Beowulf begins with an introduction of Grendel. Grendel is "a powerful monster living down in the darkness." He is a demonic monster born of Cain, who murdered his brother Abel, and a "murderous creature banished by God." He slaughters the men in the mead-hall, making all of his murderous trips after nightfall, covered by the darkness. King Hrothgar was an old king, and was unable to rid the land of this monster himself, he needed someone stronger than any warrior before.
Beowulf is then introduced into he poem. He decides to help King Hrothgar in his time of need. He made his journey over seas and into the land of the Danes. Beowulf is Higlac's follower and the strongest of all the Greats. He is greater and stronger than anyone in this world. When they arrived on the Danish shore, they were met by Hrothgar's lieutenant, a Danish watcher who was patrolling along the cliffs and saw them arrive, needing to know why they landed. Beowulf spoke of who he was, and of his plan to defeat Grendel and rid the Danes of this vicious creature. The watchman trusts in his word and leads him into Herot to see the king. When Beowulf and his men arrive in Herot they are called to see the king. Asking of the king to grant him his one request, Beowulf explains once more his plan to rid the land of the demon Grendel, and for permission to do so, and the king grants him this favor.
That night, Beowulf waited in the mead-hall, eager and awaiting Grendel's arrival. Grendel, bearing God's hatred and hoping to kill, came quickly and silently to the hall. Snapping the door open, he enters and picks his first victim. He rips the man apart, cut his body to bits with his powerful jaws, and drank the blood from his veins. Finished, he moved on to the next body, snatching onto Beowulf with his claws. Instantly, he himself was seized by the strength of Beowulf, and in a matter of minutes, Beowulf manages to tear off Grendel's arm at his shoulder, never once loosening his death-grip. Grendel escaped then, but mortally wounded, fled back to his cave only to be shadowed by death slowly engulfing him.
It wasn't long until people started talking and realized that Grendel wasn't alone. There were two, and one of the devils was a female creature, a mother. If there was a father, no one knew him. They lived in secret, beneath a hidden lake. It was described as such. "The groves of trees growing out over their lake are all covered with frozen spray, and wind down snakelike roots that reach as far as the water and help keep it dark. At night that lake burns like a torch. No one knows its bottom, and no wisdom reaches such depths." Grendel's mother is hidden in this place they call home and Beowulf will seek her in an attempt to end her life on earth, just as he did her son's.
Beowulf, after uttering his last words to his men, jumped into the lake and for hours he sank through the water. When he finally reached the bottom, the she-wolf, Grendel's mother, discovered him. She clutched at him and Beowulf struggled to free his weapon. She brought him to someone's battle-hall, and there the water's heat could not hurt him. He saw his opportunity and swung at her head with all his might. But he soon found that no sword could slice her evil skin, so they wrestled. For a moment she had him down, and she drew a dagger, brown with dried blood, and prepared to avenge her only son. Her blade was blunted by the woven mail shirt he wore on his chest, the hammered links held and her blade could not touch him. Beowulf got back on his feet and there on the wall, he saw a heavy sword, hammered by giants, strong and blessed with their magic. He drew it from it's scabbard and then "savage, now, angry and desperate, lifted it high over his head and struck with all the strength he had left. Caught her in the neck and cut it through, broke bones and all. Her body fell to the floor, lifeless, the sword was wet with her blood, and Beowulf rejoiced at the sight." He then moved on to find Grendel's dead body, and struck off his head with one swift blow. He carried his head out of the lake with him to meet his men and celebrate another victory.
Beowulf returns to the Greatland and reigns as king for fifty years. When a dragon menaces his kingdom, though a much older man now, he is still determined to slay the beast. He said farewell to his followers and strode calmly to defeat the monster. The monster came quickly towards him, pouring out fire and smoke. Beowulf used his shield for protection and for a moment it worked, until it began to melt. For the first time fate was against him. His sword broke when thrashed into the mighty beast, and knowing his weapon had failed him, he suffered and became engulfed in the dragon's breath of flames. Wiglaf, the only loyal follower left to Beowulf, saw his lord being defeated. He drew his sword and together, he and
Beowulf slayed the dragon. Beowulf though was mortally wounded and gave the golden necklace from around his throat to Wiglaf, telling him to take over his position as the leader of the Greats. With those final words, Beowulf dies. He was buried in the tower where he slayed the dragon, along with the treasure, now forever hidden in his tomb. Beowulf's followers mourned their leader, "crying that no better king had ever lived, no prince so mild, no man so open to his people, so deserving of praise." ("Raffel...")
