BEOWULF

Hrothgar is the King of the Danes in Southern Denmark. Through success in battle, he
has become rich and mighty. As a symbol of his power and prosperity, he builds a
magnificent mead-hall, called Heorot, in which he and his loyal warriors can feast, drink,
boast, and listen to the tales of the scops, the Anglo-Saxon poets But soon after Heorot is
finished, the mirth of the men and the music of the scop anger Grendel, a monster descended
from Cain. Grendel raids the hall, snatching men and eating them, then returns to his home in
the marsh. He repeats his nightly raids until no one dares sleep in the hall. Heorot, once the
symbol of the Scyldings' greatness, is now a place of shame and terror. This continues for
twelve years, until Beowulf, a young warrior of the Geats in Southern Sweden, hears about
Grendel and, determined to fight the monster, sails to Hrothgar's lands with fifteen
companions.

Eventually, a young warrior named Beowulf heard of Hrothgar’s problem. Inspired by

the challenge, Beowulf sailed to Denmark with a small company of men, determined to
defeat Grendel. King Hrothgar, who had once done a great favor for Beowulf’s father,
Ecgtheow, accepted Beowulf’s offer to fight Grendel and held a feast in the hero’s honour.
During the feast, an envious Dane named Unferth taunted Beowulf and accused him of being
unworthy of his reputation. Beowulf responded with a boastful description of some of his
past accomplishments. His confidence cheered the Danish warriors, and the feast lasted
merrily into the night.

That night, the warriors sleep in Heorot, with Beowulf keeping watch. Grendel arrives
and consumes one of the warriors, then reaches for Beowulf. Beowulf fought him unarmed,
proving himself stronger than the demon. He is also famous for his powerful grip, which is as
strong as the grip of thirty men, as Grendel struggled to escape. Beowulf tore the monster’s
shoulder and arm. Grendel returns to the fens to die. His arm is hung as a trophy under the
roof of Heorot.

Hrothgar gives a second feast to celebrate Beowulf's victory. At the feast, Hrothgar
generously rewards Beowulf with treasure. The scop sings again, and Beowulf is praised until
nightfall. That night, Grendel's mother comes to the hall from her home at the bottom of a
lake, seeking revenge for the death of her son. She grabs Aeschere, a favorite warrior and
adviser of Hrothgar's, and consumes him, then returns home. In the morning, the warriors
follow her tracks to her lake, where they see Aeschere's head. Beowulf enters the lake, and
swims for hours before reaching her cave at the bottom. He fights with Grendel's mother, but
the sword Hrunting, which Unferth lent to Beowulf in a sign of fellowship, fails for the first
time. From the treasure hoard in the cave, Beowulf seizes a sword forged long ago by giants
and kills Grendel's mother. He sees Grendel's body, and removes the head, and takes it and
the hilt of the giant's sword (the blade melted on contact with the monster's blood) back to
Hrothgar.

There is another celebration in Heorot with more gifts and promises of friendship.
Hrothgar says he feels like Beowulf is his son, and weeps at Beowulf's departure. Beowulf
and his men return to Geatland, the land of the Geats, where his uncle the king, Hygelac, and
Hygelac's queen Hygd, greet Beowulf, accepting the treasure Beowulf gives them, and in turn
rewarding Beowulf with a sword, praise, and land. Hygelac is eventually killed by the
Swedes; his son Heardred, though young, takes the throne with Beowulf's support. At
Heardred's death, Beowulf takes the throne of the Geats, and rules in great prosperity and
fame for fifty years.

In Beowulf's old age, a thief finds a passageway into an old barrow. Inside, a dragon
guards a treasure trove left there long ago by the last survivor of an extinct people. The thief
steals a cup, but the dragon discovers the theft and burns the land, including Beowulf's mead-
hall. Beowulf, knowing his death is near, decides to fight the dragon. Accompanied by his
kinsman Wiglaf, ten warriors, and the thief, Beowulf sets out to confront the dragon. But
when Beowulf and the dragon fight, all of Beowulf's men flee except Wiglaf. With the aid of
Wiglaf he succeeded in killing the beast, but at a heavy cost. The dragon bit Beowulf and its
fiery venom killed him after their encounter.

