Beowulf

A detailed Summary of Beowulf

A long time ago, around 600 AD, an epic heroic poem titled Beowulf circulated around Denmark and Sweden. In the tenth century it was finally written down by an anonymous English monk. It was originally written in Anglo-Saxon, also known as Old English. Beowulf is an epic heroic poem about the Danes' struggle with an evil monster, Grendel. Grendel is a descended from the Cain's clan. He comes out at night to the mead hall, Heorot, and kills the men in the hall. The struggle with Grendel gets so bad, a hero by the name of Beowulf comes to the Danes from the land of the Geats to defeat the evil Grendel. The text of Beowulf has many images of life and death. Hrothgar's birth is an example of an image of life. Grendel killing thirty men in Heorot is an example of an image of death. And finally, Beowulf's struggle with Grendel is an example of an image of life and death.

An example of an image of life in Beowulf is Hrothgar's birth.

The long times and troubles they'd come through

Without a leader; so the lord of life,

The glorious Almighty, made this man renowned.

Shield had fathered a tamous son: (14-18)

This excerpt taken from Beowulf explains how the Danes are glad Hrothgar has been bo

Greedy and grim, he grabbed thirty men

Hygelac's kinsman kept him helplessly

In this excerpt explains how once again Grendel has arrived at Heorot to terrorize the Danes. This was expected though, and Beowulf is awake waiting for Grendel to attack. Beowulf knows that this fight is the difference between life and death. No man has ever defeated the evil monster Grendel. Beowulf also must use no weapons, because no weapon can overpower Grendel. Either Beowulf or Grendel is going to die. Once they start to fight Beowulf gets Grendel into an awesome handgrip which he cannot escape. Grendel was not expecting Beowulf's grip to be so mighty and forceful. His grip is so forceful it takes Grendel's arm and shoulder right off. This time Grendel did not defeat Heorot, for Beowulf has defeat Grendel and is giving him a "taste of his own medicine." The monster's arm is displayed on the wall of Heorot. Consequently, Beowulf fighting and defeating Grendel is an example of an imagery of life and death in Beowulf.

This excerpt explains the terror brought by Grendel to Heorot. The words grim and greedy are used to give the reader an image of the darkness and gloominess that Grendel brings to the epic heroic poem. The lair is a cave where Grendel takes the butchered corpses that he has s

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Approximate Word count = 867
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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Beowulf

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