Introduction to Beowulf

By:Eddie Sprangle,Andrew Smith,

Christian Rivera

History of the Poem

● Written by unknown Anglo-Saxon poet● composed of scop stories● Originally written in Old English● Original was thrown out a window to

save from a fire

EWShttp://www.sparknotes.com/lit/beowulf/context.html

Historical References

Paganism ● There are many different views of this religion.● The heart of the village is the mead hall, the

place for entertainment, drinking and feasting● They are ruled by a king, Hrothgar

EWS Holt McDougal Literature: British Literature Grade 12. Orlando:

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 2012

Historical References

Christianity● Throughout the poem you’ll find references to

the Bible and God● References to Cain as in the Bible character who

killed Abel ● References to the creation to the earth by The

Almighty

EWS

Holt McDougal Literature: British Literature Grade 12. Orlando:

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 2012

Setting

● Time- Around 500 A.D.● Place- Denmark and Geatland ( now

southern Sweden)● Heorot the mead hall, Grendel's

Mother’s underwater cave

EWShttp://www.sparknotes.com/lit/beowulf/summary.html

CharactersGrendel● is man and part fiend.● he was attacking Heorot for more than a decade because of all the joy they are

having.Grendels Mother● no human has defeated her so far.● she gets revenge for her son and then later on dies fighting Beowulf.

Dragon● guards treasure that Beowulf wants.● he is eventually killed by Beowulf.

http://csis.pace.edu/grendel/projf981e/char.htmlAKS

CharactersBeowulf● he is very strong and is a hero.● he kills 3 monsters and 2 were descendants of Cain.● risk his life no matter what happens.● does his actions for the fame and fortune.

Hrothgar● not afraid to hide anything.● admirable and a king for his people.● has a compassion for his people and the warriors.

http://csis.pace.edu/grendel/projf981e/char.htmlAKS

Minor CharactersWiglaf● Beowulfs top warrior.● after Beowulf dies he becomes the next leader of Geats.

Welthow● Hrothgars queen.

Unferth● follower of Hrothgar● very jealous and doesn't have courage to back anything up

http://www.litcharts.com/lit/beowulf/characters

AKS

Theme- loyalty

Beowulf is loyal to Hrothgar for assisting Beowulf's father. Hrothgar sheltered Beowulf’s father and settled the dispute by paying tribute. Beowulf shows great loyalty to the Geatland when he returns by risking his life when everything is falling apart.

http://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/b/beowulf/critical-essays/major-themes-in-beowulf

AKS

Theme-Revenge

Revenge starts with Grendel and his mother. Grendels mother attacks Heorot because someone there had killed her son. Beowulf at the end seeks revenge on the dragon for causing damage to the town and the burning of Beowulfs house.

http://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/b/beowulf/critical-essays/major-themes-in-beowulfAKS

Plot of BeowulfAfter so many years of the Danes having to suffer from all the Fear, Danger, and Death from the hands of Grendel. A young courageous warrior named Beowulf sails to Denmark to defeat Grendel. Beowulf rips off the arms of Grendel, and he then goes into the swamp and left to die. Beowulf then holds up the arms of dead grendel as a token a victory. King Hrothgar leads the men to a feast and grants Beowulf with treasure and gifts.

CFRhttp://www.sparknotes.com/lit/beowulf/summary.html

Avenging GrendelThe mother of Grendel seeks to avenge her son’s death and kills Aeschere one of the most trusted advisors of Hrothgar. The men find the swamp where Grendel’s Mother lies and Beowulf jumps in, he finds and kills her with the sword marked for a giant.

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/beowulf/summary.html

The reason for Beowulf sailing to Denmark to kill Grendel to be able to earn Fame and Fortune. “ So fame (c)omes to the men who mean to win it (a)nd care about nothing else.” CFR

Into the Future

About 50 years later, when Hygelac and Hygd die Beowulf becomes the king of the Geats. Beowulf disturbs the barrow as he is stealing the treasure of the Dragon.

CFR

The Death of Beowulf

As the Dragon is beginning unleash Beowulf goes after it. As Beowulf kills the Dragon With the aid of Wiglaf, Beowulf kills the Dragon. While the Dragon is in the mortally wounded Beowulf gets bitten in the neck and the venom of the dragon kills him so after.

CFR

The Geats soon after the death of Beowulf fear that their enemies will come and attack them. They then bury Beowulf with a lots of treasure.

CFR

Work Citedhttp://csis.pace.edu/grendel/projf981e/char.htmlhttp://www.sparknotes.com/lit/beowulf/summary.htmlhttp://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/b/beowulf/critical-essays/major-themes-in-beowulfhttp://www.sparknotes.com/lit/beowulf/context.html Holt McDougal Literature: British Literature Grade 12. Orlando: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 2012

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/beowulf/summary.html