Beowulf, a Geatish warrior known for his immense strength, hears of the troubles plaguing the kingdom of Denmark from the monster Grendel. Grendel has been attacking the royal hall at night and killing the king's men. Beowulf vows to defeat Grendel with his bare hands. He travels to Denmark with a group of warriors. That night, while the others sleep under Grendel's spell, Beowulf engages Grendel in a fierce battle throughout the hall. After a violent struggle, Beowulf is able to tear off Grendel's arm, causing the monster to flee wounded back into the misty night.
Filipino 8 Mga Akdang Lumaganap sa Panahon ng EspanyolJuan Miguel Palero
Ito ay isang powerpoint presentation na tumatalakay sa paksang tungkol sa Mga Akdang lumaganap noong dumating ang mga Espanyol. Dito din matatagpuan ang ilang halimbawa ng mga Akdang lumaganap noong dumating ang mga Espanyol.
1) Grendel attacks the hall of Heorot where the Danes are sleeping, intending to kill them.
2) Beowulf, who is keeping watch, fights Grendel and grips him tightly until Grendel's arm is torn off.
3) Grendel escapes, mortally wounded, to die in his lair in the marshes.
Ito ay isang powerpoint presentation na tumatalakay sa paksang tungkol sa Mga Dula ng Silangang Asya. Dito din matatagpuan ang ilang halimbawa ng mga Dula ng Silangang Asya.
Filipino 8 Mga Akdang Lumaganap sa Panahon ng EspanyolJuan Miguel Palero
Ito ay isang powerpoint presentation na tumatalakay sa paksang tungkol sa Mga Akdang lumaganap noong dumating ang mga Espanyol. Dito din matatagpuan ang ilang halimbawa ng mga Akdang lumaganap noong dumating ang mga Espanyol.
1) Grendel attacks the hall of Heorot where the Danes are sleeping, intending to kill them.
2) Beowulf, who is keeping watch, fights Grendel and grips him tightly until Grendel's arm is torn off.
3) Grendel escapes, mortally wounded, to die in his lair in the marshes.
Ito ay isang powerpoint presentation na tumatalakay sa paksang tungkol sa Mga Dula ng Silangang Asya. Dito din matatagpuan ang ilang halimbawa ng mga Dula ng Silangang Asya.
Pampanga literature flourished early on, introduced through Spanish and native Filipino friars. Oral traditions like riddles, sayings, folksongs and folktales reflected the local culture and geography. Notable Kapampangan authors included President Diosdado Macapagal, playwright Jose M. Gallardo, poet Aurelio Tolentino, and journalist Juan Crisostomo Soto, considered the father of Pampanga literature. Riddles and sayings were especially popular forms of entertainment at social events in both rural and urban areas.
Pygmalion was a sculptor in ancient Cyprus who became infatuated with an ivory statue he had carved of the perfect woman. He prayed to Aphrodite/Venus for the statue to be brought to life. Taking pity on Pygmalion, Venus brought the statue to life as a woman named Galatea. They married and had a son named Paphos. The story comes from Ovid's Metamorphoses, one of the most influential works of classical mythology.
Beowulf, a Geatish warrior known for his immense strength, hears a minstrel sing of the monster Grendel who has been terrorizing the kingdom of Denmark for 12 years. Beowulf vows to travel to Denmark and slay Grendel with his bare hands. After preparing for the journey, Beowulf and 14 of his warrior companions arrive in Denmark. That night, as Beowulf lies awake waiting for Grendel's attack, the monster breaks into the hall and kills one of Beowulf's men. Beowulf engages Grendel in a fierce battle, managing to get the upper hand by gripping Grendel's arm so tightly that he tears it from the monster's body.
Beowulf, a Geatish warrior known for his immense strength, hears a minstrel sing of the monster Grendel who has been terrorizing the kingdom of Denmark for 12 years. Beowulf vows to travel to Denmark and slay Grendel with his bare hands. That night in the hall of the Danish king Hrothgar, Grendel attacks while the warriors sleep under Grendel's spell. Beowulf awakens and engages Grendel in a fierce battle, managing to get the upper hand by twisting Grendel's arm until it is torn from his body. Grendel escapes, mortally wounded.
Pampanga literature flourished early on, introduced through Spanish and native Filipino friars. Oral traditions like riddles, sayings, folksongs and folktales reflected the local culture and geography. Notable Kapampangan authors included President Diosdado Macapagal, playwright Jose M. Gallardo, poet Aurelio Tolentino, and journalist Juan Crisostomo Soto, considered the father of Pampanga literature. Riddles and sayings were especially popular forms of entertainment at social events in both rural and urban areas.
Pygmalion was a sculptor in ancient Cyprus who became infatuated with an ivory statue he had carved of the perfect woman. He prayed to Aphrodite/Venus for the statue to be brought to life. Taking pity on Pygmalion, Venus brought the statue to life as a woman named Galatea. They married and had a son named Paphos. The story comes from Ovid's Metamorphoses, one of the most influential works of classical mythology.
