User:William Johnston 1994

Beowulf an Anglo-Saxon Epic Poem.

Beowulf was an enriching poem, it was made in approximately the sixteenth century, and its author is unknown. Critics say that this book was probably written by a Christian, expressing his views on paganism. Beowulf is a poem about a young hero who needs to fight a monster named Grendel who terrorizes villagers, upon defeating his foe he realizes that Grendel was only the first of many monsters he would have to face.

Main characters Beowulf= our Epic hero he hails from Geat is powerful and comes from a family of honor; he was requested to slay the beast named Grendel. Grendel= the first villain of the poem, he is a direct descendant from Cain, he lives in a swampy marsh that seems like it isn't on the earth, he put a curse on himself which made any weapon forged from human hands useless. He is wickedly evil and has an unquenchable blood lust. Hrothgar= the King of Denmark, gave Beowulf his daunting task, owned Herot a mead hall where Grendel attacked for years killing warriors of all kinds, he is invincible to Grendel because he sits on a throne of God. Wiglaf=Wextan's son, good solider, Swedish, his ancestral sword was originally his nephew's but when he killed his nephew he took it as a prize. Geat= the inhabitants of Geatland, the homeland of Beowulf. Herot= the mead hall that Grendel attacked unmerciful for 12 years. Owned by Hrothgar. Unferth= a Geat who believed that Beowulf couldn't do what he said he could.

Grendel is a decendant of Cain, this just proves that he can't be good because his family came from the first murder in the world. Hrothgar can't be harmed from Grendel because he sits on a throne of God. On lines 90-94 it says that pagans would sacrifice, make vows, and seek help from the devil. They had no faith because of Grendel and the tough times that they had to endure. Beowulf introduces himself to the Danish sentry with pride, valor, and honor about his family’s lineage this says that family and what they accomplish are what matters. Beowulfs attitude shows that he was in it for the glory, and not so much for the good of others. In line 154 it says refers to the sea as the sea road. You would see this because of their belief of Wyrd; this is their love and fear of the sea. In the fight with Grendel Beowulf takes Grendel’s arm as a trophy. Beowulf fights Grendel without a weapon or shield because swords forged by humans can’t harm Grendel. If Beowulf should perish he requests that his armor be sent home, this would be in Anglo-Saxon England because it shows comitatus. It is only minor damaged and that only fire could do any real damage to it. the soldiers couldn't help beowulf because they were too weak. That he is the almighty hand of god chosen to rid the world of evil. Grendel lives in an unearthly swamp that is dark but light, dirty, horrid and wrought with demons of every kind. If Beowulf should perish he requests that his armor be sent home, this would be in Anglo-Saxon England because it shows comitatus. Unferth is an antagonist he gives Beowulf his ancestral sword, it is significant because not only was it from his family but this means that Beowulf can't use his and he doesn't the condition the sword was in, so he is giving up home field advantage. A giant's sword was on the ground using this sword He then proceeded to chop her head off with one giant chop. When everyone left, the Geat stayed and waited for their lords body to either rise up from the depths of that swamp dead or triumphant. He took the head of Grendel and the hilt of the giants sword, he choose Grendel’s head because Grendel’s mom took Grendel’s arm which was Beowulf’s original treasure and he took the hilt because it was the only part that remained from the sword in which he slayed Grendel’s mom who was two times if not more, stronger than Grendel was, this was a symbol of the raw strength a hero must acquire. Beowulf uses armor and weaponry in his battle with the dragon because he is older, not as strong, and the flames would eat him alive Wiglaf was the only brave solider and was almost killed when he went to save Beowulf.

AN ELEDGY TO BEOWULF If ever glory was to compare to man it would be my lord, Beowulf. I’m honored to have pledged comitatus to him. I stood bravely by his side, as he prepared for his last fight. I remember the way he talked, and encouraged us to fight our hardest. When he was faced with the daunting task a look of honor flashed upon his face, Of youth, memory, victory and glory. He accepted it without doubt. So we set off to do battle with the beast. When we got there and our men saw what they were up against they fled, but I stayed and fought alongside Beowulf. A Jetstream of fiery poison shot from the beasts scaled mouth and would've killed my lord had it not been for me, But he didn't go through unharmed, he was cut on his throat and his dying wish was for him to see the treasure that he fought so hard for. When I returned he only appreciated the treasures shortly for he then went to the sea in the sky. A week later he got an appropriate funeral, I returned home to the sea to follow the beliefs of Wyrd. But not a day passes that I don't think about my lord, Beowulf. Through his unfortunate death and the circumstances surrounding it he achieved immortality His honor, valor, bravery, and glory were cast upon his fiery grave Permanently sealed, never to be tainted and will always remain The same throughout time.

Summery After Grendel died Beowulf had to travel to Grendel’s moms house to eliminate her, upon arriving at the monsters lair Grendel’s mother started attacking Beowulf. After a brief scuffle Beowulf finds a sword forged by a giant, he uses this sword to kill Grendel’s mom. Before he leaves he takes with him Grendel’s head and the hilt of the the giant sword. Upon returning to Herot he was crowned king in which he reigned for many years. After hearing word of a dragon in a close by village he decides to take this enemy down. Unfortunately he is old, brittle, and not as strong as he used to be. He gathers many knights to aide him, but only one stays by his side the whole battle through. Beowulf kills the dragon thanks to Wiglaf but is severely burned and has a throbbing wound on his throat it is now that Beowulf dies. He receives a "Viking" funeral in which they put him inside a pile of wood and lit it on fire, inside this fire were the treasures that were in the tower, Beowulf, and anything else that belonged to him.