Summary

 Beowulf by Iman Ali

 The story of //Beowulf// includes the many battles and acts of heroism with the protagonist, Beowulf. It begins with the mighty Grendel terrorizing the people of the Danes and striking the King, Hrothgar, with grief. Grendel would come to the mead hall during the night and snatch thirty men all at the same time and murder them. The reason that Grendel would do this is because he would hear the people celebrating and having a good time every night. Grendel did not like the sound of this because he doesn’t like the sound of joy. For twelve straight winters, Grendel would come and snatch the thirty men. Hrothgar was in distress and longed for the suffering to end on his people. Beowulf heard of the terrorizing from his homeland in southern Sweden, and gathered his army to come and defeat Grendel. When Beowulf arrived to the people of the Danes, Hrothgar was thrilled for his coming and had hope that Grendel’s raid would finally cease. Beowulf’s boasting of his great and mighty skills brought relief to so many people. He was so brave that he declared to fight the beast weaponless. On the day of the attack, the armies filled up the mead hall and went to sleep, while Beowulf laid wide awake. As usual, Grendel came and grabbed one of Beowulf’s men. After devouring him, Grendel approached Beowulf and was surprised when Beowulf attacked out of no where. They both were struggling in the battle between them, but Beowulf had a chance to break Grendel’s arm off ,and after that moment, Grendel ran off in fear. Carrying Grendel’s arm in success, Beowulf showed the people of the Danes that they don’t have to worry about Grendel attacking them anymore. In such joy, Hrothgar threw Beowulf a banquet in the mead hall and all was celebrated. Not long after that, there was another beast that was enraged over the death of Grendel. It is no other than the mother of Grendel, the great and terrible she-wolf. She seeked revenge on her son’s pain. She proceeded to go to the mead hall one night, and take one of the men sleeping in it. She also took Grendel’s arm with her. Knowing this fact the next morning, Beowulf told Hrothgar that he will avenge the death of the man that Grendel’s mom took the night before. The Danes, Hrothgar, Beowulf’s army and Beowulf then went to the swamp, where Grendel’s mom lives. Beowulf took a sword that was given to him and went down the swamp to find the she-wolf. They both spotted each other and went at it for a while. Beowulf’s sword was no match for her skin and it easily chipped. Luckily, Beowulf found a sword that was magically made by giants and it helped him kill Grendel’s mother. After his victorywith Grendel’s mother, Beowulf returned to his home with treasure that was given to him by Hrothgar and the Danes. Higlac is the king of the Geats, where Beowulf resides. All of the treasure was given to Higlac by Beowulf. For the next fifty years, Beowulf went to the throne of being a king and ruling over the Geats. The land was then attacked by a fire-breathing dragon and the homes of Beowulf was destroyed. Demented from this act, Beowulf declared that he will kill the dragon himself so it wont terrorize them anymore. Beowulf then approached the dragon at his lair where he guards his treasure. Beowulf then fought the dragon for a little bit then realized that he was no match for this huge beast. Fortunately, he was helped by a warrior named Wiglaf. Wiglaf helped Beowulf killing the dragon, but he couldn’t help him stay alive through it all. Before Beowulf died, He requested that Wiglaf bring the dragon’s treasure to him before he dies. Another one of his requests was that a tower would be built for him along the river line so people could remember him after his death. The tower was built in his name and he will be remembered as the brave, mighty, hero in the Anglo-Saxon period.

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