Beowulf, a Geatish warrior known for his immense strength, hears a minstrel sing of the monster Grendel who has been terrorizing the kingdom of Denmark for 12 years. Beowulf vows to travel to Denmark and slay Grendel with his bare hands. After preparing for the journey, Beowulf and 14 of his warrior companions arrive in Denmark. That night, as Beowulf lies awake waiting for Grendel's attack, the monster breaks into the hall and kills one of Beowulf's men. Beowulf engages Grendel in a fierce battle, managing to get the upper hand by gripping Grendel's arm so tightly that he tears it from the monster's body.
Beowulf, a Geatish warrior known for his immense strength, hears a minstrel sing of the monster Grendel who has been terrorizing the kingdom of Denmark for 12 years. Beowulf vows to travel to Denmark and slay Grendel with his bare hands. That night in the hall of the Danish king Hrothgar, Grendel attacks while the warriors sleep under Grendel's spell. Beowulf awakens and engages Grendel in a fierce battle, managing to get the upper hand by twisting Grendel's arm until it is torn from his body. Grendel escapes, mortally wounded.
1) Beowulf, a great Geatish hero, hears that King Hrothgar of the Danes is troubled by the monster Grendel attacking his mead-hall at night.
2) Beowulf sails to Denmark with 14 warriors to help the king. He promises to defeat Grendel with his bare hands.
3) That night, as the men sleep in the mead-hall, Grendel comes and kills 30 men. But he engages in a fight with Beowulf and is defeated when Beowulf tears his arm off. Grendel escapes to die in the marshes.
The document summarizes four parts of Beowulf that have been translated into English. It describes:
1) The early history of the Danish kings, including Shield and his son Hrothgar becoming king.
2) Grendel begins attacking the mead hall at night, killing many of Hrothgar's men.
3) Beowulf, a Geatish warrior, hears of Grendel's attacks and decides to help Hrothgar defeat the monster.
4) Beowulf and his men arrive in Denmark and explain their mission to one of Hrothgar's coast guards.
The document summarizes four parts of Beowulf that have been translated into English. It describes:
1) The early history of the Danish kings, including Shield who was succeeded by his son Grain, who was succeeded by his son Healfdene, who had four children including Hrothgar.
2) Hrothgar becoming king of the Danes and building the mead hall Heorot, until the monster Grendel started attacking it.
3) One night Grendel attacked Heorot and killed 30 men, continuing to attack every night, leaving Hrothgar suffering for 12 years without a solution.
4) Beowulf hearing of Grendel's attacks and
1) Grendel, a troll-like monster, begins attacking the great hall of King Hrothgar, called Heorot, killing Hrothgar's warriors every night.
2) For twelve years Grendel terrorizes the Danes, emptying Heorot as none can stand against him.
3) The Danes are distressed by Grendel's attacks and discuss how to defend against the monster, though as pagans they do not pray to the Christian God for help.
Beowulf is an Old English epic poem about a Geatish hero named Beowulf who comes to the aid of King Hrothgar of the Danes. Beowulf defeats Grendel, a monster who has been terrorizing the kingdom, and later Grendel's mother. Years later, as king of the Geats himself, Beowulf defeats a dragon but is fatally wounded in the battle. He is mourned by his people as a great leader.
Beowulf is an epic poem about a great Geatish warrior named Beowulf who comes to the aid of King Hrothgar of the Danes. Grendel, a monstrous troll, has been terrorizing Hrothgar's mead hall, Heorot, for years by killing and devouring his men. Beowulf defeats Grendel in a fight and later Grendel's mother, but is fatally wounded in old age while fighting a dragon defending its treasure.
The document is an excerpt from the epic poem Beowulf describing the monster Grendel's attacks on King Hrothgar's mead hall Heorot, where Grendel kills and eats thirty of Hrothgar's warriors. Beowulf, a great warrior from Geatland, hears of Hrothgar's troubles and arrives by ship with a group of warriors to offer their help against Grendel. A guard sees their ship arrive and questions them, and Beowulf explains their mission to help King Hrothgar and rid him of Grendel.
This summary provides the key details from the document in 3 sentences:
The document describes the origins of the Danish royal line and the kingdom of the Scyldings. It then tells of how the monster Grendel began attacking the great hall of Heorot at night, killing and taking many of King Hrothgar's men. For twelve years Grendel waged this war, leaving the Danes in great distress as they sought a solution to end Grendel's attacks.
The document provides a summary of the Old English epic poem Beowulf in several paragraphs. It describes the monster Grendel attacking the hall of King Hrothgar, Beowulf coming from Geatland to defeat Grendel, and later Grendel's mother. It then summarizes Beowulf returning home and later becoming king of the Geats, fighting and killing a dragon but dying in the battle. The document also provides brief descriptions of some poetic devices commonly used in Old English poetry like alliteration, consonance, and assonance.
