Beowulf the Warrior

Beowulf the Warrior Summary | Plot Summary

The first version of this story was written most likely in the 8th century in Anglo-Saxon. It was translated by Ian Seraillier and published in 1994. Serrailier's version, though re-written in easy-to-understand blank verse, is otherwise faithful to the events and characters of the original. Beowulf the Warrior tells the story of a great Geatish warrior who travels from modern day Sweden to Denmark to rid the Danes of a vicious monster called Grendel who has long been slaughtering the finest of the Danish warriors. With his great bravery and cunning Beowulf will forge a bond between the Danes and Hrothgar, King of the Danes, who, till then, had been enemies. After killing Grendel, Beowulf must also kill the monster's mother before he can return to Geatland.

As he has done for the past twelve years Grendel enters Heorot, the mead hall of Hrothgar but is met there by Beowulf who tears his arm off mortally wounding the great beast. In grief and vengeance, Grendel's mother comes to the mead hall killing one of the Danish warriors then returns home across the moors to await the coming of Beowulf.

As expected, Beowulf pursues Grendel's mother and after a brief struggle and by the grace of God, the Geatish warrior is able to slay the monster using a giant-forged sword that melts with the heat of her blood. He returns to Heorot in triumph gaining Hrothgar's esteem for himself and an ally for his country.

Returning to Sweden, Beowulf becomes king of his own people. He grows old and respected and there is peace in his land for fifty years until the coming of a fire-breathing dragon threatens the lives of his people. Like the noble man he is Beowulf kills the dragon but is mortally wounded in the process; leaving his land without an heir. Beowulf is the tale of a Scandinavian warrior and hero told by an early Christian Anglo-Saxon. The teller of the tale often seems torn between Christian morals and the pagan heroic ideal his main character embodies.