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.