The summary provides details about three key sections of the document:
1) It describes Beowulf's journey to Denmark to help King Hrothgar defeat the monster Grendel. It outlines Beowulf's introduction to the king and his defense against accusations from Unferth.
2) It summarizes the battle between Beowulf and Grendel, where Beowulf is able to rip Grendel's arm off.
3) It discusses the aftermath of the battle, including Hrothgar praising Beowulf and giving him gifts. It also notes the ominous foreshadowing of a tragic story sung by the minstrel.
This document provides an overview of the epic poem Beowulf. It summarizes that Beowulf is considered the oldest surviving epic poem in English and tells the story of the Geatish hero Beowulf and his battles with the monster Grendel and Grendel's mother to defend the Danes. It also describes Beowulf's later battle with a dragon near the end of his life when he was king of the Geats.
Beowulf Translation by Seamus Heaney So. The Spear-Danes .docxrichardnorman90310
Beowulf
Translation by Seamus Heaney
So. The Spear-Danes in the past
And the kings who ruled them had courage and greatness. We have heard of the heroic campaigns of these princes.
There was Shield Sheafson, scourge of many tribes, A destroyer of mead banks, rampant among enemies. This terror of the troops in the hall had come from afar.
A foundling to begin with, he would flourish later as his powers increased and his worth was proven.
In the end, every clan on the outer coasts
Beyond the Whale Route had to give in to him 10 And start paying homage to him. He was a good king.
Then a boy was born in Shield,
A little one in the yard, a comfort sent
By God to this nation. He knew what they had overcome, the long stretches and troubles they would have gone through without a leader; so the Lord of Life,
The glorious Almighty made this man famous.
Shield had fathered a famous son:
Beow's name was known in the north.
And a young prince must be careful like that, 20 Give freely while his father lives
While after age, when the fighting begins
Steadfast companions will stand by his side
And hold the line. Admired behavior
Is the path to power among people all over the world.
Shield was still in full swing when his time came and he came into the care of the Lord. His group of warriors did what he told them
When he made the law among the Danes:
They supported him on the waves of the sea, 30 The ruler they worshiped and who ruled them for a long time.
A bow with rings twirled in the harbor,
Frozen, outgoing, a profession for a prince.
They have laid down their beloved lord in his boat,
Arranged by the mast, amidships,
The great donor of rings. Wacky treasures were piled on top of him, along with precious materials.
I have never heard of a ship so well equipped with combat equipment, bladed weapons
And courier coats. The collected treasure
Was loaded above him: he would travel far in the sway of the ocean.
They decorated her body no less abundantly
With offerings that these firsts made
Who threw him away when he was a child
And launched it alone on the waves. And they set a gold standard
Over his head and let him drift
To the wind and the tide, the weeping
And mourning their loss. No man can tell
No wise man in the room or weathered veteran
40
50
Knows for sure who picked up this charge.
Then it was up to Beow to guard the forts.
He was well regarded and ruled the Danes
For a long time after his father took his leave
Of his life on earth. And then his heir,
The great Halfdane, reigned
As long as he lived, their eldest and warlord.
He was four times a father, this fighting prince:
One by one they entered the world, 60 Heorogar, Hrothgar, the good Halga
And a girl, I heard, who was Onela's queen,
A balm in bed for the Swede marked by the battle.
The fortunes of the war favored Hrothga.
1) Grendel, a monster, attacks King Hrothgar's mead hall Heorot, killing many of the king's warriors. For years, Grendel terrorizes the Danes.
2) Beowulf, a Geatish hero, hears of Grendel's attacks and vows to defeat the monster with his great strength.
3) That night in Heorot, Grendel attacks again but Beowulf fights and kills Grendel, tearing his arm off. Grendel escapes to die in his lair. The next day, the Danes rejoice at their liberation from Grendel.
Beowulf and his men sail from Geatland to Denmark to help King Hrothgar and his people. They are escorted to the royal hall, Heorot, where Beowulf offers to fight Grendel alone and with his bare hands. He boasts of his past victories over monsters and giants. King Hrothgar accepts Beowulf's offer, hoping he can end Grendel's attacks, and invites Beowulf and his men to a feast in their honor.
The document summarizes the story of Beowulf battling Grendel. It describes how Grendel, a monster, had been killing people in King Hrothgar's mead hall, Herot. Beowulf, a Geatish warrior, promises to defeat Grendel. That night, when Grendel attacks Herot, Beowulf fights and kills Grendel with his bare hands. The next morning, Beowulf's victory is celebrated, as he displays Grendel's severed arm. However, Grendel's mother now seeks revenge, so Beowulf prepares to face another threat.
- Beowulf is the oldest surviving epic poem in Old English and tells the story of a Geatish hero who helps the Danes by defeating Grendel and his mother.
