It has risen to national epic status in England. Beowulf (c. 700-1000 A.D.) It is an Old English heroic epic poem of anonymous authorship, its creation dates to between the 8th and the 11th century, the only surviving manuscript dating to circa 1010 AD. It is the longest and greatest surviving Anglo-Saxon poem; with its 3,182 lines, it represents about 10% of the extant corpus of Old English poetry. It has risen to national epic status in England. The poem is untitled in the manuscript, but has been known as Beowulf since the early 19th century.

Hwæt! Wé Gárdena      in géardagum þéodcyninga      þrym gefrúnon· hú ðá æþelingas      ellen fremedon. Oft Scyld Scéfing      sceaþena þréatum monegum maégþum      meodosetla oftéah· egsode Eorle      syððan aérest wearð féasceaft funden      hé þæs frófre gebád· wéox under wolcnum·      weorðmyndum þáh oð þæt him aéghwylc      þára ymbsittendra ofer hronráde      hýran scolde, gomban gyldan·      þæt wæs gód cyning. Ðaém eafera wæs      æfter cenned geong in geardum      þone god sende folce tó frófre·      fyrenðearfe ongeat·

Hwæt! Wé Gárdena      in géardagum Listen! We --of the Spear Danes     in the days of yore, þéodcyninga      þrym gefrúnon· of those clan-kings--      heard of their glory. hú ðá æþelingas      ellen fremedon. how those nobles      performed courageous deeds. Oft Scyld Scéfing      sceaþena þréatum Often Scvld Scef’s son,      from enemy hosts monegum maégþum      meodosetla oftéah· 5 from many peoples      seized mead-benches; egsode Eorle      syððan aérest wearð and terrorised the fearsome Heruli      after first he was féasceaft funden      hé þæs frófre gebád· found helpless and destitute,      he then knew recompense for that:- wéox under wolcnum·      weorðmyndum þáh he waxed under the clouds,      throve in honours, oð þæt him aéghwylc      þára ymbsittendra until to him each      of the bordering tribes ofer hronráde      hýran scolde, 10 beyond the whale-road      had to submit, gomban gyldan·      þæt wæs gód cyning. and yield tribute:-      that was a good king! Ðaém eafera wæs      æfter cenned To him a heir was      born then geong in geardum      þone god sende young in the yards,      God sent him folce tó frófre·      fyrenðearfe ongeat· to comfort the people;      He had seen the dire distress

The setting of the epic is the sixth century in what is now known as Denmark and south-western Sweden.

The characters and the relationships among them

Introduction The poem’s narrator calls for the attention of his audience and introduces his topic with a brief genealogy of the Scyldings (Danes), King Hrothgar’s ancestry. His great-grandfather, King Scyld, began the Danish royal line. He defeated many populations in war, bringing them under his reign. King Scyld had a son, Beow, King Hrothgar’s grandfather. Beow found fame among the nations his father ruled. He gave many gifts to these nations, ensuring their devotion to his own kingship.

The unknown author of Beowulf knew that a generous king could win the popularity of the masses. King Scyld also left specific burial instructions. Following Scyld’s requests, King Beow ordered his father’s body to be placed on a ship adorned with much treasure and accoutrements of war. After the completion of this task, the ship was set adrift on the open sea.

(---)

Hrothgar grew up being a noble warrior and, eventually, a kind and generous king. He built a mead hall where he and his men could discuss great political and social issues and have great celebrations. He called the hall Heorot.

At Heorot, men attended meetings and, during parties, guests enjoyed hearing scops (impromptu singers) sing about various issues, including the creation of man. Life was good then. The king’s loyal followers lived happy lives.

Then an evil demon, Grendel, an offspring of Cain is introduced Then an evil demon, Grendel, an offspring of Cain is introduced. Wallowing in his own misery, Grendel wishes to interrupt the joy at Heorot hall. He begins to scheme and “work his wickedness” (line 101)

One night, after beer-drinking and feasting, everyone in the hall went to sleep. Grendel proceeded to attack the hall, killing thirty thanes (the king’s retainers) in their sleep. The following morning, there is great sorrow among the king and his men. They are also surprised by the extent to which this stranger caused such damage. But Grendel is not finished with the destruction of Heorot.

