A Detailed Beowulf Summary to Help You Ace Your Essay

Beowulf, the pinnacle of Anglo-Saxon literature, is a captivating epic poem that resonates with readers today. Delve into the legend of Beowulf, a fearless Geatish warrior who journeys to aid King Hrothgar of Denmark in a battle against a monstrous foe.

Our comprehensive Beowulf summary unravels the poem's intricacies, detailing its plot, characters, themes, and historical context. Whether you're approaching Beowulf for the first time or seeking to enrich your understanding, this analysis equips you with the tools to navigate this epic tale.

Beowulf Overview

Beowulf is an ancient English epic poem composed in the tradition of Germanic heroic legends. It's an alliterative poem with 3182 lines. The poem is famous because it is the oldest and longest surviving English literature. It also offers insight into the writing styles in that era, allowing its translators to learn about the old English literature and what it involved.

It's unclear when the poem was composed or who wrote it. The only surviving copy exists a single manuscript called the Nowell Codex, which dates between 975 and 1025 AD. The writer is often referred to as the 'Beowulf poet'. The story's setting is the pagan Scandinavian world between the fifth and sixth centuries, during which Christianity slowly spread.

Beowulf is a Geat warrior and hero who assists King Hrothgar's kingdom fight Grendel, a monster attacking their mead hall for the last twelve years. After killing the monster, Grendel's mother comes to avenge his son but is also defeated and killed.

Beowulf and his men later return to Geats as heroes. Later, Beowulf becomes the king of his people, the Geats. Fifty years after becoming a ruler, he meets his death by killing a dragon that left him mortally wounded after the battle. His subjects later cremate his body and bury him together with his treasures in a barrow overlooking the sea.

The Poem’s Debatable History and Relations

Scholars have examined the poem, which follows an oral tradition, and question whether the oral transmission affected its interpretation and true meaning. Some believe it was composed during pagan times, making paganism central to the story.

Others believe it was composed later, so it has Christian elements, making paganism an archaic decoration. Beowulf has an Anglo-Saxon dialect that points to the West Saxon of the Old English dialect. Due to the presence of other dialects, scholars assume that it's a poem that went through long and complex transmissions of the dialects present in England at the time.

Research is being conducted to determine whether this poem relates to other accounts and literature traditions, such as the Bear's Son Tale, an international folktale. Persistence is also shown in attempting to connect this poem with Homer's Odyssey.

The similarities are still being determined. After reading this, you can go through the Odyssey summary to see if you recognize any resemblance. A closer similarity is found in biblical books, where references point to Genesis, Exodus, and Daniel.

The poem, widely known by the protagonist's name, still survives as a single copy. It survived fire damage in the Ashburnham House in Westminster, London, in 1731. Its edges and margins were charred, while some readings were lost. Currently, the Nowell Codex is in the British Library.

Now that you know a few details about this old English poem, here is a summary of Beowulf. After that, we will look into the plot, divided into the poem's lines.

A General Beowulf Poem Summary

Fighting Monster Grendel

Beowulf begins with the Danish king, Hrothgar, who enjoys a successful reign. He constructs a great hall where the king, Wealhtheow (the wife and Queen), and his warriors spend time celebrating. Grendel, a monster compared to a troll and considered Cain's descendant, hears their voices of joy, which pains him.

The monster attacks the mead hall (Heorot), killing and guttling many of Hrothgar's men while the warriors sleep. Now helpless, Hrothgar and his men have no option but to leave Heorot. A young warrior named Beowulf from Geatland hears Hrothgar's story. With his king's permission, he leaves his homeland with a few retainers to assist the Danes.

After arriving in Hrothgar's kingdom, they enter Heorot and spend the night there. Beowulf wants to refrain from using any weapon on Grendel since he considers himself the monster's equal. Later in the night, Grendel arrives at the hall. Beowulf, pretending to be asleep, springs up and clenches the monster's hand. The two engaged in a whirlwind of fury and blows.

Beowulf's men join to support their hero, but their swords are useless on Grendel's skin. Finally, Beowulf rips off the monster's arm at the shoulder. Grendel runs away into the marshes, where he stays and dies. Beowulf displays the whole arm to all those in the Heorot.

The action angers Grendel's mother, who plans on revenging her son.

Killing Grendel’s Mother

After celebrating victory over Grendel the following night, Hrothgar and his men rest in Heorot. Grendel's mother, however, plans on avenging her son's death. Beowulf and his men are given another place to sleep during this time. The monster's mother kills Aeschere, Hrothgar's most loyal fighter, and runs away.

Beowulf, Hrothgar, and their men track Grendel's mother to her place - a den under a lake. Unferth, a warrior who had challenged Beowulf upon his arrival, gives him Hrunting, his sword. Beowulf gives Hrothgar several conditions to fulfill in case of his death. After that, he jumps into the lake and gets to the bottom despite being harassed by the water monsters.

He finds a cavern where Grendel's mother pulls him in, and they start fighting fiercely. The Hrunting cannot hurt the monster's mother, allowing her to prevail at first in the fight. She tries to kill Beowulf with a short sword, but his armor saves him. As they are fighting, Beowulf sees a giant's sword hanging on the wall and uses it to behead her.

As he travels in the den, Beowulf discovers Grendel's corpse and decapitates his head. His sword melts, leaving only the hilt due to the monster's 'hot blood'. With the head and the hilt, Beowulf swims to the lake shores, where all the men are waiting. He then presents what he is carrying to Hrothgar.

In return, Hrothgar presents Beowulf with numerous gifts, including Naegling, his family's heirloom sword. After that, the Danish king had a long reflection, also called the 'Hrothgar's sermon'. In it, he warns Beowulf of pride and advises him to reward his thanes.