- The poem consists of four episodes - Beowulf defeats Grendel in Heorot hall, then Grendel's mother seeks revenge, Beowulf later becomes king of the Geats and rules peacefully for 50 years, and finally faces a dragon in his old age.
- In his final battle, Beowulf slays the dragon but dies of his wounds, leaving his kingdom to his thane Wiglaf and requesting to be buried in a high barrow overlooking the sea.
1 From Beowulf A New Verse Translation by Seamus Heaney .docxhoney725342
1
From Beowulf: A New Verse Translation by Seamus Heaney
Introduction of the Danes
So. The Spear-Danes in days done by
And the kings who ruled them had courage and greatness.
We have heard of those prince’s heroic campaigns.
There was Shield Sheafson, scourge of many tribes,
A wrecker of mead-benches, rampaging among foes.
This terror of the hall-troops had come far.
A foundling to start with, he would flourish later on
As his powers waxed and his worth was proved.
In the end each clan on the outlying coats
Beyond the whale-road had to yield to him 10
And begin to pay tribute. That was one good king.
Afterwards a boy-child was born to Shield,
A cub in the yard, a comfort sent
By God to that nation. He knew what they had tholed*,
The long times and troubles they’d come through
Without a leader; so the Lord of Life,
The glorious Almighty, made this man renowned.
Shield had fathered a famous son:
Beow’s name was known through the north
and a young prince must be prudent like that, 20
Giving freely while his father lives
so that afterwards in age when fighting starts
steadfast companions will stand by him
and hold the line. Behaviour that’s admired
is the path to power among people everywhere. *tholed- suffered
Shield was still thriving when his time came
and crossed over into the Lord’s Keeping.
His warrior band did what he bade them
when he laid down the law among the Danes:
they shouldered him out to the sea’s flood, 30
the chief they revered who had long ruled them.
A ring-whorled prow rode in the harbor,
Ice –clad, outbound, a craft for a prince.
They stretched their beloved lord in his boat,
Laid out by the mast, amidships,
the great ring-giver. Far-fetched treasures
were piled upon him, and precious gear.
I never heard before of a ship so well furbished
With battle tackle, bladed weapons
And coats of mail. The massed treasure 40
was loaded on top of him: it would travel far
on out into the ocean’s sway.
They decked his body no less bountifully
With offerings than those first ones did
Who cast him away when he was a child
And launched him alone out over the waves.
And they set a gold standard up
High above his head and let him drift
To wind and tide, bewailing him
And mourning their loss. No man can tell, 50
No wise man in hall or weathered veteran
Knows for certain who salvaged that load.
2
Then it fell to Beow to keep the forts.
He was well regarded and ruled the Danes
For a long time after his father took leave
Of his life on earth. And then his heir,
The great Halfdane, held sway
For as long as he lived, their elder and warlord.
He was four times a father, this fighter prince:
One by one they entered the world, 60
Heorogar, Hrothgar, the good Halga,
And a daughter, I have heard, who was Onela’s queen,
A balm in bed to the battle-scarred Swede.
The fortunes of w ...
Beowulf accepts Hrothgarts challenge to battle Grendel's mother in her underwater lair. In a fierce fight, Beowulf is unable to harm Grendel's mother with his sword, but eventually finds and uses an ancient giant's sword to decapitate her, avenging Grendel's attacks. Exhausted, Beowulf emerges victorious from the lair, bringing Grendel's head and the giant's sword hilt as proof of his victory.
This document provides an introduction and guidelines for a reader-friendly edition of Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales that has been put into modern English spelling. It explains that the spelling has been updated for readability while keeping the original language, grammar, syntax and vocabulary. Some discussion is provided around pronunciation, rhyme, and meter in Chaucer's works compared to modern English. The editor aims to make Chaucer accessible to general readers without requiring knowledge of Middle English.
Stylistic classification of english vocabulary presentation transcriptjverftukli08
The document discusses the stylistic classification of English vocabulary. It describes how words can be classified based on their level of usage as common words, literary words, colloquial words, slang words, and technical words. Examples are provided for each classification. The document also discusses how words can be divided into formal, common, and colloquial levels from a stylistic perspective. Guidelines for choosing words appropriately for different contexts are also outlined.
Sdev stylistic differentiation of the english vocabularyjverftukli08
The document discusses the stylistic differentiation of the English vocabulary. It divides the English word-stock into three main layers or strata: the literary layer, neutral layer, and colloquial layer. Each layer contains subgroups of words that share a common property or "aspect". The literary layer has a bookish character, the colloquial layer has a lively spoken character, and the neutral layer has a universal character. The document also examines subgroups within the literary and colloquial layers such as common literary words, poetic words, archaic words, and slang. It analyzes the functions and interactions of words from different layers and subgroups.
- Languages have both common words and technical words that are coined as new developments occur in science.
- English has one of the longest non-technical words at 28 letters, and words can be made longer through prefixes, suffixes, and combining words.