The following night, he came back to the hall to commit more havoc and murder. King Hrothgar and his men fought Grendel for several more years. They were miserable. The king’s council often sat for hours considering the best way to defend themselves. Times were difficult. Grendel did not want peace, nor did he compensate for his many killings (customary in this society). His ceaseless violence kept Hrothgar’s kingdom on their toes for twelve years.

Lines 194–606 Meanwhile in Geat, Beowulf, son and thane of King Ecgtheow, heard of the horrible attacks by Grendel at Heorot and decided to offer his assistance to the Danish king. He then chose fourteen of his bravest warriors to accompany him on his expedition.

When the time came, the warriors packed the ship with weapons and supplies, and then set sail. Beowulf and his well-equipped soldiers arrived off the Danish coast where a coastguard troop approached them.

Protected by chain mail, shields and weapons, the lone guard feared an attack by this force and immediately demanded to know their business. Beowulf answered they came to help the king, to counsel him on how the Danes could defeat Grendel. After the explanation, the Dane proceeded to escort the Geats to see King Hrothgar.

Beowulf and his men marched a cobbled road to the king’s hall where they are approached by King Hrothgar’s herald, Wulfgar the Wendel. Desperate for help against Grendel, Wulfgar practically begs the king to see Beowulf .

Lines 607–836 King Hrothgar knew of Beowulf and impressed with his reputation for braveness and strength, the king told the herald that Beowulf and his men were welcomed among his people, and to invite the warrior in to speak with him. Looking impressive in his shiny armour, Beowulf stood before King Hrothgar as a representative of the Geats as a nation. Beowulf told the king his plan to “cleanse Heorot” of Grendel. Since Grendel did not use conventional weapons, but only his hands, Beowulf also informed the king that he would be fighting Grendel in hand-to-hand combat, so his father might take even more pride in his son’s expedition.

Beowulf came to help King Hrothgar to repay a debt incurred by his father, Ecgtheow, who fled Geat to Denmark, and could not return unless damages were compensated. King Hrothgar paid to settle the feud. Hrothgar also said how he felt humiliated by Grendel’s unstoppable power, and the Danes’ inability to halt the threat.

Hrothgar invited Beowulf and his men to a feast, and adjourned to the beer hall. They consumed food and drink and listened to a scop sing. Like many party-goers in the hall before them, the Geats were happy and had a great time.

The Mead Hall

Threatened by Beowulf’s glorious reputation, Unferth, a thane of King Hrothgar’s, ridiculed Beowulf’for a lost swimming contest, assuming Beowulf’to be too weak to win Grendel. Beowulf’defended himself. Despite losing the contest, he believed himself to be the stronger of the two competitors. He told of a “sea-monster” that pulled him under the water where, eventually, after a long fight he killed it with his sword.

Beowulf explained to Unferth that he, in fact, killed nine creatures during this contest, and this slowed him down during the race. In Beowulf’s view, Unferth has no reason to be boasting about himself or ridiculing anyone and places blame on Unferth for the toll Grendel has taken on Heorot, the king and his men.

Beowulf then vowed to show Grendel the strength and courage of the Geats. The king now felt more confident than ever in Beowulf’s abilities. Hrothgar wished Beowulf and his men good luck, and retired for the night. Never before did the king leave the hall in the care of someone with such trust.

Beowulf and his men also retire for the night Beowulf and his men also retire for the night. All fall asleep except one: Beowulf. Awake, and waiting for Grendel, not one of his men doubted Beowulf’s capability to defeat this monster, and live to return to Geat. He also thought of his history and when he was young. In an unusual display, he recalled the smell of flowers when he was a child, a stark contrast to the setting he was currently in.

Grendel attacked the hall that night. He forced himself into the hall searching for prey. Before Beowulf could engage in a fight with the monster, Grendel devoured one sleeping warrior. Next, he came for Beowulf. Beowulf leaned up from his bed and placed a tight grip on Grendel’s fingers. The creature never experienced such pain before. With fingers broken, Grendel tried to flee, but Beowulf pursued. A great fight ensued until Grendel finally succumbed to his fatal wounds.

At this point, Grendel's arm is torn off his body by Beowulf and he flees, wounded. Beowulf hangs the arm high in the hall as proof that he has defeated Grendel.

[Beowulf’s followers are all ready to fight, but their weapons are no match for Grendel, as even "the sharpest and hardest iron could not scratch at his skin." (801-802)]

The warriors all went back to the battlefield and retraced Grendel's footsteps to ensure that he was indeed dead. They felt no regret for his suffering. Then they went back to Heorot. As morning slid past and was gone, everyone returned and began to celebrate Grendel’s defeat.

