Beowulf :: Epic of Beowulf Essays

Type of Work Heroic epic poem set"Land of the Geats," s starthern Sweden and Denmark c. sixth century Principal CharactersBeowulf, a Geat heroHrothgar, King of the DanesUnferth, a Danish warriorWiglaf, Beowulfs nephew and loyal court noble Story Overview coarse ago in Hrothgars Danish kingdom lived a gruesome monster-giant namedGrendel, who nightly roamed the countryside. Rising from his marshy home, he wouldstalk to the Kings high vestibule, and there devour 15 of Hrothgars sleeping warriors.Then, before departing, the monster would seize fifteen more men with his huge armsand bear them rearwards to his watery lair. For twelve years the mass murder continued. Word of this terror spread across the sea to the land of the Geats, ruled by Hygelac.Beowulf, Hygelacs principal advisor and warrior and a man of great strength andcourage, comprehend the tale of Grendels murderous attacks. Straightway, he set sail tofree the Danes from the demons depredations. In Denmark, a coas t-watcher met the weary company of fifteen seafarers. Learning ofBeowulfs intended mission, he permitted the Danes to pass. They started out then - the spacious ship remained behind, riding on its rope, ... Figures of boars, bright and fire-hardened, gleamed gold-adorned above the cheek-guards in war the boarhelped guard those fierce mens lives ... To Hrothgars high hall they marched. There the King spread a banquet feast inBeowulfs honor the mead cup was passed around, and the boasting began. But theDanish warrior Unferth, "drunken with wine," taunted the Geat, reminding him of afive-day naiant contest in which Beowulf was said to have been bested. The Geatanswered boldly, however, that he had not only emerged victorious in the race, entirelyhad been forced to kill nine deadly sea-monsters during the course. by and by the feast, Hrothgar and his warriors went to their rest, leaving Beowulf and hismen in the hall. Then came the fiendish Grendel, "with an unlovely ligh t, like a hellishflame in his eyes." The ironbound door burst open at the touch of his fingers, and herejoiced at the rich feast of human flesh awaiting him. He seized one sleeping warrior,tore him up furiously, bit through muscles and sinews, and drank the family in streams.Then he quickly consumed the entire corpse "as a wolf might eat a rabbit." Hereached toward another victim, but the beast was destined to dine no more that night.Without shield or spear, Beowulf took hold of the dreaded monster, wrenching off hisright arm and the maimed Grendel fled back to his home.