Final Battle with the Dragon

After Beowulf's victory in the Danes' land, he returns to Geatland and later becomes the king of his people. Fifty years after Beowulf's battle with the monster's mother, a thief steals a goblet from a dragon's treasure hoard at Earnanaes. The dragon notices that the cup is missing. It leaves its cage and burns everything it sees with rage.

Beowulf decides to fight the dragon, and his men accompany him. He tells his men that he will deal with the dragon alone and that they should wait for him on the barrow. Beowulf fights with the dragon but realizes that he is outmatched. His men retreat to the woods after seeing what is happening to their lord.

One thane, Wiglaf, resolves to help Beowulf, and they kill the dragon together. The king is, however, seriously wounded, and that leads to his death. The rest of the men return, and Wiglaf reproofs them, blaming them for their fear of Beowulf's death.

The Geats cremate Beowulf in a great funeral pyre as they mourn him. They also fear that without him, they are weak enough to be attacked by other tribes. After that, they bury him with his treasures and build a barrow overlooking the sea in his honor.

Book Summaries Similar to Beowulf Summary

We have assisted numerous students in writing book summaries that stand out. In the process, we have encountered and worked on poetic novels such as:

• The Divine Comedy Summary
• The Epic of Gilgamesh Summary

We have also shared the Odyssey summary with students. Its link is in the ‘Overview’ section under the ‘The Poem’s Debatable History and Relations’ subheading.

We have more book summaries in other categories as well. Check them out in our detailed how to write a book summary guide as you learn what it takes to write a compelling book summary.

If you have any questions or need some expert assistance, our book summary writing help is always available at an affordable price.

Beowulf Plot Summary

Below is a plot summary of Beowulf summarized as per the lines and the events that occur as reflected by those lines.

Lines 1-300

The narrator begins by mentioning Shield Sheafson, the king of the Danes who founded the monarchy in their country. He was an orphan who rose to prominence and had other clans pay him tribute. After his death, he was honored by his subjects, and they placed his body in a boat with treasures and set it into the sea. This is the same way his life began, with him being cast into a water body. 

His son Beow inherited the kingdom, and after him came Halfdane and Hrothgar. The Geats recognized Hrothgar's kingdom for its military success and prosperity. To celebrate this success, the Danish king constructed a mead hall, which went by the name Heorot.

The mead hall was meant to distribute booty to retainers as they sang and drank mead - a beerlike drink. One day, Grendel (a monster descending from Cain's bloodline in the Bible) rose from the swamps to listen to the songs sung by the bard.

However, a song about God's creation angered him. While Hrothgar's men were asleep, Grendel attacked, killing thirty men. He did this for twelve years, and Hrothgar could not stop him despite offering offerings at pagan shrines.

News about their troubles travels far, and Beowulf decides to help. At this time, Beowulf is a young warrior in Geat and a nephew to their king, Hygelac. Geatland, now recognized as southern Sweden, is near Denmark.

He takes fourteen brave soldiers who travel to the Danes' land. A security guard who sees them approach with armor and carrying weaponry stops them and demands to know their intentions. He has never seen foreigners approaching their land so fearlessly from the sea, making him think that Beowful is a hero.

Beowulf tells the watchman that he is Ecgtheow's son and that his loyalty belongs to Hygelac. He also tells him that he has heard about Grendel's attacks and has come to help them. After believing the story, the watchman agrees and tells the Geat warrior and his men to follow him.

He also assures Beowulf that he will send a security guard to guard their ship.

Lines 301-709

The party moves to meet Wulfgar at the mead hall, and the watchman leaves. Wulfgar collects the details of the warriors' visit. He is impressed by their appearance, and he sends the message to Hrothgar. Hrothgar tells Wulfgar that he remembers Beowulf as a young man and his friendship with Ecgtheow, the father.

He also discusses tales he has heard about the hero, such as those about him possessing the strength of thirty men in each hand. While hoping that he has come to help the Danes fight against Grendel, he tells Wulfgar to welcome the Geat warriors.

Beowulf meets Hrothgar, greets him, and offers to fight Grendel unarmed after recounting his past heroic deeds. The King of the Danes tells about Beowulf's father and how he caused a feud by killing Heatholaf from the Wulfings tribe. Hrothgar offered treasure to the tribe to counter the issue, making Ecgtheow pledge his allegiance to him.

Hrothgar accepts Beowulf's offer to fight Grendel but cautions him of the many warriors who have died trying the same. After that, Beowulf enters the Heorot with his men, and Hrothgar invites them to enjoy a feast with the Danish warriors.

Unferth, who is envious of his kinsmen's admiration of Beowulf, mocks him for losing a swimming match against Breca. He also tells Beowulf he will meet the same fate when Grendel arrives at the mead hall. 

Unflustered, Beowulf responds by accusing Unferth of being drunk and then tells his version of the swimming competition. He recounts how he carried swords for defense when he and Breca struggled to swim in the icy waters for five days and nights.

He then kills nine sea monsters after the first attacks him and states that neither of the other men, including Unferth and Breca, could have survived such an ordeal. Beowulf also mocks Unferth for failing to stop Grendel.

Beowulf's response triggers cheering in the mead hall, and the men drink and laugh. Wealhtheow, Queen of the Danes, enters the great hall with a goblet, which she offers to everyone in the room to celebrate the visitors. She thanks God for bringing Beowulf to help them fight Grendel.

Beowulf replies that it will be one of the heroic deeds that will distinguish him if he does not die in the mead hall. The Queen is pleased by the boastful answer and seats next to Hrothgar.

