goblet which he presented to Beowulf. The
discovery of the loss caused the dragon to rise in fury and to devastate the land. Old
man that he was, Beowulf was determined to rid his kingdom of the dragon's scourge.
Daring the flames of the dragon's nostrils, he smote his foe with his sword, but without
effect. Once more Beowulf was forced to rely on the grip of his mighty hands, Of his
warriors only Wiglaf stood by his king; the others fled. The dragon rushed at Beowulf
and sank its teeth deeply into his neck. But Wiglaf smote the dragon with his sword,
and Beowulf with his war-knife gave the dragon its death blow.
• Weak from loss of blood, the old hero was dying. His last act was to give Wiglaf a king's
collar of gold. The other warriors now came out of hiding and burned with pagan rites
the body of their dead king. From the dragon's lair they took the treasure hoard and
buried it in the great mound they built over Beowulf's ashes. Then with due ceremony
they mourned the passing of the great ana dauntless Beowulf.