Lines 837–1062 Hrothgar enters the hall staring at Grendel’s arm thanking God that he was finally defeated. Hrothgar then offers Beowulf and his men gifts, but Beowulf declines for he fought for honour and not for the treasures. With this, Unferth was left speechless because Beowulf has killed the great beast, Grendel with his bare hands.

Lines 1063–1250 As the celebration continues within Heorot, Hrothgar’s scop honors Beowulf with a story of another Danish victory, the Finnsburh episode.

Lines 1251–1491 On the night following Grendel ’s death, the warriors sleep easy in Heorot for the first time in years, confident that the terror of the ogre is behind them. They don’t realize that Grendel has a living mother intent on revenge. She ascends from her mere and raids the hall, retrieving Grendel’s claw and murderously abducting one of the thanes. Before dawn, Beowulf and his men report to Hrothgar. The Geat hero agrees to pursue Grendel’s mother.

Hrothgar promises more rewards and greater fame for Beowulf Hrothgar promises more rewards and greater fame for Beowulf. Accompanied by warriors, Hrothgar leads Beowulf to the mere that harbours the vengeful mother. It is a dark and evil place. Huge serpents and water-beasts inhabit the lake. Beowulf dresses for battle and prepares to search the lake for the enemy. Unferth humbles himself by presenting Beowulf with his great sword, Hrunting. The Geat hero speaks what may be his final words.

Lines 1492–1650 Beowulf dives into the mere wearing his mail-shirt and carrying Hrunting in its scabbard. Deep in the lake, the mother grasps him tightly with her claws so that he cannot draw his sword. The mail-shirt protects him even though various water-beasts thrust at him as the mother carries Beowulf to an underwater cave, which is dry and lighted by “glaring flames” (1517). Once there, Beowulf manages to mount an attack, but Hrunting is ineffective against the ogre’s tough hide.

Beowulf then tries to wrestle her, but he fails to gain the kind of death grip that defeated Grendel. - Although she is knocked down, the mother immediately counters Beowulf’s attack and soon is sitting on him. She pulls her knife, but it cannot pierce his mail-shirt. Again on his feet, Beowulf spots a huge sword made by giants. Although he can barely lift it, he manages a mighty blow that severs the mother’s spine at the neck, killing her.

Only his Geats await him. A blessed light suddenly illuminates the cavern, revealing Grendel’s corpse. Beowulf lops off the head to replace the trophy of the claw that the mother retrieved. Amazingly, the giant sword melts except for the hilt, which Beowulf carries along with Grendel’s head as he returns to the surface of the mere. Only his Geats await him. Thinking him dead, Hrothgar and the Danes have returned to Heorot.

Lines 1651–1887 Beowulf presents Grendel’s head to Hrothgar and briefly recounts his battle with the mother. Assuring the king of Heorot ’s safety, he places the gold hilt of the giant sword in Hrothgar ’s hand. The king examines the hilt and then speaks to Beowulf , giving a sermon on the dangers of fame and success and the vicissitudes of life. Hrothgar notes that he himself had great fortune as a young man and ruled successfully for 50 years until Grendel brought him down. Now he thanks God for Beowulf’s victory. The warriors feast and sleep safely. In the morning, Beowulf returns Hrunting to Unferth and receives numerous gifts before he and his men exchange farewells with the Danes and sail for home.

Beowulf and his men return to their ship and set sail for Geatland. Lines 1888–2199 Beowulf and his men return to their ship and set sail for Geatland. The poet interrupts his report on Beowulf’s return to discuss the Geats’ Queen Hygd and the qualities of a virtuous queen as contrasted to a wicked ruler like Queen Modthrytho. After this interlude, the narrator returns to Beowulf’s arrival at King Hygelac’s splendid hall. Hygd passes among the thanes serving mead, reminiscent of Wealhtheow ’s admirable hospitality at Heorot. Hygelac asks about Beowulf’s journey, and the young champion recounts his visit to the Scyldings, digressing to consider Hrothgar’s attempt to make peace with the Heathobards. -

Returning to his own story, Beowulf briefly reports on his victory over Grendel, the surprise attack by Grendel’s mother, and his triumph at the cave beneath the mere. gave him. Beowulf presents various treasures to Hygelac and Hygd, most notably presenting the queen with the magnificent gold necklace that Wealhtheow