Beowulf
Beowulf is an Old English heroic poem about a warrior who defeats monsters and later becomes a king. Its battles with Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and a dragon explore courage, loyalty, and the limits of human strength. Victory brings honour, but cannot prevent loss or death.
What Beowulf contains
The fight with Grendel
Beowulf travels to help the Danish king Hrothgar, whose great hall is repeatedly attacked by Grendel. He faces the monster without a weapon.
In Beowulf, the hero waits in Heorot and seizes Grendel when the monster attacks. His grip tears away Grendel’s arm, and the wounded creature flees.
In Beowulf by Anonymous
The fight with Grendel’s mother
Grendel’s mother attacks the hall to avenge her son. Beowulf follows her into her underwater dwelling.
In Beowulf, the hero’s borrowed sword fails against Grendel’s mother. He finds a huge sword in her dwelling and uses it to kill her.
In Beowulf by Anonymous
The last battle with the dragon
Long after becoming king of the Geats, Beowulf faces a dragon angered by the theft of a cup from its treasure. His final victory costs him his life.
In Beowulf, Wiglaf stays beside the king when the other companions flee. Together they kill the dragon, but Beowulf dies from his wounds.
In Beowulf by Anonymous
How to recognise Beowulf in stories
- Look for a warrior defending a great hall from a night-time monster.
- Notice the torn arm, the underwater dwelling, and the dragon’s treasure.
- Watch for a hero whose duty to protect others leads to his death.
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Is Beowulf a person or a book?
Beowulf is both the hero’s name and the usual title of the poem about him. In Beowulf, he begins as a young warrior helping another king and ends as an aged ruler defending his own people.
Is Beowulf a Viking story?
Beowulf is an Old English poem set among Scandinavian peoples, rather than a tale of Viking raids. Its world includes sea journeys, warrior households, gift-giving kings, and blood feuds. The poem also brings a Christian understanding of good and evil to its older heroic setting.
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