Night falls, and the Danes leave the hall to Beowulf and his warriors. Beowulf puts his armor and weapons aside since he is supposed to fight Grendel unarmed. He considers himself to be as dangerous as the monster. He then lies in waiting mode while the rest of his men stay awake, doubting if they will see the following day.

In the wee hours of the night, Grendel returns, quietly moving towards where the Geats are.

Lines 710-1007

Grendel tears the door of Heorot and then guttles one of Geatish's warriors, as Beowulf observes. He then tries to grab Beowulf but is shocked at the warrior's strength. Terrified, Grendel tries to escape, but Beowulf fights him. The two wrestle fiercely, banging the hall walls and smashing the benches.

Grendel groans in pain, scaring those who hear it as Beowulf's men try to attack the monster. However, no weapon can pierce Grendel. Beowulf rips off the monster's arm from the shoulder socket using his great strength. Grendel runs off, and Beowulf hangs the monster's arm on a wall in Heorot as a trophy.

The following day, the Danes celebrate Beowulf's victory by racing on horseback as they follow Grendel's footprints toward the marshes. In his honor, a Danish scop sings to him and compares him to Sigmund, who slew a dragon and took its treasures. He also sings of Beowulf's contrast with Heremod, an evil Danish king who betrayed his people.

Hrothgar sees the trophy and thanks God. He also promises Beowulf rewards and also accepts him as his son. Beowulf responds modestly, saying he is disappointed he did not kill the monster. The narrator mentions that the monster's arm looks like it is made of barbed steel, thus disproving Unferth's claim that Beowulf is weak.

After restoring order in Heorot, the Danes begin to rebuild the great hall, which is already in ruins.

Lines 1008-1250

Hrothgar hosts a banquet to celebrate Beowulf's victory and honor him. He gifts him and his men treasures, eight fine horses, armor, and weapons. He also compensates them for the warrior killed by Grendel during the attack.

Later, the king's scop sings about Finn, king of the Frisians who fought the Danes and killed Hnaef in the chaos. He starts with the bloody loss the Danes suffered during the battle with the Frisians, a neighboring tribe.

Killing the Danish leader pushed the Danes to make a truce with the Frisians. They agreed to live separately under a common rule that governed everyone equally. Hildeburh, Finn's wife and a Danish princess, mourns the outcome. She orders that her brother's corpse (Hnaef) should be cremated in the same bier as her son's body, who was a Frisian warrior.

Later, the Danes bitterly waited for a long winter to end and then revolted against the truce by attacking the Frisians when spring arrived. They were able to defeat and kill Finn. They then took his widow, Hildeburh, back to Denmark.

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The scop finishes telling this story, and Wealhtheow emerges wearing a gold crown. Worried about the future, she showers praise her sons, Hrethric and Hrothmund and hopes that Hrothulf, their older cousin, will treat them well when Hrothgar dies. She gives Beowulf a gold collar and a mail armor suit and asks him to guide her sons.

Later, the warriors sleep in Heorot, unaware of new dangers lurking.

Lines 1251-1491

Grendel's mother, a swamp hag full of rage, goes to Heorot to avenge her son's death as the warriors sleep. She falls on a sleeping man and seizes him. The noise awakes the warriors, who get their swords and rush in her direction. The monster flees after seeing the armed men carrying the man, who happens to be Aeschere, Hrothgar's trusted advisor.

Beowulf, sleeping elsewhere, arrives and finds that the monster also took her son's arm. Consumed by grief, Hrothgar calls for Beowulf's aid, telling him what happened. He beseeched Beowulf to kill Grendel's mother and describes the horrible swampy area where her den is located. The swamp is described as magical.

Not only has the bottom never been reached, but there is burning water, and animals are afraid of the area. Hrothgar promises Beowulf chests of gold if he succeeds since he depends on him for the second time. Beowulf assures the Danish king that they will capture Grendel's mother.

Beowulf heads with the warriors to the fens by following the monster's footsteps until they get to a cliff. They find Aeschere's head on the cliff's edge. In the murky water below are various serpents and sea monsters, one of which Beowulf kills with an arrow.

He wears his armor, and Unferth hands him the Hrunting sword, which has never been lost in a battle. Beowulf also asks Hrothgar to care for the Geats and return his property to Hygelac if he dies. He also leaves his sword with Unferth, which Unferth should inherit in case of Beowulf's death.

Lines 1492-1924

Beowulf dives into the lake and swims to the bottom, which he reaches as the day wanes. Grendel's mother hurtles at him and tries to crush him, but the armor protects him. She drags Beowulf down to her court, and other sea monsters claw at him. 

He tries using Hrunting on the hag's head, but it cannot pierce her skin. Beowulf fights the ogre with bare hands, but he cannot match her strength and skills. He then sees a giant's sword on the lair's wall and sizes it. He kills Grendel's mother by swinging an arc with the sword and cutting her neck.

Beowulf feels jubilant now that Grendel's mother is dead, flushing blood. He then sees a light and holds his sword high. The Geat warrior then notices Grendel's corpse in one of the den's corners. Burning with rage at the sight of the monster's corpse, he beheads him to repay for all the lives he took.

While the warriors wait on land, they notice blood floating to the surface—the Danes return to Heorot with sorrow. The Geats, however, decide to stay. The giant's sword begins to melt in the den due to Grendel's igneous blood. He seizes the sword's hilt, grasps Grendel's head, and swims back to the surface.

As he heads for the surface, he notices that the waters are calm now that the monster is dead. The Geats are overjoyed when they see their hero is back with a monster's head. They assist him in taking off the armor and then return to Heorot. Four men spike Grendel's head and carry it with difficulty.