- Technical terms in languages can be extremely long, especially in fields like chemistry, to describe new discoveries.
- Other languages also have long words through combining elements, like German and some Native American languages where whole phrases can be expressed as a single word.
- One Native American chief held the record for the longest known word with his 179 letter name.
Multiple intelligences theory proposes that intelligence is composed of several distinct abilities rather than a single general ability. The theory identifies eight types of intelligence: logical-mathematical, linguistic, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalist. Each person possesses combinations of these intelligences in different levels that help determine their strengths and weaknesses. The theory challenges the traditional view that intelligence is a single general ability that can be accurately measured by standard intelligence tests.
Copy of vocabulary memory study aids presentation transcriptjverftukli08
The document provides various memory and study aids for improving vocabulary, including visual clues like drawings, pictures, diagrams and charts. It recommends creating flashcards with words on one side and definitions or sample sentences on the other. The document also suggests paying attention to grammar, pronunciation, spelling, and sentence patterns of new words. It provides tips for effective vocabulary study, such as studying in short bursts throughout the day and using interactive methods like creating sentences and quizzing a study partner.
Copy of the four elements of a masterpiecejverftukli08
The document outlines Pierre H. Matisse's view of the four key elements that make up a masterpiece in creative art:
1. Composition - An artist must arrange and rearrange forms, areas, and colors to obtain an original interpretation that captures the audience's interest.
2. Drawing - Drawing expresses one's personality and vision through practice with pencils or charcoal on paper. Quick sketches and using vast amounts of paper is important for developing one's skills.
3. Color - An artist should experiment with different color palettes that suit their temperament to build an instinctive understanding and memory of color.
4. Value - The contrast between light and dark shades gives artists a tool to develop
This document provides an introduction and guidelines for a reader-friendly edition of Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales that has been put into modern English spelling. It explains that the spelling has been updated for readability while keeping the original language, grammar, syntax and vocabulary. Some discussion is provided around pronunciation, rhyme, and meter in Chaucer's works compared to modern English. The editor aims to make Chaucer accessible to general readers without requiring knowledge of Middle English.
Copy of stylistic differentiation of english vocabularyjverftukli08
This document discusses stylistic differentiation in English vocabulary according to functional styles. It notes that vocabulary can be categorized as bookish/literary, colloquial, or neutral. Colloquial vocabulary is typical of informal oral communication and contains emotionally colored words and connotations. The document provides examples to illustrate these categories and discusses features of colloquial style such as informality, broad word meanings, and use of shortened forms. It also discusses terms, professionalisms, and slang used in specific social contexts or professions.
Copy of stylistic classification of english vocabulary presentation transcriptjverftukli08
The document discusses the stylistic classification of English vocabulary. It describes how words can be classified based on their level of usage as common words, literary words, colloquial words, slang words, and technical words. Examples are provided for each classification. Additionally, it discusses how words can be divided into formal, common, and colloquial levels from a stylistic perspective. Guidelines for choosing words appropriately for different contexts are also outlined.
Copy of sdev stylistic differentiation of the english vocabularyjverftukli08
The document discusses the stylistic differentiation of the English vocabulary. It divides the English word-stock into three main layers or strata: the literary layer, neutral layer, and colloquial layer. Each layer contains subgroups of words that share a common property or "aspect". The literary layer has a bookish character, the colloquial layer has a lively spoken character, and the neutral layer has a universal character. The document also examines subgroups within the literary and colloquial layers such as common literary words, poetic words, archaic words, and slang. It analyzes the functions and interactions of words from different layers and subgroups.
Copy of «stylistic classification of the english vocabulary»jverftukli08
The document discusses the classification of English vocabulary into three main layers - literary, neutral, and colloquial. It examines the subgroups within the literary layer, including terms and learned words, as well as the subgroups in the colloquial layer such as slang, dialects, and vulgar words. The purpose is to analyze how words are differentiated stylistically and the practical importance of understanding these classifications for students, teachers, and translators.
Copy of sources of english vocabulary presentation transcriptjverftukli08
English vocabulary has roots in many languages. The core vocabulary comes from Old English (Anglo-Saxon) spoken in England after the 5th century AD. Additional words entered from Old Norse (Viking invasions), Norman French (1066 conquest), and other languages during the British Empire. Modern English continues to borrow words freely from languages around the world, giving it one of the largest vocabularies of any language.
The poem begins with the genealogy of the Danish kings, including Hrothgar who builds the great hall Heorot. The monster Grendel attacks Heorot, killing Danish warriors. Beowulf, a great Geatish warrior, hears of Grendel's attacks and goes to help the Danes. That night in Heorot, Beowulf waits and defeats Grendel in a battle. Later, Grendel's mother attacks in revenge and takes a man. Beowulf dives into a lake, battles Grendel's mother, and defeats her. Beowulf is praised for his heroic acts and returns home to Geatland where he later becomes king. In his fiftieth year as king
«Stylistic classification of the english vocabulary»jverftukli08
The document discusses the classification of English vocabulary into three main layers - literary, neutral, and colloquial. It analyzes the common literary, common colloquial, and neutral vocabularies, and how they overlap and relate. Special focus is given to terms as a type of specialized literary vocabulary used in scientific works.