Before he dies, Beowulf tells Wiglaf to rule after him, and to build him a funeral
barrow that overlooks the sea. Wiglaf punish the men for abandoning their lord. A messenger
sent to tell the Geats of Beowulf's death also warns of hard times for the Geats, now that
Beowulf is dead. The Geats build a pyre and cremate Beowulf, then construct a barrow
overlooking the sea, burying the dragon's cursed treasure with him.

UNLOCKING OF DIFFICULTIES
1. MAED-AHLL
Clue: is a large building feasting hall, where lords could formally receive visitors and
where the community would gather to socialize.

2. SOPC
Clue: a poet who travelled around the countryside and entertains king and warriors.

3. PRIG
Clue: a firm hold; a tight grasp or clasp.
4. SNEF
Clue: a low and marshy or frequently flooded area of land.

5. THIL
Clue: the handle of a weapon or tool, especially a sword, dagger, or knife.

6. WORBRA
Clue: A mound of earth and stones rose over a grave or graves.
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1. Who are the 6 Main Characters in the Epic

2. Why did Beowulf decide to free the Danes from Grendel?
3. Why did Beowulf fight Grendel with his bare hands? What does this reveal about his
character?
4. Why was it harder for Beowulf to kill Grendel’s mother than Grendel himself?
5. What were the qualities deeply esteemed by the people of those times? Would those
qualities be equally esteemed in our times?

LESSON PROPER
BEOWULF

Hrothgar is the King of the Danes in Southern Denmark. Through success in battle, he
has become rich and mighty. As a symbol of his power and prosperity, he builds a
magnificent mead-hall, called Heorot, in which he and his loyal warriors can feast, drink,
boast, and listen to the tales of the scops, the Anglo-Saxon poets But soon after Heorot is
finished, the mirth of the men and the music of the scop anger Grendel, a monster descended
from Cain. Grendel raids the hall, snatching men and eating them, and then returns to his
home in the marsh. He repeats his nightly raids until no one dare sleep in the hall. Heorot,
once the symbol of the Scyldings' greatness, is now a place of shame and terror. This
continues for twelve years.

Who is the king of Danes?

Why Grendel is angry?

The great mead-hall built by the king of Danes is called?

Until Beowulf, a young warrior of the Geats in Southern Sweden, hears about Grendel
and, determined to fight the monster, he sails to Hrothgar's lands with fifteen companions.
King Hrothgar, who had once done a great favor for Beowulf’s father, Ecgtheow, accepted
Beowulf’s offer to fight Grendel and held a feast in the hero’s honour. During the feast, an
envious Dane named Unferth taunted Beowulf and accused him of being unworthy of his
reputation. Beowulf responded with a boastful description of some of his past
accomplishments. His confidence cheered the Danish warriors, and the feast lasted merrily
into the night.

That night, the warriors sleep in Heorot, with Beowulf keeping watch. Grendel arrives
and consumes one of the warriors, then reaches for Beowulf. Beowulf fought him unarmed,
proving himself stronger than the demon. He is also famous for his powerful grip, which is as
strong as the grip of thirty men, as Grendel struggled to escape. Beowulf tore the monster’s
shoulder and arm. Grendel returns to the fens to die. His arm is hung as a trophy under the
roof of Heorot.

Who is the young warrior Geat who killed Grendel?

Who is the envious Dane who taunted Beowulf?

Beowulf tore what part of the body of Grendel?

Hrothgar gives a second feast to celebrate Beowulf's victory. At the feast, Hrothgar
generously rewards Beowulf with treasure. The scop sings again, and Beowulf is praised until
nightfall. That night, Grendel's mother comes to the hall from her home at the bottom of a
lake, seeking revenge for the death of her son. She grabs Aeschere, a favorite warrior and
adviser of Hrothgar's, and consumes him, then returns home. In the morning, the warriors
follow her tracks to her lake, where they see Aeschere's head. Beowulf enters the lake, and
swims for hours before reaching her cave at the bottom. He fights with Grendel's mother, but
the sword Hrunting, which Unferth lent to Beowulf in a sign of fellowship, fails for the first
time. From the treasure hoard in the cave, Beowulf seizes a sword forged long ago by giants
and kills Grendel's mother. He sees Grendel's body, and removes the head, and takes it and
the hilt of the giant's sword (the blade melted on contact with the monster's blood) back to
Hrothgar.