The Danes gape in horror and amazement when they see the monster's head. Beowulf gives Hrothgar the monster's head and hilt, assuring him of his security in the future. Hrothgar is pleased with Beowulf's victory. He praises him for his loyalty and kindness and then gives a long speech about being a wise ruler by choosing eternal rewards instead of earthly ones. Later, he promises to reward Beowulf with treasure the next day in the morning.

Another celebration banquet occurs, and the attendants feast unrestrained. Beowulf then retires for the night. The following morning, he returns the Hrunting to Unferth and informs Hrothgar that he and his men are now homesick. Hrothgar showers Beowulf with praises again, telling him that his actions have united the Danes and the Geats. He urges Beowulf to return to Denmark but knows he will never see him again.

The Geat warriors head to the coast and tip the watchman guarding their ship. Then, they sail back to their homeland.

Lines 1925-2210

Beowulf and his men return to the glorious hall of King Hygelac and Queen Hygd, who is young but wise and beautiful.

Here, the narrator digresses by telling the story of a renowned queen, Modthryth. She used to commit awful wrongs against her people. She even tortured and killed many innocents whom she thought were offending her. However, according to the narrator, the cruel Queen's behavior improved after she married King Offa of the Angles.

The Geats have already received the news that their hero is coming back, so they prepare in advance. Beowulf enters the hall, and Hygelac formally greets him while Hygd pours mead for the men accompanying the hero.

Hygelac asks Beowulf about the ordeal in Hrothgar's kingdom, recalling that he had warned Beowulf about the fearsome task. Beowulf starts by telling how Hrothgar and Wealhtheow warmly welcomed him. He then vaticinates that the peace agreement between Freawaru (Hrothgar's daughter) and Ingeld the Heathobard would not have a pleasant outcome.

He foretells that each kin's ancestral possessions (as a result of plundering and fighting for many years) will resurface the deep and long feud between the Heathobards and the Danes. Beowful continues to tell about his fight with Grendel and the reward he got from Hrothgar after the monster's death.

He also narrates how he killed the monster's mother. After that, he presents the king with part of his treasure, including armor suits and four horses. He also gives Hygd the gold collar Wealhtheow gave him and three horses. Beowulf's praise spreads throughout Geatland for his heroic deeds and graciousness.

Hygelac gives him gifts and some land to rule over. After a while, Hygleac dies while battling in Frisia. This leads Hygd to ask Beowulf to take over, but he first guides Heardred, the young heir. After the young king is killed in battle, Beowulf takes over, ruling as a wise king for fifty years.

Lines 2211-2515

The Geats are about to face a deadly attack. For the past 300 hundred years, a dragon has been guarding treasure beneath the earth. One day, a thief manages to penetrate the mound where the dragon's treasure trove lies and steals a goblet. That awakens the dragon's wrath.

This thief is an enslaved person running away from an oppressive enslaver. He doesn't intend to harm anything or anyone, so he panics and flees with the goblet. At this point, the poet tells the story of how the dragon came to find the treasure.

Many centuries ago, an ancient race's last survivor buried the treasure after realizing it was useless to him. The rest of his race members are dead, and he is about to follow the same fate. A dragon found the deteriorating treasure and decided to guard it. By the time the thief steals the goblet, covered with gems, the dragon has been protecting the treasure for the past three centuries.

The dragon wakes and finds the chalice gone. It emerges from the barrow to look for the thief, burning the earth as it flies. When it doesn't find the intruder, the dragon riots by burning homes and villages. It then changes routine by emerging at night to torture the Geats.

Beowulf's great hall becomes one of its targets and is burned to the ground. By this time, he is old. He grieves and wonders why God is punishing him. The now elderly Beowulf hires an iron smith to make a shield to protect him from the dragon's flame. He also remembers beating Grendel, so he feels no need to assemble an army to fight the dragon.

The poem describes how King Hygelac died during the battle in Friesland (Frisia). While the late king fell, Beowulf could swim and survive thanks to his strength. When he got to Geatland, Hygd, a widowed queen now, offered Beowulf the throne since her son, Heardred, was too young and inexperienced to rule.

Beowulf declines because he doesn't want to disrupt the succession order. Instead, he mentors the young prince and supports and guides his rule. Beowulf takes over the throne when the prince dies in the battle with the Swedes and avenges Hygelac's death by defeating the Swedes in another fight.

Beowulf prepares for his final battle in his old age by assembling eleven men to survey the area. They find the thief who stole the goblet and forced him to take them to the dragon's treasure hoard. The men wish each other luck, and Beowulf forewarns about his death.

While on a cliff outside the dragon's barrow, he reminisced about his youthful days as a ward under King Hrethel. He also tells about how one of Hrethel's sons was killed by another, causing the king great grief. After that, he describes the Geats and Swedes' battle, remembering how proud he was being a young warrior in Hygelac's days.

He then boasts of fighting the dragon if it leaves the barrow and battles him on the ground.

Lines 2516-2820

Beowulf bids his soldiers farewell and sets off wearing a mail shirt and helmet. He summons the dragon for a challenge, and it emerges from below. They start wrestling, and Beowulf fights by trying to hack his sword on the dragon's scales. They are, however, thick, and his age prevents him from piercing it.

The dragon's flames are terrifying, making the other men fearfully run away. One thane named Wiglaf decides to help the king. He scolds his comrades, reminding them of their oath of service to Beowulf. He then proceeds to assist his lord in killing the dragon.

Beowulf uses his sword, Naegling, to strike the dragon's head, but it breaks. The dragon, in turn, bites him on the neck, causing the man to gush out blood. Wiglaf, who has arrived at the fight scene, stabs the dragon in the belly, and it scorches his hand.

