The difficulty in establishing an accurate timeline of the epic poem Beowulf lies in the numerous digressions by the anonymous “Beowulf poet” while relating the events of the heroic tale. Approximately one-fifth of the poem recounts episodes unrelated to the main action of the story. Some of these deviations from the main tale include actual historical happenings. Some are poetic verses having little or no connection to the main theme of the epic. Segments like those discussing the background of King Hrothgar appear to have no bearing on the plot and are difficult to fit into a timeline. Furthermore, many of the references included in the story might have been familiar to the people of the era but are difficult for the modern reader to comprehend.

The exact date of the writing of the manuscript is unclear. While it dates from the year 1000 AD, it might have actually been written sometime in the seventh, eighth, or ninth centuries. Expert supposition is that the story was passed down to multiple generations through oral recitation until eventually memorialized in written form.

Beowulf is separated into two major time periods: the killing of Grendel and Grendel’s mother over three to four days and the killing of the dragon over a half-century later. The gap between the two time periods is not addressed by the poet. It should also be noted that numerous references to the history of the Danish kings, Beowulf’s childhood, and the predictions about Beowulf’s death fluctuate back and forth through the tale, making a detailed “complete” timeline nearly impossible, but the main events are clearly traceable chronologically.

The best efforts to compose a timeline of the events of the main story of Beowulf would begin when the character Beowulf, a Swedish warrior from the Geats tribe and the strongest man alive, learns of Grendel, a hellish monster, neither man nor beast, who is threatening the land of King Hrothgar. Beowulf decides to sail to Denmark with several other Geat warriors to battle Grendel and save the kingdom: “And now all alone I shall settle the affair of Grendel the deadly monster, the cruel giant.” Hrothgar believes Beowulf was sent by God and appreciates his help. Hrothgar welcomes the warrior and throws a feast in his honor at Heorot, the great hall symbolizing civilization.

During the festive occasion, Grendel breaks through a bolted door and begins to devour one of the Geat warriors. The monster then turns toward Beowulf, who grabs the monster’s arm and rips it from its socket. Grendel is fatally wounded and flees. The beast later dies in the marsh surrounding the great hall.

Following the feast, after Beowulf leaves and while the Danes are asleep, Grendel’s mother, who resides at the bottom of the lake of monsters, broods over Grendel’s death and seeks revenge. She heads to Heorot and captures Hrothgar’s friend Aeschere and carries him off to the lake of fire. Hrothgar once again seeks Beowulf’s help, and Beowulf complies with the request. When Beowulf confronts Grendel’s mother, he grabs a huge sword and cuts off her head and the head from Grendel’s dead body as well.

Beowulf returns to Sweden and is honored as a great warrior by the Danish king. When he approaches the Geatish king, Hygelac, he is given land, a special sword, and a hall of his own. Following Hygelac’s death, Beowulf becomes ruler of the Geats and serves them for the next fifty years.

At this juncture, the second time period in the story unfolds. An exiled sinner violates the secret path leading to a cave containing an ancient treasure guarded by a dragon. The man steals some items from the cave, and after some three hundred years, the dragon is awakened, becomes angry, and seeks vengeance. He wreaks his vengeance on the Geats by breathing fire on their land each night.

Beowulf believes he has offended God and is being punished for his bad deeds. He vows to face the dragon alone, bare-handed, but he needs armor, since the dragon breathes fire. He enters the cave with eleven companion warriors, but only his brave and faithful friend Wiglaf stays behind with him. Beowulf is attacked and mortally wounded, but manages to defeat and kill the dragon with Wiglaf’s help.

Before his death, Beowulf requests to be buried on a burial mound by the sea called a barrow, and Wiglaf honors his last wishes:

the People of the Geats got ready the mighty funeral pyre, and hung it round with helmets and battle-shields, and bright byrnies as he had asked. And in the midst they lay the famous Prince, and they lamented the Hero, their dear lord. Then the warriors began to stir up the greatest of bale-fires on the cliff-side. And the reek of the wood-smoke went up swart, over the flame, which was resounding, and its roar mingled with weeping (and the tumult of winds was still), until it had broken the body, all hot into the heart. And unhappy in their thinkings, and with minds full of care, they proclaim the death of their lord.