Beowulf is an Old English epic poem about a Scandinavian hero named Beowulf who rids the Danes of the monster Grendel and its mother. Decades later, Beowulf becomes king of the Geats and defeats a dragon threatening his kingdom. However, he is fatally wounded in this final battle. The only surviving manuscript of this important work of Anglo-Saxon literature was discovered in the 17th century.

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Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon epic poem, the most important
work of Old English literature and one of the earliest extant
poems in modern times. The only surviving manuscript was
discovered in the 17th century by the English antiquarian, Sir
Robert Cotton (1571–1631). It has been preserved since 1753
in the Codex Vittelius AXV in the British Museum.
The somber story is told in vigorous, picturesque language,
with much use of metaphor. It tells of a hero, a Scandinavian
prince named Beowulf, who rids the Danes of the monster
Grendel, half man and half fiend. Fifty years later, Beowulf
succeeds in repeating these exploits, freeing his own land
from devastation.
Beowulf has been published and translated into modern
English frequently since 1833, sometimes in poetry, sometimes
in prose. The verse translation by the Irish poet and Nobel
laureate Seamus Heaney published in 2000 was recognized
as the book of the year when awarded the England's
prestigious Whitbread Prize.

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Our story begins in the kingdom of the
Danes of a land named Denmark. It was
a peaceful place of prosperity and
comfort until a great demon named
Grendel arose. Grendel was a terrifying
monster that attacked and killed
countless Dane people causing great
sorrow and despair within the hearts of
many for several years.
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4. Then came a very interesting man from a
faraway land. A man whose very
appearance proved that of a warrior. He
was tall, muscular, confident, handsome.
He was Beowulf.
 Beowulf heard the plea of the Dane king
and accepted the challenge of
defeating the great demon Grendel as
Beowulf had never faced defeat…
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5. 
The king of Dane then decides to celebrate
by having a party in honor of Beowulf.
Great amounts of food and drink are
shared among the party along with plenty
of laughs and tales of Beowulf's’ previous
accomplishments. The people continued to
celebrate deep into the night until suddenly
a great figure appeared from out of the
darkness. Grendel had been awakened…
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6. 
Grendel had done Beowulf a great favor,
as Grendel came to him. Beowulf
accepted the challenge and fought the
great demon bare handed! Beowulf and
Grendel both displayed great strength and
endurance as they battled to the death.
Although both were admirable foes, only
one could win. Grendel possessed
something Beowulf did not….fear. This gave
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Beowulf the advantage
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7. 
After an energetic battle of strength and
cunning, Beowulf was the victor.
Although Grendel was not yet dead and
Beowulf was not yet finished. Beowulf
then rips one of Grendels’ arms right off
his body and holds it high for all to see.
Grendel manages to escape alive but
mortally wounded. Grendel returns to his
swamp and spends his last moments
within the comfort of his mother…
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8. 
Few knew that Grendel had a mother and
those that did were most likely dead! The
main theme then changes from Beowulfs’
heroics to the mothers’ revenge. Grendels’
mother later kills Aeschere, one of the Kings
best men/personal aids, out of revenge for
her sons’ death and returns to her swamp
soon after. A small group of men and
Beowulf later travel to the swamp on a
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quest to avenge the murder of Aeschere…
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9. 
Beowulf finds the swamp where Grendels’
mother lies in wait. He dives into the murky
water down to the very bottom where he
discovers the underwater lair of Grendels’
mother. After a great attempt of seduction,
the mother charges at Beowulf and
engages him in another great battle of
man versus demon. After much sweat and
bloodshed, Beowulf stands victorious as he
cuts down Grendels’ mother with a Sword
forged for giants!
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10. 
The battle is over, but the story has just
begun. Amongst the underwater lair,
Beowulf discovers Grendels’ corpse and
cuts off his head as a trophy for the king
of Dane. The people of Dane are
overjoyed as the terrifying monsters have
been slain and peace has been restored
to their land all thanks to Beowulf.
Beowulf then leaves Dane and sails back
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11. 
Upon returning to Geat, Beowulf is
appointed king of Geat and becomes a
great ruler for over fifty years. Then, one day
a thief disturbs an old tomb of treasure that
is guarded by a ferocious dragon. The
dragon is awakened and begins wreaking
havoc upon the people of Geat. Many
attempt to kill the dragon but none prevail
as there is but one man who could defeat
such a terrifying beast. His name is
Beowulf...
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12. 
Yet Beowulf is no longer the young man
he was in Denmark as fifty years have
passed and Beowulf has become an old
man. Yet, his strength and courage have
not left him as he and his companion
Wiglaf set off to the dragons lair in an
attempt to bring peace back to their
land.
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13. 
Beowulf and Wiglaf confront the Dragon
in what is to be the most difficult and
rigorous battle of their lives. After many
futile attempts, Beowulf finally manages
to penetrate the strong scaly skin of the
dragon. His blade cuts deep but at a
great price as Beowulf has been bitten
and the dragons venom begins to
spread…
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14. 
Beowulf begun to feel the poison spread
through his body and ever closer to his
heart. He sits down by a river with his
companion Wiglaf and speaks to him his
dying words. He asks that his people
remember him and his successful reign with
the construction of a burial mound
overlooking the sea. The last words of
Beowulf are as followed, “You are the last
of our family Wiglaf. All the others fell when
fate decided they must. Now I must follow
them…” The End
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