As an act of desperation, Beowulf pulls a knife from his belt and stabs the dragon on the flank. That causes a deadly blow on the firedrake, and it withers. The king triumphs, but the bite he got on his neck starts to swell and burn. He realizes that he is mortally wounded since a dragon's bite is venomous.

He sends Wiglaf to bring him some of the dragon’s treasure. He tells him that death will be easier if he sees the stash he was fighting for. Wiglaf goes to the dragon's treasure trove and returns to Beowulf with some treasure in his arms.

Beowulf thanks God for the treasure and tells Wiglaf to take care of the Geats. He should also order his troops to build a barrow named after him, 'Beowulf's barrow'. He then gives Wiglaf his collar and dies.

Lines 2821-3182

Beowulf is dead, and Wiglaf is beside him, mourning the loss of a lord. The dragon is also lying on the ground, dead. The Geatish warriors who had run away from the fight sidetrack to the barrow to meet Beowulf and Wiglaf. They find Wiglaf trying to wake Beowulf. They are all ashamed of their cowardice, and Wiglaf rebukes them.

He tells them that Beowulf's generosity to them is now in vain and the cost of his death is more prominent than losing a great leader. Wiglaf also warns them that other warlords will attack Geatland since their leader is no longer there. He then sends a messenger to the Geats to inform them of Beowulf's death.

The people are eagerly waiting for the news of the battle's outcome. The messenger tells them what happened and warns them about attacks from the Frisians and Franks. He also reminds them about the Swedes, who have had a grudge against the Geats for a long time. The messenger relates how the feud started and how the Geats won the last battle.

Now that Beowulf is dead, no one can protect the Geats when the Swedes attack. The poet confirms that those predictions will come to pass.

The Geats rise and go to the battle scene. They see Beowulf's body and a long dragon's corpse. The poem reveals that the dragon's treasure hoard was under a spell. No human would open it unless by the will of God. Wiglaf informs about Beowulf's last wishes and organizes people to build a funeral pyre.

He then gets seven of the greatest Geatish thanes to help him carry the treasure from the dragon's den. They then cast the dragon's body into the water. The pyre is built in a high place, and a fire is lit after laying Beowulf's body.

A woman mourns Beowulf's death and mentions the war-torn future she foresees for the Geats. After cremation, they place Beowulf's body on a high cliff, in a barrow overlooking the sea, so it's visible to all passing ships.

They recite sorrowfully how good the king was, his kindness, generosity, and fairness.

Beowulf Setting

Beowulf is set around the sixth century in Scandinavia, a region that is now Denmark and Sweden. Southern Sweden was known as Geatland in the Middle Ages, so the story aligns with historical records. Hrothgar's kingdom was on Sjaelland, a Danish island.

Some scholars argue that the setting is based on pagan Scandinavia. Others say that by the time the poem was written, Christianity had already trickled into the Germanic tribes. That is why the various versions of the poem and its adaptation have this contradiction.

While most characters, events, and tribes may have existed or happened during those times, the landscape is fictional. The poet's name is unknown, which means there is no evidence that they saw the Scandinavian region.

The poet's writing uses the Anglo-Saxon dialect, which means the writer was from the British island, formerly England and Wales. The original script is bent on the West Saxon dialect.

The poem's writing is in medias res, which starts in the middle of the story. The setting starts from the great halls the kingdoms had and then goes outward. In the mead hall, there is laughter, warmth, and interaction. Outside, that is where danger, cold, and darkness lurk.

We see Beowulf's concentration on the two spaces—the civilized world and the wilderness. He is also seen on the wild border side at the start and the end. In the beginning, Beowulf is on the shores of the Danish kingdom. When he dies, his barrow is somewhere near the sea.

The monsters in the poem tend to cross these boundaries when it's time to create some havoc. Grendel, for example, is known as the 'mearc-stapa,' which translates to a 'border-walker' or literary, a 'border-stepper.'

Beowulf Characters

Below is an extensive list of the characters in Beowulf:

1. Beowulf: Beowulf is the poem’s protagonist. He is a Geatish hero who fights the three monsters: Grendel, his mother, and a dragon. Beowulf is a strong and capable warrior who embodies the heroic values promoted in his culture. He also grows into a wise, efficient ruler who dies after killing a dragon.
2. King Hrothgar: Hrothgar is the king of the Danes. Under his rule, his kingdom became prosperous and boasted military strength until Grendel attacked their mead hall. He later accepts Beowulf's offer to help him fight the monster. He is an old and wise ruler, a father figure, and a guide to Beowulf. 
3. Grendel: He is a monster that descends from Cain's lineage. Grendel terrorizes Hrothgar's warriors in the mead hall until Beowulf kills him. He lives a miserable life due to the curse Cain got from God for murdering his brother Abel.
4. Grendel's mother: Grendel's mother is not named in the poem but is described as a swamp hag who terrorizes the Danes to avenge her son's death.
5. The dragon: The dragon is an old and mighty serpent with treasures hidden in a mound. Beowulf fights and kills the dragon before he dies from its venomous bite. The fight with the dragon is the final battle Beowulf engages in, finalizing the epic.
6. Shield Sheafson: Shield is Hrothgar's ancestor and is described as a legendary Danish king and founder of the Danish ruling dynasty. He rose from an orphan to a king and is valued by the people for his heroism and good leadership skills. 
7. Beow: Beow is the son of Shield Sheafson and, subsequently, the second king. He is also the father to Halfdane. He is described as a god-given gift to a nation that needed a leader. 
8. Healfdene: Healfdene is the father of Hrothgar, Heorogar, and Halga, and a daughter who is not mentioned but married to a Swedish king. He takes over after his father, Beow, and becomes another ruler of the Danes. 
9. Wealhtheow: This is Hrothgar's wife and the Danish Queen.
10. Unferth: Unferth is a Danish warrior who fails to fight Grendel. Due to this, he is seen as a weak warrior, and he grows jealous of Beowulf. 
11. Hrethric: Hrethric is Hrothgar's older son, who is in line to take over the throne. However, Hrothulf (his cousin) plans on taking over. Beowulf offers to mentor him after her mother, Wealhtheow, requests him and invites him to Geatland.
12. Hrothulf: Hrothulf is Hrothgar's nephew. He betrays Hrethric, his cousin and the rightful heir to the throne. His perfidy makes Hrethic's mother ask Beowulf to mentor her son.
13. Hrothmund: Hrothmund is Hrothgar's second son.
14. Aeschere: Aeschere is a trusted advisor to Hrothgar, who Grendel's mother kills.
15. King Hygelac: Hygelac is the king of the Geats. He is also Beowulf's uncle and Hygd's husband. When Beowulf returns from Denmark, he welcomes him back.
16. Queen Hygd: Hygd is the Queen of the Geats and Hygelac's wife. She is considered to be beautiful, wise, and young.
17. Heardred: Heardred is King Hygelac and Queen Hygd’s only son.
18. Ecgtheow: Ecgtheow is Beowulf's late father and a renowned warrior. He is also the brother-in-law to Hygelac and Hrothgar's friend.
19. Wiglaf: Wiglaf is Beowulf's retainer and kinsman. Despite being young, he is brave and remains behind to help Beowulf fight the dragon while the others run away. 
20. King Hrethel: Hrethel is a Geatish king who adopted Beowulf after Ecgtheow died.
21. Breca: Breca is Beowulf's childhood friend, with whom he competes in a swimming match. Beowulf recounts the story after Unferth confronts him about it due to his jealousy.
22. King Heremod: Heremod is a legendary evil king. The scop at Heorot describes him as being the opposite of Beowulf.
23. Queen Modthryth: Modthryth is a wicked queen who punished people she thought were her enemies. Her cruel character contrasts with that of Hygd, who is gentle and reasonable. Her cruelty, however, was subsidized when she married King Offa of the Angles.
24. Freawaru: She is Hrothgar's daughter. She is married to Ingeld, the prince of Heathobards. The marriage between the two happened as an attempt to create peace between the rivaling Danes and Heathobards.
25. Finn: He is a Frisian king who marries Hildeburh, a Danish princess. He is the one who later fights and kills Hnaef, Hildeburh's daughter.
26. Hildeburh: She is the Frisian Queen and sister to Hnaef, the Danish king. When Finn and Hnaef fight, she is caught in the middle. The battle also causes her to lose a brother and son.
27. Hnaef: He is the king of the Danes and brother to Hildeburh. He dies in the Finnsburg fight.
28. Sigmund: Also written as 'Sigemund' or 'Sigemunde', Sigmund is a warrior who once slew a dragon and took its treasures. His story is told in Beowulf's praise. It also foreshadows Beowulf's encounter with a dragon in the end.

Beowulf Themes

The major themes depicted in Beowulf are:

Evil

Any Beowulf reader will see the shapes of evil from the monsters in the story. The three monsters signify evil coming from a force greater than humans. They all emanate from the dark, and when they intrude on human civilization, the message they send is fear, pain, and suffering.

Grendel is a descendant of Cain, a cursed character from the Genesis book of the Bible. While we can interpret that as evil trickling down to the monster, these monsters attack because they have a reason. Grendel terrorizes the Heorot because he already feels the pinch of isolation and envy while out there.

On the other hand, Grendel's mother avenges her son's death when she attacks the Spear Danes just after celebrating Beowulf's victory in killing Grendel. The dragon burns the Geat's villages since an intruder steals part of the treasure it has been guarding for the last 300 years.

By giving reason and motive to the attacks or shedding light on the monsters' point of view, we can say that evil comes as part of life's territory as humans live. It seems heroic when we look at characters such as Beowulf and Hygelac coming from the sea to fight their enemies.

On the other hand, it's also evil to attack others (despite the motive). That allows us to tolerate at least the havoc that Grendel, the mother, and the dragon bring to the people.

The Heroic Code vs. Other Value Systems

Among the Geats and Danes, there is a heroic code that the characters abide by, and that is what defines them. The warriors are expected to be courageous, loyal, and strong. The kings need political skills, hospitality, and generosity. The women need to have a good name among the people and be ceremonious.

This code allows the communities to understand each other and deal with the attack dangers outside their boundaries. Judging people is based on the code that people either follow or violate.

In the poem, stories expose contradictory values and division of loyalty. In such cases, the code only sometimes guides the right action. For instance, heroism costs several characters their lives, which leaves their relatives grieving. This is the case with Hygd, who loses her son and brother in battle.

The code also collides with what medieval Christian values teach. In the pagan world, life's honor comes from what you do. In Christianity, however, glory is in the next life after death. The warriors have to retaliate after an attack instead of mourning and healing. In Christianity, it's all about turning the other cheek and forgiving those who wrong you.

While the poet tries to show the value of pagan customs and codes of conduct, they do not ignore the Christian aspect.

Reputation

Reputation is another theme that motivates the Beowulf epic. It starts with Beowulf being concerned with how people view him. He tells of his previous achievements when he introduces himself to the Spear Danes.

When Unferth questions Beowulf's ability to kill Grendel, he bruises the warrior's reputation. Beowulf takes this as an insult since keeping his good reputation intact is vital to him. Reputation is what remains after one dies, hence its crucial role in fame immortality.

Unferth tells Beowulf that he lost a seven-day swimming contest in the sea. So, if he can't win such a competition, there is no way he will defeat Grendel. Beowulf defends his position by saying he cannot leave the weak competitor (Breca). He had to kill nine sea monsters before swimming ashore when rough seas drove them apart.