There is another celebration in Heorot with more gifts and promises of friendship.
Hrothgar says he feels like Beowulf is his son, and weeps at Beowulf's departure. Beowulf
and his men return to Geatland, the land of the Geats, where his uncle the king, Hygelac, and
Hygelac's queen Hygd, greet Beowulf, accepting the treasure Beowulf gives them, and in turn
rewarding Beowulf with a sword, praise, and land. Hygelac is eventually killed by the
Swedes; his son Heardred, though young, takes the throne with Beowulf's support. At
Heardred's death, Beowulf takes the throne of the Geats, and rules in great prosperity and
fame for fifty years.

Who seek revenge for Grendel?

What did they saw when they follow the track Grendel’s mother in the lake?

Who is the king Before Beowulf?

In Beowulf's old age, a thief finds a passageway into an old barrow. Inside, a dragon
guards a treasure trove left there long ago by the last survivor of an extinct people. The thief
steals a cup, but the dragon discovers the theft and burns the land, including Beowulf's mead-
hall. Beowulf, knowing his death is near, decides to fight the dragon. Accompanied by his
kinsman Wiglaf, ten warriors, and the thief, Beowulf sets out to confront the dragon. But
when Beowulf and the dragon fight, all of Beowulf's men flee except Wiglaf. With the aid of
Wiglaf he succeeded in killing the beast, but at a heavy cost. The dragon bit Beowulf and its
fiery venom killed him after their encounter.

Before he dies, Beowulf tells Wiglaf to rule after him, and to build him a funeral
barrow that overlooks the sea. Wiglaf punish the men for abandoning their lord. A messenger
sent to tell the Geats of Beowulf's death also warns of hard times for the Geats, now that
Beowulf is dead. The Geats build a pyre and cremate Beowulf, then construct a barrow
overlooking the sea, burying the dragon's cursed treasure with him.

Why the Dragon is Angry?

Who help Beowulf Killing the Dragon?

Beowulf is buried with what?

Beowulf Reading Comprehension Questions

Pre-reading considerations

1. What is your idea of a hero?

2. What is courage? How would you define it?

3. What qualities do you believe a good leader should possess?

4. What does it mean to be loyal?

5. Why is your reputation important?

ABOUT BEOWULF

Setting: 6

th

c. AD in Daneland (modern Denmark), then in Geatland (Norway)

Style: epic poem, including caesuras, strong 4-beat rhythm, alliteration

Author: oral tradition at first, established by scops, then 2 priests in the early 11

th

century wrote the only

surviving manuscript

Themes: Good vs. evil; the importance of loyalty

Characters: (These are not in chronological order)

Higlac—king of the Geats, Beowulf’s kinsman (uncle, probably)

Herot—mead-hall of the Danes

Beowulf—Geatish hero

Hrothgar—wise, good king of the Danes

Wiglaf—a Swede who changed sides to follow Beowulf; helped Beowulf defeat the Dragon

Grendel—monster who attacks the Danes for 12 years; descendent from Cain

Grendel’s Mother—attacks the Danes after Grendel is killed

Hrunting (The Battle with Grendel’s Mother)—the sword Beowulf takes into the fen-pool;
melts

Nagling (The Battle with the Dragon)—the sword Beowulf takes to the dragon’s lair; also
destroyed

Edgetho—Beowulf’s father, mentioned in kennings like “Edgetho’s son,” referring to

Beowulf

1. Who is Grendel?
2. What did King Hrothgar build for his men?
3. Which people did Grendel terrorize?
4. Who defeats Grendel?
5. How is Grendel ultimately defeated?
6. Who kills Aeschere?
7. What weapon does Beowulf use to kill Grendel's mother?
8. What does Beowulf bring back after he kills Grendel's mother?
9. Who is Beowulf's king?
10. How long does Beowulf rule Geatland?