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Grendel was a powerful monster who lived in dark and misty moors. He was conceived by monsters who were born of Cain. He tries to kill everyone he could find and eat their flesh and bones.

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Beowulf was a very outgoing character. He was very courageous but sometimes cocky. He was of Higlac's followers and was the strongest of the Geats. He had heard how Grendel made everyones night fill with horror and he quickly set out to kill him.



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Thoughts and Opions

We liked how courageous Beowulf was throughout the story. One thing we didn't like was how he was very prideful and bragged about all of his victories in the past. As he got older, he came out of that mood. He was very determined that he could win his battles. He defeated both Grendel and Grendels mother but then he was also killed after he defeated the dragon in the end. By doing this, it had made him a hero and a king. It was normal for Grendel's mother to go after Beowulf because we would have done the same thing if we were in that situation but killing the person in our opinion, isn't right. We really liked this story and would like to read another epic like this one.

Quotes

"Now go to him as you are in your armor and helmets, but leave your battle-shields here, and your spears, let them lie waiting for your promises your words may make." (Page 36)

- Beowulf and his men were to battle with no battle-shields or spears and make a promise not to abandon him.


"I leave my armor to my son, now, if God had given me an heir, a child born of my body, his life created from mine." (Page 56)

- As he's dying his last will and testament is that his son recieves all of his armor and money.


"I remember how we sat in the mead-hall, drinking and boasting of how brave we'd be when Beowulf needed us." (Page 55)

- This is when his when Wiglaf shouted out that Beowulf's men abandoned their promises when Beowulf needed them the most.

Beowulf Summary

Beowulf is an epic poem about a courageous man (Beowulf) and an evil monster (Grendel). This was the longest poem in the Anglo-Saxson Period. Beowulf was a man who wanted to be a hero and wanted to defeat evil. He had heard of Grendel filling nights with horror so he decided he needed to do something. Grendel had killed thirty men one night while they were sleeping. When Beowulf reaches Herot, he defeats Grendel with his bare hands instead of a weapon. He reached his goal of being a hero in the end.

Soon after the battle with Grendel, Grendel's mother was outraged when she found out that Grendel was defeated in battle. She decided to go after Beowulf but couldn't find him at the Hall so she took Hrothgar's closest friend. Beowulf went after her in the lake to defeat her with his bare hands, but he failed. He found a sword made by giants, in which no ordinary man could lift, and struck her in the neck with all his might.

Fifty years later Beowulf became King of his nature and most of his strength faded. He had one last battle with the dragon. He went up to the tower to defeat the dragon but was injured because none of the fourteen followers stayed but one. Wiglaf was the only follower to stay and show his loyalty. He stayed and helped Beowulf defeat the mighty dragon. Beowulf was later struck in the neck and slowly died. He proved how much of a hero he truley was through all three battles.