Beowulf (8th Century AD)

	Old English Text
	Modern English Translation
	Side-by-side Translation
	Electronic Beowulf Project
	GradeSaver Beowulf Page

Beowulf is one of the greatest epics of all time.  It was an oral Anglo-Saxon legend, with an unknown author, recited by scops (kind-of like medieval traveling minstrels) in the mead halls.  Mead halls were the places to be for your typical Anglo-Saxon warrior.  It was written in Old English, almost nothing like what you would call English, and is considered the first work of the English language or any modern European language.  Beowulf tells of the great Heroic deeds of none other than Beowulf himself.
       King Hrothgar ruled over the Danes.  There was a great mead hall called Herot built where the merriment was great.  There was, however, a problem.  There was a monster living in a swamp nearby.  His name was Grendel, a descendent of Cain.  He hated to hear the joyous noises coming from the hall every night.  One night it finally became too much.  He stole into the hall while the warriors were sleeping there and killed and ate 30 men.  Every night after that, Grendel would strike--killing and eating many.  He continued this for twelve years.  Finally, word reached the land of the Geats as to what was happening.  In Geatland lived the greatest warrior who ever walked on earth.  His name was Beowulf.  He took soldiers with him and went to the rescue of the Danes.  He arrived and told the king his mission.  That night, he and the king's men went back to the mead hall.  Grendel went there that night as well and saw all of the "sleeping" men.  He grabbed one and ate him.  Then he grabbed Beowulf.  Beowulf, however, grabbed him as well, and eventually pulled off Grendel's arm.  Grendel fled to his swamp to die. 
        This isn't the end, however, for Grendel had a mother who was much more fierce and evil than Grendel.  She went into Herot the next night and killed one of the Danish king's men.  They chased her back to her swamp.  Beowulf dives in after her (he's under water for several hours...) in order to kill her.  He finally finds her and only manages to kill her by using a giant's sword he finds at the bottom.  After much festivities, Beowulf returns home and eventually becomes King of the Geats.  He gets them through huge wars and brings peace and prosperity to the kingdom.  
    This isn't to last, though.  A man seeking treasure opens up a hoard of it, only to find a dragon who had been trapped in there for years.  The dragon terrorizes the kingdom, and finally Beowulf (now fairly old) decides to fight him, knowing that he probably will die.  During the fight, Beowulf dies, but not before the dragon is killed, mainly due to the help of one of Beowulf's soldiers, Wiglaf.  In the end, they build a great monument on the sea so that all know where the great Beowulf is buried.