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The poem opens with a scene of shild's funeral and and a brief description of how good of a king he was to his people. Shild's funeral is a memorable early ritual in the work, but focus soon shifts to the reign of his great-grandson, Hrothgar, whose successful rule is symbolized by a magnificent central mead-hall called Herot. For 12 years, a huge man-like monster named Grendel, a descendant of the biblical murderer Cain, has menaced the aging Hrothgar, raiding Heorot and killing the king's thanes (warriors). Grendel basically rules the mead-hall nightly
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Beowulf, a young warrior in Geatland (southwestern Sweden), comes to the scyldings' aid, bringing with him 14 of his finest men. Hrothgar once sheltered Beowulf's father during a deadly feud, and the mighty Geat hopes to return the favor while enhancing his own reputation and gaining treasure for his king, Higlac. At a feast before nightfall of the first day of the visit, Unferth insults Beowulf and claims that he once embarrassingly lost a swimming contest to an old friend named Brecca and is no match for Grendel. Beowulf responds with confidence while putting Unferth in his place. He explains they were separated by a storm on the fifth night of the contest, and Beowulf had slain nine sea monsters before finally returning.
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One day, while everyone was asleep, Beowulf and his men act asleep, fully aware that Grendel will visit them. And He does. Angered by the joy of the men in the mead-hall, the monster furiously bursts in on the Geats, killing one and then reaching for Beowulf. With the strength of 30 men in his hand-grip, Beowulf seizes the monster's claw and does not let go. The battle nearly destroys the great hall, but Beowulf becomes victorious as he rips Grendel's arm from its shoulder socket, sending the mortally wounded beast fleeing to his mere (pool).
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The arm trophy hangs high under the roof of Herot.
Everyone celebrates the next day with a huge feast and celebration at the mead hall. Hrothgar's wife, Queen Wealhtheow, proves to be a perfect hostess, offering Beowulf a gold collar and her gratitude
Everyone celebrates the next day with a huge feast and celebration at the mead hall. Hrothgar's wife, Queen Wealhtheow, proves to be a perfect hostess, offering Beowulf a gold collar and her gratitude
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But Grendel's mother — not quite as powerful as her son but highly motivated — climbs to Herot that night, retrieves her son's arms, murders & kidnaps one of Hrothgar's good advisor, Esher, while Beowulf sleeps elsewhere. The next morning, Hrothgar, Beowulf, and a few Scyldings and Geats follow the mother's tracks into a dark, swamp and to the edge of her mere. Esher's head sits on a cliff by the lake, which hides the monsters' underground cave. Carrying a sword called Hrunting, a gift from Unferth, Beowulf dives into the mere to seek Grendel's mother. After being under for hours near the bottom of the lake, Grendel's mother attacks and hauls the Geat warrior(Kenning!:)) to her cave. Beowulf fights back once inside the dry cavern, but Hrunting, strong as it is, fails to penetrate her. The mother tries to kill Beowulf with her knife, but his armor, protects him. Suddenly Beowulf spots a magical, giant sword and uses it to cut through the mother's neck, killing her. he then finds Grendel's arm that the mother took and grabs it. The magic sword melts to its hilt. Beowulf returns to the lake's surface carrying the head and hilt but leaving the treasure. by this time, everyone except his men had left because they thought he was dead.
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After more celebration and gifts and a sermon by Hrothgar, Beowulf and his men return to Geatland. There, he serves his king well until Higlac is killed in battle and his son dies in a feud. Beowulf is then named king and rules successfully for 50 years. But of course, years later, trouble comes and Beowulf must battle one more demon.
He has to fight a fiery dragon has become enraged because a runaway slave has discovered the dragon's treasure and stole the dragon's favorite cup. The dragon terrorizes the countryside at night, burning several homes, including Beowulf's. Led by the fugitive, Beowulf and eleven of his men seek out the dragon's barrow. Beowulf insists on taking on the dragon alone, but his own sword, Nagling, is no match for the monster. Seeing his king in trouble, one thane, Wiglaf, goes to his assistance. The others flee to the woods. Together, Wiglaf and Beowulf kill the dragon, but the mighty king is mortally wounded. Dying, Beowulf leaves his kingdom to Wiglaf and requests that his body be cremated in a funeral pyre and buried high on a seaside cliff where passing sailors might see the barrow. The dragon's treasure is buried with him...
The End
reference:
http://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/b/beowulf
He has to fight a fiery dragon has become enraged because a runaway slave has discovered the dragon's treasure and stole the dragon's favorite cup. The dragon terrorizes the countryside at night, burning several homes, including Beowulf's. Led by the fugitive, Beowulf and eleven of his men seek out the dragon's barrow. Beowulf insists on taking on the dragon alone, but his own sword, Nagling, is no match for the monster. Seeing his king in trouble, one thane, Wiglaf, goes to his assistance. The others flee to the woods. Together, Wiglaf and Beowulf kill the dragon, but the mighty king is mortally wounded. Dying, Beowulf leaves his kingdom to Wiglaf and requests that his body be cremated in a funeral pyre and buried high on a seaside cliff where passing sailors might see the barrow. The dragon's treasure is buried with him...
The End
reference:
http://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/b/beowulf