The document discusses the reduction of categorical syllogisms, which is the process of expressing syllogisms that are validly expressed in figures other than the first figure into equivalent syllogisms in the first figure. It explains the key consonants - S, P, M, and C - that indicate the logical operations needed to perform this reduction, such as simple conversion, accidental conversion, mutation, or taking the contradictory of a proposition. Examples are provided to illustrate how syllogisms from figures 2 through 4 can be reduced to equivalent syllogisms in the first figure through these operations.
1. The Story of Beowulf<br />Once upon a time, in the far north of what is now called Europe, there was a kingdom known as Geatsiand, and its ruler was named Hygelac. It was a harsh country, with high mountains and narrow stony valleys, and it had a long seacoast with many harbors and inlets, and the men who lived there were famous for their bravery on both sea and land.<br />Now, for many years Hygelac ruled over his people with a stern but kind hand. Beside him was his queen, named Hygd, and called the Wise and Fair. About the king and queen were gathered the finest lords of the land. All. were valiant warriors whose courage had been proved.<br />Among the number of youths who were in. thrall to Hygelac was Beowulf, the son of the king’s sister. As a small boy, Beowulf had shown such strength of body that Hygelac had early named him one of his thanes. So his mother and father gave him up, and young Beowulf went to live with his uncle, to learn the arts of war and the handling of ships.<br />For several years he led a lonely life, for so great was the strength of his limbs that even among those men of vast vigor he was a youth to be marveled at. As the years slipped by and he grew to manhood, he became more and more sullen in his strength, and his companions dubbed him “The Silent.” His movements were clumsy. He tripped over his sword. He broke whatever he touched. The other youths laughed at him for his awkwardness, but in secret they envied the immense spread of his shoulders and the terrible swiftness of his stride.<br />When Beowulf had at last reached the full tide of his manhood, a feast was held one night in the king’s drinking-hall. From all over Geatsland famous warriors and earls gathered at the drinking-benches of their king to hear the songs of the minstrels and take part in games and feats of strength.<br />At the feet of the royal couple sat Beowulf, at a table especially prepared for the king’s earls. But Beowulf, unmindful of the talk about him, sat in gloomy silence, brooding.<br />His strength was great, but there was no use for him to put it to, and he longed for wild adventure and the chance to stretch his muscles to the limit of their power.<br />Then, at a signal from Hygelac, the minstrel came forward with his harp. He was a tall rugged man, with a beard streaked with gray. He had the air of one who had traveled long distances, and his blue eyes were wide and fixed like one used to watching the far horizon.<br />Around him was wrapped a cloak of deep blue, held together by a curious clasp of gold. Beowulf, noting the clasp, thought it resembled a coiled snake, for there were two green stones set in it which glittered. This man, Beowulf thought, has been in far-away places. He will chant us a good song.<br />Then the Wanderer (for so he was called) sat down upon a wooden stool, threw back the cloak from about his arms, and with long thin fingers struck the resounding strings of his harp.<br />He sang in a sharp voice that was like the crying of birds on the gray sea, hut there was a sweetness in it at the same time which held his hearers, and the lords of Geatsiand leaned forward on their benches in eagerness to catch every word.<br />He sang of the vast and frozen North, where winter lay upon the land for many, many months, and men foi.ght in the gloomy light of the night-burning sun.<br />He sang of endless forests stretching black and forbidding in a sea of snow; of mountains higher and bleaker than the highest mountains of Geatsiand; of the strange and fearful demons that inhabited this ghostly region.<br />Then the tune of the Wanderer changed. His voice fell to a lower note, and he sang of Hrothgar who was king of the Danes, that country not far from Geatsiand, across the water.<br />He told a sad story of desolation and despair in Hrothgar’s land, because of a beast which had struck mortal fear into the hearts of the lords of Daneland. For on one cruel night, twelve years before, there had come a monster, part animal, part man, part bird. The lords of Daneland were sleeping soundly, and the monster, who was called Grendel, had forced open the solid doors of the king’s ball and carried away in their sleep thirty of the greatest earls of the Danes.<br />There had been lamentation throughout the land, and many were the attempts to slay Grendel, but none had succeeded. And for twelve long years Grendel repeatedly visited the king’s hall and wrought destruction there. Now the land was despoiled of its youthful strength, and there remained to the king only those fighters whose early vigor had long since passed, and Daneland had become a country of old men and defenseless women.<br />Now, all the while that the Wanderer was singing, Beowulf sat as one bewitched.<br />He leaned forward upon the table, his arms folded under his still beardless chin, his eyes fixed upon the minstrel. Now and again he lifted his head and shook out the fair hair that hung beneath the golden band encircling his wide white forehead. The huge bracelets that weighted his wrists gleamed like his eyes, and the jeweled collar about his throat was tight because of the swelling veins of his neck. One thought possessed him:<br />He would seek out this monster, Grendel, and slay him - yes! slay him with bare hands!