The Angelo-Saxon Beowulf poem

Beowulf the Anglo-Saxon Poem

Beowulf is the longest and greatest surviving Anglo-Saxon poem. The setting of the poem is in the sixth century in what is now known as Denmark and southwestern Sweden. I feel like this poem is long and drawn out but then again it's kind of interesting. The Angelo-Saxons believe in bravery and heroism. A few ways that you can see bravery is listed in my summary of Beowulf. This poem can be summarized in the beginning when King of the Danes, Lord Healfdene reigned and handed his crown over to his son Hrothgar to rule.

Healfdene's son Hrothgar was eventually granted to rule because of his loyalty to the armies, and glory in battle. Hrothgar decided to build a great mead-hall, which he called Heorot. Hrothgar threw many parties there and gave out lots of treasures. Until one day the Heorot was overtook by a horrible evil creature by the name of Grendel. Grendel would come in the night and kill off and consume soldiers and others at the Heorot, while they slept. At dawn, when the Danes learned of Grendel's strength, there was great weeping. The old king sat sadly, crying for his men. Bloody footprints were found. King Hrothgar called on many around the world to come and destroy Grendel but all failed. They were no match for the evil creature. At least all but one. This celebration illustrates the Angelo-Saxson culture because they liked to party and celebrate when there's been an great accomplishment. After it was built,Hrothgar did what he said he would: handed out gold and treasure at huge feasts.

Beowulf finally heard King Hrothgar’s call, and he came to his aide with fourteen of his finest men ( Which is one example of bravery). Beowulf was a good man who came from among the Geats, where a man by the name of Hygelac was king. When he discovered what was happening to the people, he addressed Hrothgar as master. Hrothgar gladly thanked them for coming, and welcomed them. Beowulf discussed to Hrothgar a plan to kill Grendel. He wanted to go unarmed with the help of his troops. Unferth, (the son of Ecglaf, who sat at the feet of lord Scyldings' lord) had seen what the creature could do, since Grendel and Hrothgar have been at war with each other and opposed Beowulf's plan, and realized it was not even possible to accomplish. But Beowulf responded to Unferth's opinion stating that he has killed many monsters before all by himself. Realizing that Beowulf had great strength Hrothgar agreed with Beowulf, and wished him luck.

While the Danes (people under Hrothgar) retire to safer sleeping quarters, Beowulf and his men slept at the Heorot, fully aware that Grendel will visit them( Another sign of bravery). Which he did. When Grendal arrived he was angered by the joy of the men in the mead-hall, the creature furiously bursts in on the men, killing one and then going for Beowulf. With great strength, Beowulf grabs the creature’s claw and does not let go. The on-going battle nearly destroys the great hall,but Beowulf emerges victorious as he rips Grendel’s claw from his shoulder socket, sending the mortally wounded beast fleeing to his pool( One sign of heroism). In the morning when the daylight shone, the mead hall was stained in gore, the hall wet with the blood of battle. They hung the claw as a trophy under the roof of Heorot.
The fact was plain when Beowulf laid that arm and shoulder down, there altogether, Grendel's claw,under the vaulted roof.

The Danes celebrate the next day with a huge feast featuring entertainment by Hrothgar’s scop (pronounced "shop"), which is a professional bard (singer or poet) who accompanies himself on a harp and sings or chants traditional lays such as an account of the Danes’ victory at Finnsburh. This bard also improvises a song about Beowulf’s victory. Hrothgar’s wife, Queen Wealhtheow offers Beowulf a gold collar and her gratitude. The people (Danes) filled with wine and food the entire party retires for what they expect to be the first peaceful night in many years.
Little did they know that Grendel’s mother was highly upset. So his mother, greedy and gloomy as the gallows, went on a sorrowful journey to avenge her son's death. His mother was not quite as powerful but she was definitely motivated. She had climbed to Heorot that night to retrieve her son’s claw, and kills one of the Danes by the name of Aeschere. At the time Beowulf was sleeping elsewhere. The next morning, Hrothgar, Beowulf, and the town follows the mother’s tracks into a dark swamp. The now dead Dane (Aeschere) that was killed the night before, head sits on a cliff by the lake, which hides the creatures’ underground cave(sign of bravery). Carrying a sword called Hrunting (a gift from Unferth) Beowulf goes into the lake to find Grendel’s mother. Near the bottom of the lake, Grendel’s mother attacks Beowulf and drags him into her dark cave. Beowulf tries to fight back once he was inside the cave but the sword, he carried was not strong enough to even penetrate the skin of the creature. The mother moves to kill Beowulf with her knife, but his armor, made by the legendary blacksmith Weland, protects him. Suddenly Beowulf spots a magical, sword and uses it to cut through the mother’s spine at the neck, killing her(He conquered sign of heroism). The wise ruler of the skies decided justice easily when Beowulf stood up again:there among the weapons he saw a victory-blessed sword,an old sword made by giants with strong edges, the glory of warriors. It was the choicest of weapons, good and majestical, the work of giants, but larger than any other man could carry to battle sport. A light unexplainably seeps into the cave, showing Grendel’s corpse and a great deal of treasure. Beowulf cuts the head off the corpse. The magic sword melts into its hilt. Beowulf returns to the lake’s surface carrying the head and hilt but leaving the treasure.

After another celebration and gifts and a sermon by Hrothgar, Beowulf and his men return to Geatland, where he was from. There he serves his king until Hygelac is killed in battle and his son dies in a feud. Beowulf is then named king and rules for fifty years. Even during his time reign, Beowulf must battle one more demon and show one more sign of his bravery and heroism. A dragon has begun terrorizing the countryside at night, burning several homes, including Beowulf’s because the dragon has discovered that a fugitive has found his treasure and stolen a valuable cup. Beowulf and eleven of his men, being led by the fugitive seek out the dragon. Beowulf wanted to take on the dragon alone, but he was no match for the dragon. Wiglaf (who Beowulf names his successor) goes to Beowulf’s assistance while the others fled into the woods. Wiglaf and Beowulf finally kill the dragon, but Beowulf is badly wounded. Dying, Beowulf leaves his kingdom to Wiglaf and requests that his body is cremated in a funeral pyre and buried high on a seaside cliff where passing sailors might see. The dragon’s treasure is buried with him.

Beowulf is a very complicated hero story compared to ours. I feel that Beowulf died with great honor In our heroic tales it is usually laid out simple enough for a child to understand like fr example spiderman, unlike Beowulf where you have to read between the lines to figure out what they are talking about. I've had my dictonary opened the whole time I've been reading the poem.