Plot Summary
The king of the Danes, Hrothgar, was a mighty king in Denmark and during his great reign he built a mead hall called Heorot. Many years of joyous feasts and dinners were served by the king of Danes to his loyal thanes, but the continuous noise and feasts aggravated the monster Grendal who lived deep in the swamplands of Hrothgar. Grendal then begins to terrorize Heorot ever night and kills many of the kings men in their sleep. After many years of being under the terror of Grendal a Yeat thane, named Beowulf, hears of the hardships of the the king Hrothgar and comes to help the despair ridden Heorot. Beowulf then gathers a selected convoy of twelve men and set sail to Denmark.
Hrothgar was an old friend to Beowulfs father and upon meeting him in his kingdom he agreeded to let Beowulf fight Grendal. Upon having such great news Hrothgar throws a feast in honor of Beowulf's courage and during this celebration Grendal comes down to kill and feast on many more people. Beowulf faces Grendal unarmed due to swords and other weapons are useless against him. Grendal surprised at Beowulf's strength tries to retreat back into the swamps but Beowulf severely injures Grendal before he could escape. Beowulf is then given many gifts and is offered many high positions within the kingdom but denies those offers and only takes the money and gold he is given, and peace befell the Danish kingdom.
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The peace did not last long before Grendal's mother came back for revenge and kills a trusted friend of Hrothgar's and causes more conflict. Beowulf goes to kill the beasts mother in order to avenge the friend that was killed; Beowulf goes to kill Grendal's mother. By following her into her home, Beowulf then begins to fight with her but the sword he has is ineffective and during the battle finds a great sword that was forged by giants. Beowulf is then able to kill Grendal's mother with the mystical sword and, after finishing off Grendel's mother Beowulf finds Grendal still barely alive and finishes him in order to stop the cycle of terror and fear felt by all the Danes. Beowulf then returns to Heorot and is celebrated again and feasts and rewards are showered upon Beowulf.
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Soon after Beowulf returns to his homeland of the Yeatland and after returning to his king, Hygelac, he lives his life continuing to serve his king. After the death of his king Beowulf then assumes the role of king and brings a prosperous and wise reign over the Yeatland.
Fifty years later, Beowulf has grown older and is faced with a thief who disrupted a great mound of treasures and the dragon protector is enraged because the treasure has been touched. The dragon begins to wreck havoc upon the Yeatland and Beowulf, sensing that his death is approaching, goes to fight off this dragon. Beowulf brings his dear and loyal thane Wiglaf who helps Beowulf defeat the dragon, but Beowulf kills the dragon with Wiglaf's assistance and is again victorious. After the fight Beowulf dies due to the damage inflicted upon him by the dragon and, is buried with the dragon's treasure at a mound near the sea.
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