Name: Beowulf
Rating: 4.6 (156 reviews)
Author: Unknown

What’s in it for me? The timeless tale of the ultimate hero.

Beowulf, an epic poem of around 3,000 lines, is one of the oldest stories in English literature. We’re lucky to have it, as it has survived through a single manuscript, written in the late tenth or early eleventh century. And before that, Beowulf may have originally been passed down through oral tradition – a story shared or performed through the generations. We’ll probably never know who wrote Beowulf, or who first came up with the story.

But although its origins are mysterious, the reasons for its enduring popularity should be pretty clear. Set in Scandinavia, Beowulf follows the adventures of the titular hero. The strength and bravery of the young Prince Beowulf soon become legendary. He’s not just a hero but a superhero of sorts, wielding swords meant for giants and battling monsters with his bare hands.

Yes, it’s quite a story. In fact, even if you’ve never read it before, Beowulf will probably feel familiar to you. This ancient tale influenced The Lord of the Rings trilogy. And you can recognize traces in other fantasy works like Game of Thrones, or in video games. Where there are heroes or monsters, there’s at least a bit of Beowulf too.

Above all, Beowulf is an entertaining, action-packed tale – storytelling at its best. But look closer, and you’ll find surprising emotional depths too. Beowulf explores the bonds between men and the nature of fear and grief. It also shows the humanity of the hero, as he prepares to face his fate.

By the way, if you want to start by listening to a very short summary, you can skip ahead to the last section.

So now, let’s travel back to sixth-century Denmark. It’s time to meet the man himself …

The first battle: the monster Grendel

In Denmark, King Hrothgar rules. One of his many achievements is the construction of a splendid mead hall, known as Heorot. This vast hall is the king’s throne-room, and a place for feasts. But the festivities don’t last long.

One night, evil arrives at Heorot in the form of a prowling monster, Grendel. He lurks outside while the men eat and drink in the hall. And when they go to sleep, Grendel strikes. The monster grabs 30 men from their beds and drags their mangled corpses back to his lair. The following night, Grendel strikes again. And then again.

Night after night, for 12 years, the people at Heorot live in fear. They’re helpless and hopeless, as their prayers to the pagan gods go unanswered. But then another visitor arrives at the hall – a young prince and warrior who’s sailed across the sea. His name is Beowulf.

He tells the king that he and his men have heard of the relentless attacks at Heorot. They’ve come to offer their help. Defeating Grendel won’t be easy, says Beowulf. And he knows that he risks ending up as the monster’s next meal. But the young prince isn’t afraid. He puts his trust in God. “Fate goes as fate must,” says Beowulf. At last, for the first time in years, there’s a glimmer of hope at the king’s hall.

That evening, after a warm welcome and a hearty feast, Beowulf and his men brace themselves for Grendel’s arrival. In the middle of the night, the door swings open. Grendel paces the room, gleefully eying up the sleeping warriors. What he doesn’t know is that Beowulf is awake and watching.

Then, the monster strikes. Grendel sinks his claws and teeth into one of the sleeping men. He bites down to the bone, drinking the man’s blood and devouring him piece by piece, until there’s nothing left. Grendel then creeps toward Beowulf’s bed, ready to seize his next victim. But instead, it’s Beowulf who seizes him, grabbing hold of the monster’s arm.

And so the fight begins. No weapons, just pure physical strength as Beowulf and Grendel wrestle, stumbling and crashing through the hall. Benches are knocked over, and the very timbers of the great hall start to shake.

Grendel lets out a blood-curdling wail of pain. Not because of the sword blows from Beowulf’s men, who have rushed to their leader’s defense. The swords don’t leave a scratch. Only Beowulf himself is able to injure the monster, using his bare hands.

He keeps Grendel locked in his powerful grip until a wound appears on the monster’s shoulder. It gets bigger and bigger until the sinews split and the bone breaks. Beowulf rips off Grendel’s entire arm.

The battle is over. Mortally wounded, Grendel staggers away from the hall, leaving a trail of gore in his wake. He returns to his lair in the marsh, where the water turns red with blood. And there, the monster breathes his last.

Back at Heorot, the people are jubilant. Thanks to Beowulf’s extraordinary strength and heroism, they no longer have to live in fear.

The next morning, the hall is repaired, and a grisly new decoration is added – Grendel’s arm now hangs from the eaves of the roof. Overwhelmed with relief and gratitude, the king tells Beowulf that he now considers him a son. He showers him with gifts, including weapons, armor, horses, and a magnificent gold neck chain. Spirits are high that night, as the men feast and celebrate. Little do they know that outside, a new danger is lurking.

The third battle: the dragon

Believe it or not, back home, Beowulf was once considered a weakling. But the young warrior has now proven himself. After returning to Geatland, Beowulf eventually becomes a king himself. He’s a strong and wise leader, who rules well for 50 years. But then a new threat emerges in Beowulf’s kingdom – a ferocious, fire-breathing dragon.

The dragon has been provoked by a theft. Someone stole a golden cup from its treasure hoard. Enraged, the dragon emerges from its cave and scorches everything in sight. It does this night after night, wreaking havoc throughout the kingdom, and even burning down Beowulf’s home.

Final Summary

Beowulf is a narrative poem set in Scandinavia in the sixth century. It tells the story of a heroic warrior, Prince Beowulf.

As a young man, Beowulf travels to Denmark and offers his assistance at the mead hall of King Hrothgar. For years, the hall has been terrorized by an evil monster, Grendel. A dramatic battle takes place, and Beowulf manages to mortally wound Grendel with his bare hands. The following night, Grendel’s devastated mother attacks the hall in revenge and kills a close friend of the king. Beowulf hunts down Grendel’s mother in her underwater lair. Another violent battle ensues, and he kills her with a giant sword. The king’s hall is now safe at last. Beowulf sails back to his home in Geatland, where he becomes king.

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