While defending his reputation, he wins the hearts of his fellow men and the Danish warriors. Later, when Grendel arrives, Beowulf cements his fame and reputation by giving the monster a taste of its own medicine.

Also, when he kills Grendel's mother, he carries Grendel's head and the giant's sword hilt, leaving the treasure behind. As a result, he wins more glory, fame, and treasure from Hrothgar.

Apart from his reputation in battle, Beowulf is also known for his good deeds. The poet describes him as having 'no savage mind' (line 2180). He doesn't kill or attack his fellow warriors when drinking in the mead hall, a respectable quality in the medieval heroic realm. He also does not take his strength and leadership skills for granted.

When Beowulf decides to face the dragon alone, he is considering his reputation again. However, one can also say that the following consequence resulted from excessive pride (hubris), something Hrothgar warned him about before he left the Scyldings. Others may argue that in his final battle, Beowulf is an older adult who should die as a warrior.

As the poem ends, it says that Beowulf was 'most eager for fame' (line 3182). In the modern world, we understand that fame goes hand in hand with reputation.

Identity

Many characters and tribes mentioned in the poem derive value from their ancestral heritage and reputation. Their father's actions often judge sons, and others take pride in how their ancestors acted. In short, mentioning who you are has to include your family lineage.

For example, when Beowulf meets Hrothgar, Hrothgar talks about his father's bravery and concludes that he must be just as strong. Beowulf also follows in his father's footsteps, likely because he was guided.

Hrothgar's introduction in the poem also involves their family tree, which starts with Sheafson. Shield Sheafson, though, was an orphan who climbed through the ranks to the top. So, his identity takes a different turn for him since it defines his valor.

Beowulf lives in a pagan world that believes in good deeds that trigger the fame that lasts after one's death. A funny thought is that the Geat warrior and his companions have to chase fame all through their lives in a world where death doesn't seem far away.

Mortality

One thing you will note about Beowulf is how the characters confront death. The epic starts with a burial ceremony and then introduces Grendel, the murderous monster. Beowulf enters the story as a hero who wants to risk his life for fame. When Beowulf dives to meet Grendel's mother, he leaves instructions on what should happen when he dies since he is not sure what will happen.

When the warriors waiting for him ashore see blood coming from beneath the waters, they believe that their hero is dead. There are scholars who compare that part of the story to how Jesus descended to the dead after his death on the cross to save the damned souls.

The final part of the poem concerns Beowulf's death. This may seem a tragic ending for those overlooking the pagan culture in the poem since there is no hope for salvation. In Christianity, there is hope for an afterlife.

Beowulf accomplishes excellent deeds despite dancing with death all along. When he finally dies, he shows that a good life is worth living regardless of the cost incurred.

Literary Devices Used in Beowulf

Beowulf Symbols

Several symbols show the status of the characters in the poem. They include:

• Mead hall: The Danes have a mead hall called the Heorot. The Geats have one, too. The warriors and their lords spent their time drinking mead in these halls. It represents a haven for food, warmth, drink, and a refuge from the dangerous external world.
• Grendel's claw and head: Grendel's hand or claw and the head signify Beowulf's victory over the monsters. To Grendel's mother, the hand symbolizes personal loss and gruesomely represents a trophy to humans. To Beowulf, carrying the head from the cave was a better victory sign than the treasure he left behind.
• Treasure: Treasure is found almost everywhere in the epic. The gold, gifts, and other treasures have more of a social impact than an economic one. To kings, awarding treasure is a sign of rewarding loyalty. It also shows that the leader nurtures his people. The treasure was also used to settle disputes, especially if the death of a community member was involved.
• The cave: Grendel and his mother hide beneath the waters in the middle of the marshes. This cave represents their heritage, which involves sorcery, demons, black magic, and the wrath of hell. It's also an alien world outside Heorot, opposite what the mead hall represents.
• The banquet: After Gredel's defeat, the Danes celebrate by holding a banquet at Heorot. The banquet signifies the order and harmony restored after the monster terrorized them for 12 years.
• The golden torque: The gold collar that Wealhtheow gives Beowulf symbolizes loyalty and the bond between the Geats and the Scyldings. It's also the torque that Hygelac dies wearing during battle, making it a symbol of continuity and kinship.

Beowulf Motifs

Several motifs in the poem help develop the story and its central themes. They include:

• Monsters: The poem has three monsters on the antagonists' side. Grendel and Mother represent the evil that people comprehend as a sign of menace from God. The dragon can also represent the same or more of what a hero should conquer to prove their worth.
• Oral traditions: Beowulf is full of narrations in the poem. Since the community only interacts with a little writing, word of mouth is the best way to pass the culture and other stories. Stories are told by the scops in mead halls, such as the Finnsburg ordeal. Beowulf also uses the same to narrate his swimming competition account.
• Life's cyclical nature: The story has three battles, the last one happening after fifty years of Beowulf's reign in Geatland. In the last one, a dragon kills the hero, which shows that death is inevitable regardless of how it comes. In the poem, we also witness kings' rise, fall, and passing, which also shows that life is a cycle.

Digressions

According to scholars like W. W. Lawrence, Beowulf has many digressions, which clog the main action and distract readers from the main plot.

What are digressions in a poem or novel? Digressions are temporary detours from the main storyline or plot. Authors use this writing style intentionally to provide some background information about the characters, their culture, or the surrounding environment.

While some may see it as getting lost, a good digression connects you to the main story. Beowulf is similar to how we have described this writing style. The digressions in the story give us an introduction to the main story and comparisons with characters and other elements in the main course.