<br />He saw himself face to face with the monster Grendel, and suddenly a wild cry broke from his lips and he leaped from his seat.<br />“Lords of Geatsiand and earls of Hygelac,” he shouted, as the minstrel finished the song, “I am the son of Ecgtheow and of Hygelac’s sister, and in olden times this Hrothgar was a war-brother of my father. Therefore I claim kinship to him, and I will go to the land of the Danes and I will slay this Grendel!”<br />Then there was great confusion in the hail of Hygelac, and the earls called to one another, and dogs barked. But Hygd the queen stood up amid the turmoil, and holding a jeweled cup in her two hands because of its weight, stepped down to where Beowulf was, and offered him the cup, and smiled at him in affection.<br />Once again Hygelac commanded silence among the guests in the drinking-hall, and turning to Beowulf said:<br />“The time has come, 0 Beowulf, for you to prove your worth. The gods have gifted you with the strength of thirty men, and this strength you should use to the advantage of your fellows, Our neighbor Hrothgar is in sore need. Go forth, then, from Geatsland to the land of the Danes, and do mortal combat with this Grendel-fiend.”<br />For seven days and seven nights there were great preparations in the halls of Hygelac the Great, that Beowulf might go on his adventure fully equipped for whatever a aited him in Daneland. From the group of companions who had come to manhood at the same time as himself, Beowulf selected fourteen earls to accompany him. He had wiched to go alone to the land of the Danes, but his uncle the king had commanded that he be suitably companioned on such a voyage, so that at the court of Hrothgar it could not be said that Hygelac had sent the, youth upon a fool’s errand and badly equipped.<br />Special shields were made, of stout wood covered with thick hides and bound with iron and studded with golden nails. Rich cloaks of scarlet and blue there were for the warriors, and massive bracelets of fine gold for their arms and wrists, and collars of gold wire.<br />When at last they stood ready in the meadhall of Hygelac, they were a fine company of young men, whose like was not to be seen in all the countries of the North. Each stood well over six feet in height, with broad shoulders and sturdy legs; and each was swift as a deer.<br />Then came the signal for the journey down to the beach whre a ship lay in readiness to receive Beowulf and his earls, and with torches flaming in the grayness of approaching dawn, they departed.<br />They came at length to the coast of Daneland and the sea boiled white between them and the land, and the land itself was scarred and pitted with a thousand narrow inlets, which were treacherous to seafarers unfamiliar with them. The forests that clung to the shore line were half hidden in gray mists that moved and twisted like smoke about the trees, but as the storm lessened, they beached their boat on a tiny strip of sand at the edge of a deep forest hung with gray fog and silent as death.<br />That night, after Beowulf and his companions had rested, for the first time in twelve years there was a great banquet in the hall of Hrothgar. The place was decorated with fine hangings, the gold-bright roof burnished until it shone like the sun, and the benches had been scraped and polished by many willing hands. Huge fires were built on the hearths, and the smell of roasting meats pervaded the hall.<br />The fires were burnt out on the hearths when the last of Hrothgar’s train had departed. Then Beowulf and his companions set themselves to fastening tightly the door of the hall. They secured it with wooden bolts and tied it with leathern thongs, and so strong was it that no mortal could have passed through.<br />Then the warriors of Geatsland unfolded their cloaks upon the benches and laid themselves down to slumber, and Beowulf stretched his great length upon the dais of the king, and resolved that through the long night he would never once close his eyes. Near the door lay the young Hondscio, Beowulf’s favorite earl, who swore that if anyone broke through the door he would be the first to give the intruder battle.<br />Silence crept over the shrouded forms where they lay upon the floor and benches, and there was no sound save their steady breathing and the faint sighing of the night wind in the trees about the hall.<br />Beowulf, upon his couch, lay still as death, but his eyes moved here and there in the deepening gloom of the hail.<br />Outside, a fog was creeping up from the sea, obscuring the moon in milky eclipse, and at last there was not even the sound of the wind in the trees. To Beowulf the deep silence seemed full of moving things invisible to human eyes.<br />Gradually there came over him a kind of drowsiness that he fought to ward off. His eyelids fluttered against his eyes, and then he swooned with a sleep that lay upon his limbs like a heavy garment.<br />But suddenly there was a rustling among the wet trees, and a noise like the deep grunt of a pig, but soft and low, startled the fog- bound night, and the drops of mist-water on the trees fell sharply to the ground like heavy rain. Then the fog parted evenly, and in the wide path it made through the night a Shadow loomed gigantic in all that was left of moonlight.