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ALTHOUGH the manuscript which contains the epic of Beowulf
was written about 1000 A.D., the poem itself was known and
had been elaborated upon for centuries by minstrels who
recited the heroic exploits of the son of Ecgtheow and
nephew of Hygelac, King of the Geats, whose kingdom was
what is now Southern Sweden.
[see also: Beowulf
period map - image: 14K]
In his boyhood Beowulf gave evidence of the great feats
of strength and courage which in manhood made him the
deliverer of Hrothgar, King of Denmark, from the monster,
Grendel, and later in his own kingdom from the fiery
dragon which dealt Beowulf a mortal blow.
[see also: Introduction,
Part I, to The Danish History by Saxo
Grammaticus.
Webmaster's note: Particularly valuable is the material
under the heading "Political Institutions". This
material is continued in Introduction,
Part II.]
Beowulf's first renown followed his conquest of many
sea-monsters while he swam for seven days and nights
before he came to the country of the Finns. Helping to
defend the land of the Hetware, he killed many of the
enemy and again showed his prowess as a swimmer by
bringing to his ship the armor of thirty of his slain
pursuers. Offered the crown of his native land, Beowulf,
just entering manhood, refused it in favor of Heardred,
the young son of the queen. Instead, he acted as guardian
and counsellor until the boy-king grew old enough to rule
alone.
For twelve years, Hrothgar, King of Denmark, suffered
while his kingdom was being ravaged by a devouring
monster, named Grendel. This Grendel bore a charmed life
against all weapons forged by man. He lived in the
wastelands and nightly prowled out to visit the hall of
Hrothgar, carrying off and slaughtering many of the
guests.
[see also: Similarities
between Grendel and Cain]
Beowulf, hearing from mariners of Grendel's murderous
visits, sailed from Geatland with fourteen stalwart
companions to render Hrothgar the help of his great
strength. Landing on the Danish coast, Beowulf was
challenged as a spy. He persuaded the coastguards to let
him pass, and he was received and feasted by King
Hrothgar. When the king and his court retired for the
night, Beowulf and his companions were left alone in the
hall. All but Beowulf fell asleep. Grendel entered. With a
stroke he killed one of Beowulf's sleeping men, but
Beowulf, unarmed, wrestled with the monster and by dint of
his great strength managed to tear Grendel's arm out at
the shoulder. Grendel, mortally wounded, retreated,
leaving a bloody trail from the hall to his lair.
All fear of another attack by Grendel allayed, the Danes
returned to the hall, and Beowulf and his companions were
sheltered elsewhere. Grendel's mother came to avenge the
fatal injury to her monster son and carried off a
Danish nobleman and Grendel's torn-off paw. Following
the blood trail, Beowulf went forth to despatch the
mother. Armed with his sword, Hrunting, he came to the
water's edge. He plunged in and swam to a chamber under
the sea. There he fought with Grendel's mother, killing
her with an old sword he found in the sea cavern. Nearby
was Grendel's body. Beowulf cut off its head and brought
it back as a trophy to King Hrothgar. Great was the rejoicing
in the hall and greater was Beowulf's welcome when he
returned to Geatland, where he was given great estates and
many high honors.
[see also: Beowulf
Prepares for Battle Once Again]
[see also: Notes
on Beowulf and Grendel's mother's attack]
Shortly afterward, Heardred, the boy-king, was killed in
the war with the Swedes. Beowulf succeeded him to the
throne.
For fifty years Beowulf ruled his people in peace and
serenity. Then suddenly a dragon, furious at having his
treasure stolen from his hoard in a burial mound, began to
ravage Beowulf's kingdom. Like Grendel, this monster left
its den at night on its errand of murder and pillage.
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Beowulf, now an aged monarch, resolved to do battle,
unaided, with the dragon. He approached the entrance to
its den, whence boiling steam issued forth. Undaunted,
Beowulf strode forward shouting his defiance. The dragon
came out, sputtering flames from its mouth. The monster
rushed upon Beowulf with all its fury and almost crushed
him in its first charge. So fearful grew the struggle that
all but one of Beowulf's men deserted and fled for their
lives. Wiglaf
remained to help his aged monarch. Another rush of the
dragon shattered Beowulf's sword and the monster's fangs
sunk into Beowulf's neck. Wiglaf, rushing into the
struggle, helped the dying Beowulf to kill the dragon.
[see also: Beowulf:
The Last Moments]
Before his death, Beowulf named Wiglaf his successor to
the throne of Geatland and ordered that his own ashes be
placed in a memorial shrine at the top of a high cliff
commanding the sea. Beowulf's body was burned on a vast
funeral pyre, while twelve Geats rode around the mound
singing their sorrow and their praise for the good and
great man, Beowulf.
[see also: Other
Characters in Beowulf]
[see also: Christian
Elements in Beowulf]
[see also: map
of Anglo-Saxon England - image: 28K]
[see also: Anglo-Saxon
England - A Guide to Online Resources ]
[see also: The
Danish History by Saxo Grammaticus]
[see also: Old
English Pages]
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