For example, when Beowulf swims home from Frisia carrying armor, it shows us how strong the hero is. Some of the digressions in the poem are:

• The Scylding's narrative in the beginning. It shows us how the kingdom came to be
• The Geat's descriptions, such as the battles between the Geats and Swedes
• The last survivor and his lay
• Beowulf's verbal contest with Unferth and his swimming competition with Breca
• Sigmund's tale of slaying a dragon
• The Finnsburg battle which provides some history and legendary tales
• The Ingeld and Freawaru tale
• The biblical accounts of Cain being the monsters' ancestor

As we conclude, the digressions matter. This is a powerful way to write a story with historical depth.

Beowulf Genre

The genre of Beowulf falls into the category of a heroic epic, which tells the story of a brave warrior and his adventures. The verse structure is alliterative, meaning it repeats sounds in each sentence. Alliteration is common in poetry and a staple feature of Anglo-Saxon poetry.

Scholars, however, debate everything, including whether the poem should be considered an epic. An epic is a sweeping narrative told in a grand and formal style that chronicles the struggles and triumphs of a legendary hero. Depending on the context, it should also show how the hero or heroes struggle with their humanity, failures, and mortality.

Based on the definition, Beowulf has the right to be placed under the epic category. First, it's an old story in Anglo-Saxon times. It narrates about Beowulf, a hero who observes the Germanic code (an honor code) that existed in the 5^th and 6^th centuries in the Scandinavian region.

The code involved thanes and their lords or kings. The thanes were loyal to their leaders to the point of avenging them in case the leader failed and died. On the other hand, the kings rewarded the thanes with treasure, land, and protection. The poem also portrays courage and reputation, virtues that we have discussed under the themes section.

The code (also known as comitatus in Latin) is all over the Beowulf poem.

After centuries of arguments, some scholars agree that this epic falls into two categories. It can be a primary epic or a secondary epic. That appears to be confusing already, but here is the explanation. The primary epic category involves legends, mores, or folk tales developed in an oral tradition formula.

People still debate whether Beowulf followed the oral tradition and oral-formulaic composition before being written down. It can be classified as a primary epic if it went through that route.

If it was not passed down orally, it could enter the secondary epic category, which means it was a literal text at its inception and was written as a complete story. Since the story has many digressions, there are more folk tales in the poem, keeping the story in the primary epic realm.

Historical Context of Beowulf

Beowulf is set in 6th-century pagan Scandinavia, a period of wars and conflict among tribes. At that time, the main form of government was monarchy, and kings such as Hrothgar were in charge of the people. Many literary experts connect the story to a real and famous Danish king named Hrothgar, who ruled the country in the early 6th century.

However, it's worth noting that Beowulf is not a historical poem. It's just an epic with characters who lived during the Anglo-Saxon era. Archaeologists have used it to identify some of the barrows and other structures constructed at the time.

The Anglo-Saxon period is known as the Dark Ages since, most of the time, literature was lost. However, Christianity was spreading, and many regional authoritative bodies were formed. Some tribes were also competing for resources, hence the conflicts described in the tale.

Most of the poem's figures, such as Hygelac and Hrothgar, were real kings during those days. Beowulf is never mentioned in any other old English manuscripts, but the characters we have just mentioned here are found in other works of literature. The existence also applies to clans such as the Scylfings, Scyldings, and the Wulfings.

The most remarkable discovery based on Beowulf is the Sutton Hoo extraction in 1939 in East Anglia. The place was a kings' cemetery, and more than one was buried there at the beginning of the 17th century. The discovery includes a ship buried there for Scyld Scefing's funeral. Together with the ship were gold coins and armor pieces. It is also believed to be Beowulf’s barrow, where he was buried.

There are also pagan and Christian artifacts. That means the poem was written at a time when Christianity was slowly absorbing into the pagan Scandinavia. The tribal wars and feuds of the time (5th and 6th centuries) were well recorded, and Hygelac's ruling and death are recorded historical facts.

While the poem points to some historical facts, some parts are untrue. That is why, at the beginning, we stated that it's not a historical poem. It's just a narrative that aligns with the happenings of medieval times.

For instance, it's said that Beowulf has the strength of thirty men in one arm. As you doubt that, imagine swimming for five days and nights without resting or eating. While that may not be true in the real world, it happened in Beowulf's world.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a short Beowulf summary?

Beowulf is a hero in Geatland (southern Sweden), famous for killing three monsters: Grendel, Grendel's mother, and a dragon. His final battle with the dragon causes his death as an aging king of the Geats. The people later lament and honor him after burying him in a barrow by the sea.

When was Beowulf written?

The Beowulf poem is believed to have been produced between 975 and 1025 AD. However, its composition date is debated among enthusiasts.

What is the main conflict in Beowulf?

The central conflict in Beowulf concerns the close integration of warrior societies and the various dangers that scourge their existence. It starts with Grendel attacking Heorot, Beowulf killing him, and Grendel's mother killing Aeschere as she begins her revenge. The climax arrives when Beowulf dives into the lake to kill Grendel's mother.

What can we learn from Beowulf?

The story of Beowulf teaches us about heroism, honor, and loyalty, qualities that Beowulf possessed. Beowulf was also wise and just, which teaches us to treat people fairly regardless of our power and influence.

Who can help me write a good summary of Beowulf?

Our essay writers can help you craft an incredible Beowulf story summary. Tell them your summary requirements; they will work on it like gurus. Helping you write summaries is part of our specialty.

Conclusion

Beowulf's heroism, horror, and societal values offer a captivating glimpse into a bygone era. By dissecting the poem's elements in our Beowulf summary, you gain a deeper appreciation for its literary significance.

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