Beowulf

The dragon's hoard is buried with Beowulf's ashes. After the dragon is killed, Beowulf tells Wiglaf to look for the dragon's treasure and to bring it to him. Beowulf feels that death will be easier...

After ruling over the Geats for fifty years, Beowulf feels obligated to protect his people from a dangerous fire-breathing dragon, which has been terrorizing his nation ever since a thief stole a...

Hrothgar, king of the Danes, is one of the most important characters in the story. He is a wise, benevolent ruler, beloved by all. He looks upon Beowulf almost as his own son, and he it is who...

The first funeral described is that of the father of the Spear-Danes and their king, Scyld Scefing. After Scyld served his time and passed on, he was given a send-off that he had requested. A band...

Almost immediately after the Geats and Danes celebrate their freedom from Grendel in the great hall Heorot, we read that And his [Grendel's] mother, still/greedy and gallows-minded wished to...

Beowulf derives from an oral tradition and describes a time several centuries earlier than the one in which it was finally written down. As such, while the "Beowulf-poet," or Beowulf scribe, writes...

Beowulf is generally understood to have been first composed during a pagan era in Anglo-Saxon culture, with the poem being updated later to tether it to the new Anglo-Saxon context of the early...

Beowulf inspired a number of similar stories, especially Tolkien's--which share several literary and cultural elements--and particularly The Hobbit. The point of view in The Hobbit is shifted away...

Beowulf doesn't really announce a specific reason for his intention to slay Grendel. The tone of the poem, and the manner in which the author regards Grendel (calling him hellspawn and a descendant...

The treasure hoard guarded by the dragon in the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf was a mass of cursed gold, which myth told could only be uncovered by a chosen one of God himself. Even though Heaney's...

There is a recurring tension between Christianity and native heathenry throughout the world of classic Germanic literature and legend. Though all Germanic nations ultimately adopted Christian...

If we look at the text very carefully, we can see that the answer relates to the way in which Grendel is presented as being a demonic force opposed to the goodness of Christianity. Consider how...

False. By its very definition, an epic is an adventure involving supernatural help and heroic deeds among other elements. Therefore, there must be conflicts and obstacles for the the main...

Although Beowulf is a traditional heroic epic, it blends the values of two different cultures, one pagan and one Christian. Rather than synthesize these to produce a unified value system, as...

Beheadings:  The toppling of heads begins when Beowulf's mother beheads the warrior Aeshere.  Later, Beowulf will behead Grendel after defeating him in the Great Hall,...

The story of Beowulf is the eternal story of good versus evil, a theme that is still relevant to modern life. Grendel is the descendant of Cain, the evil son of Adam and Eve who slew his brother,...

In "On Beowulf and His verse Translation," Seamus Heaney is very specific about his use of the word "bawn" as a synonym for Hrothgar's mead hall. Essentially, Heaney supports the use of the word...

I am not really certain as to what you are referring. Beowulf only had three major battles; not five. There are discussions throughout the story about older victories, and other wars, but in the...

The three most common literary elements present in Anglo-Saxon poetry (like Beowulf) are kennings, alliteration, and caesuras. All of them lend a helping hand to the bard/scope or story-teller....

I believe that this question is asking about the character of Beowulf rather than the story as a whole. Beowulf is a classic example of an amazing and legendary hero type. His character is in line...

In the Middle Ages, strangers meant risk. News did not travel fast in those days, nor did people, so when a new person showed up in an area, the inhabitants naturally wondered about that person's...

The Prologue of Beowulf does not actually have a setting per se. An anonymous narrator is describing the history of the Danes. He begins by praising their prowess and then names Scyld Scefing as...

Beowulf begins with a brief biography, and the death and burial, of Scyld Scefing (also called "Shield Sheafson" in some translations). We don't learn much about Scyld, other than that he was a...

The Beowulf poet is quite clear about the origin of Grendel's hatred of Hrothgar's men and, later, Beowulf and his men. As the descendant of Cain, Grendel has been cast out of all human...

Grendel is a vicious, scary monster and is one of Beowulf's main antagonists. On a nightly basis, the Danes gather at their mead-hall, Heorot, for a spot of feasting, singing, and all-round...

In many ways, Beowulf is the archetypal epic hero, embodying much that was held to be good about a warrior in the Anglo-Saxon context. He is brave, has superhuman strength, and respects the kingly...

One of the main differences between English literature and classical literature is that while ancient writers started from oral tradition, literature in England rests on a foundation of knowledge...

For 12 long years, Grendel attacks the dining hall of King Hrothgar and kills countless Danes. Grendel, an evil demonic monster, tears his victims limb from limb and devours them each night....

Beowulf is about to dive into the lake to do battle with Grendel's mother. He may be a brave warrior—probably the bravest warrior around—but he's not a fool; he knows that this valiant feat of...

An Anglo-Saxon, or Beowulf, style boast should either reflect something one has actually done and/or something one is capable of either doing or at least attempting to do well. For example, Beowulf...

Beowulf and Batman represent two different types of heroes. Beowulf is the classic epic hero. He is "larger than life." Beowulf is described as being stronger than thirty men. He lists his...

The most significant uncle-nephew relationship is between Wiglaf and Beowulf; Wiglaf is Beowulf's nephew.Wiglaf is the only one who defends Beowulf in his time of intense need. ...

King Hrothgar of the Danes is in his mead-hall, built as a monument to his success. There the king and his men are gathered to drink and be entertained by the songs of the bards. When the herald...

Hmm. How can I, or what would I argue? If I were seeking to create a thesis statement for an essay about this poem, I would start by reading and rereading the poem, to make sure I had a strong...

In epic poems if the Anglo/Saxon and Medieval eras, stories of great men and battles were never written down; nobody could write except the monks, who write in Latin, a language that only the monks...

If we consider the purpose of poetry to be the elevation of a story beyond the mere conveyance of information, then poetic conventions are those tools and strategies that the poet utilizes to...

The code of chivalry (or "heroic code") is based on a number of factors. A hero must display prowess, seek justice, and be courageous. Beowulf absolutely meets these requirements as he battles...

A fabulous look at the types of animals present in Beowulf, when those animals appear, and how those animals were relevent to the Anglo-Saxons can be found here:...

Rather than detracting from Beowulf's epic stature, the companions actually add to it. Oral epos is normally structured agglutinatively rather than analytically. In a hyperliterate society, one...

Although Beowulf is best known for its depiction of Beowulf and his struggle against Grendel and Grendel's mother, the poem contains several important digressions from that central theme. These...

One possible topic you can explore in your essay is the ways in which Beowulf exemplifies Anglo-Saxon values. Anglo-Saxon people in general, and warriors in particular, were expected to be...

As is typical of heroic epic, the main theme of Beowulf is that of a hero proving his virtue and his valor by defeating enemies in battle. The first battles in Beowulf's life were actually with the...

The simple reason is that it is the oldest existing manuscript written in that language. Old English is a language of the post-Celtic invaders of Britain, the Angles, Saxons, Danes and Jutes....