<br />Slowly, slowly it neared the great hail and the night shuddered at its coming, and behind it, as it moved, the fog closed again with a sucking sound. And the Shadow stood before the great door of the hail, and swayed hideously in the ghastly light.<br />Within there was a deep stillness, and Beowulf and the Geatish earls slept soundly, with no knowledge of what stood so evilly beyond the door. For the monstrous Shadow was the fiend Grendel, and standing there in the fog- strewn night he placed a spell upon those who slept to make them sleep more soundly.<br />But Beowulf hung between sleeping and waking, and while the spell did not completely deaden his senses, it so ensnared his waking dream that he fought desperately against it in his half-sleep and was not quite overpowered.<br />Little by little the thongs that secured the door gave way, and the huge wooden bolts yielded under the pressure that was strained against them, but no sound broke upon the silent struggle that went on between Grendel and the door.<br />Beowulf tossed and turned in waking, but the other earls of Geatsiand fell deeper and deeper into the swooning sleep.<br />Then with a rush, the door flew wide, and the fog and salt-smelling night swept in. And in the doorway, swaying this way and that, stood Grendel, huge and dark against the dark night, the fog weaving about him in white veils, and the door of the hail limp on its hinges.<br />And Beowulf came out of his dream-spell and saw what stood so vast and evil in the doorway. But his eyes were heavy with the spell that clung to him as the wisps of fog clung about the body of Grendel, and only slowly was he able to distinguish the monster. Through his nightmare, now, there came the sense of what had befallen him, and he strove to cast the last remnant of the magic from him as he saw the great form of Grendel swoop down upon the innocent form of young Hondscio, catch him up in enormous hands, and tear him limb from sleeping limb.<br />And now at last Beowulf saw what manner of thing this Grendel was. His legs were like the trunks of trees and they were covered with a kind of gray dry scale that made a noise like paper as the fiend moved this way and that. The body of the beast was shaped like that of a man, but such a man as no mortal eyes had ever before beheld, and the size and shape of it were something to be marveled at.<br />The head was the head neither of beast or man, yet had something of the features of both, and the great jaw was filled with blunt fangs that ground the bones of the unhappy Hondscio to pulp. Shaggy matted hair hung over the low forehead, and the eyes in the face of Grendel were the color of milk.<br />Horror-struck upon his couch, Beowulf felt his limbs in thrall and could move neither leg nor arm to raise himself as Grendel devoured the body of the young Hondscio.<br />And when Grendel had finished his horrid meal, the beast straightened a little his vast form and looked now to the left, now to the right, until his gaze fell upon the length of Beowulf. Then the milk-white eyes burned with a dull light that was like the light of the moon, and slowly, slowly Grendel moved toward the dais.<br />But Beowulf, stung with loathing, leaped from his bed.<br />Silently they fought in the fog-strewn hail. Silently their bodies twisted and bent, this way and that, and Beowulf kept Grendel’s huge hands with their long claws of sharp bone from him, and Grendel in turn sought to tear apart the quick body that slipped so easily through his arms and legs.<br />Their bodies wove in and out among the sleepers, and Beowulf felt the hot reek of Grendel’s breath upon his cheek, and the sweat stood out on Beowulf’s broad brow and ran down into his eyes and blinded him. And Grendel’s huge hands sought over and over again to clasp his opponent’s head, to crush it in their grip.<br />Then the fight became a deadly struggle in one far corner of the hall, and neither one gained any advantage over the other. Then Beowulf slipped. On the earthen floor they fell together and the force of their fall made the earth tremble.<br />But Grendel’s hold lessened, and fear smote the heart of the fiend. He strove only to free himself from Beowulf’s grasp and flee into the night away from this white youth whose strength was the strength of thirty men.<br />And now Beowulf had the upper hand, and flew at the giant’s throat. But here his hands clutched at thick scales upon which he could get no grip. Grendel nearly took the advantage, but before he could seize Beowulf, the lord of Geatsiand had fastened both mighty hands upon the monster’s arm, and with a sudden twist that forced a groan of agony from Grendel’s lips, leaped behind him.<br />Now came the final struggle, and sweat poured from Beowulf, while from Grendel there oozed a slimy sap that smelled like vinegar, and sickened Beowulf. But he clung to the monster’s arm, and slowly, slowly he felt its great muscles and sinews give way, and as his foot found Grendel’s neck, he prayed to all the gods for help, and called upon his father Ecgtheow for strength to sustain him in this desperate effort.<br />And the mighty arm of Grendel gave way in the terrible hands of Beowulf, and, with a piercing shriek that shook the gilded rafters, Grendel stumbled forward, leaving in Beowulf’s hands the gory arm.<br />Beowulf fell back upon the dais, the bleeding arm of Grendel in his hands. And Grendel, with a prolonged and ghastly wail, his blunt fangs gnashing together In dumb fury, stumbled toward the door, and before Beowulf could recover, the fiend was away into the fog which swallowed him as surely and completely as though he had plunged into the everlasting sea.<br />