After his death, his attendants cremate his body and erect a tower on a headland in his memory. Fifty years later, Beowulf defeats a dragon, but is mortally wounded in the battle. Victorious, Beowulf goes home to Geatland and becomes king of the Geats. After Beowulf slays him, Grendel's mother attacks the hall and is then defeated. Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, whose mead hall in Heorot has been under attack by the monster Grendel. The story is set in pagan Scandinavia in the 6th century. Scholars call the anonymous author the ' Beowulf poet'. The date of composition is a matter of contention among scholars the only certain dating is for the manuscript, which was produced between 9. It is one of the most important and most often translated works of Old English literature. The battles of Beowulf, the Geatish hero, in youth and old ageīeowulf, Hygelac, Hrothgar, Wealhtheow, Hrothulf, Æschere, Unferth, Grendel, Grendel's mother, Wiglaf, Hildeburh.īeowulf ( / ˈ b eɪ ə w ʊ l f/ Old English: Bēowulf ) is an Old English epic poem in the tradition of Germanic heroic legend consisting of 3,182 alliterative lines. Manuscript suffered damage from fire in 1731 (Translation: What! We of Spear-Da/nes, in days gone by, of kings / the glory have heard.)

WE GARDE / na in geardagum, þeodcyninga / þrym gefrunon. First page of Beowulf in Cotton Vitellius A.

Grendel beowulf michael morpurgo