Beowulf is then introduced into he poem. He decides to help King Hrothgar in his time of need. He made his journey over seas and into the land of the Danes. Beowulf is Higlac's follower and the strongest of all the Greats. He is greater and stronger than anyone in this world. When they arrived on the Danish shore, they were met by Hrothgar's lieutenant, a Danish watcher who was patrolling along the cliffs and saw them arrive, needing to know why they landed. Beowulf spoke of who he was, and of his plan to defeat Grendel and rid the Danes of this vicious creature. The watchman trusts in his word and leads him into Herot to see the king. When Beowulf and his men arrive in Herot they are called to see the king. Asking of the king to grant him his one request, Beowulf explains once more his plan to rid the land of the demon Grendel, and for permission to do so, and the king grants him this favor.
That night, Beowulf waited in the mead-hall, eager and awaiting Grendel's arrival. Grendel, bearing God's hatred and hoping to kill, came quickly and silently to the hall. Snapping the door open, he enters and picks his first victim. He rips the man apart, cut his body to bits with his powerful jaws, and drank the blood from his veins. Finished, he moved on to the next body, snatching onto Beowulf with his claws. Instantly, he himself was seized by the strength of Beowulf, and in a matter of minutes, Beowulf manages to tear off Grendel's arm at his shoulder, never once loosening his death-grip. Grendel escaped then, but mortally wounded, fled back to his cave only to be shadowed by death slowly engulfing him.
It wasn't long until people started talking and realized that Grendel wasn't alone. There were two, and one of the devils was a female creature, a mother. If there was a father, no one knew him. They lived in secret, beneath a hidden lake. It was described as such. "The groves of trees growing out over their lake are all covered with frozen spray, and wind down snakelike roots that reach as far as the water and help keep it dark. At night that lake burns like a torch. No one knows its bottom, and no wisdom reaches such depths." Grendel's mother is hidden in this place they call home and Beowulf will seek her in an attempt to end her life on earth, just as he did her son's.
Beowulf, after uttering his last words to his men, jumped into the lake and for hours he sank through the water. When he finally reached the bottom, the she-wolf, Grendel's mother, discovered him. She clutched at him and Beowulf struggled to free his weapon. She brought him to someone's battle-hall, and there the water's heat could not hurt him. He saw his opportunity and swung at her head with all his might. But he soon found that no sword could slice her evil skin, so they wrestled. For a moment she had him down, and she drew a dagger, brown with dried blood, and prepared to avenge her only son. Her blade was blunted by the woven mail shirt he wore on his chest, the hammered links held and her blade could not touch him. Beowulf got back on his feet and there on the wall, he saw a heavy sword, hammered by giants, strong and blessed with their magic. He drew it from it's scabbard and then "savage, now, angry and desperate, lifted it high over his head and struck with all the strength he had left. Caught her in the neck and cut it through, broke bones and all. Her body fell to the floor, lifeless, the sword was wet with her blood, and Beowulf rejoiced at the sight." He then moved on to find Grendel's dead body, and struck off his head with one swift blow. He carried his head out of the lake with him to meet his men and celebrate another victory.
Beowulf returns to the Greatland and reigns as king for fifty years. When a dragon menaces his kingdom, though a much older man now, he is still determined to slay the beast. He said farewell to his followers and strode calmly to defeat the monster. The monster came quickly towards him, pouring out fire and smoke. Beowulf used his shield for protection and for a moment it worked, until it began to melt. For the first time fate was against him. His sword broke when thrashed into the mighty beast, and knowing his weapon had failed him, he suffered and became engulfed in the dragon's breath of flames. Wiglaf, the only loyal follower left to Beowulf, saw his lord being defeated. He drew his sword and together, he and
Beowulf slayed the dragon. Beowulf though was mortally wounded and gave the golden necklace from around his throat to Wiglaf, telling him to take over his position as the leader of the Greats. With those final words, Beowulf dies. He was buried in the tower where he slayed the dragon, along with the treasure, now forever hidden in his tomb. Beowulf's followers mourned their leader, "crying that no better king had ever lived, no prince so mild, no man so open to his people, so deserving of praise." ("Raffel...")