Beowulf Summary
Gareth Hinds

Everything you need to understand or teach Beowulf by Gareth Hinds.

Beowulf Summary & Study Guide
1 Biography
1 eBook
101 Student Essays
2 Encyclopedia Articles
27 Literature Criticisms
1 Book Notes
1 Nota de Libro
...and more

Beowulf Summary

The Old English poem Beowulf follows Beowulf from heroic youth to heroic old age. He saves a neighboring people from a monster, Grendel, eventually becomes the king of his own people, and dies defending them from a dragon. It is a great adventure story, and a deeply philosophical one. Scholars differ over the poem's original purpose and audience, but Beowulf probably appealed to a wide audience and garnered a range of responses.

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Study Pack

The Beowulf Study Pack contains:

Beowulf Study Guide

Introduction

Author Biography

Plot Summary

Characters

Themes

Style

Criticism

Adaptations

Topics for Further Study

Compare and Contrast

What Do I Read Next?

Further Study

Encyclopedia Articles (2)

Beowulf as translated

6,739 words, approx. 23 pages

Beowulf as translated by Seamus Heaney Little is known about the circumstances of the composition of Beowulf: not only is the author unknown, but scholars are in wide disagreement about when the po... Read more

Beowulf

3,467 words, approx. 12 pages

Beowulf Anonymous The identity of Beowulf s author is unknown. The writer was most likely an eighth-century West Mercian or Northumbrian monk who might better be called an editor than an author, fo... Read more

Project Gutenberg eBooks (1)

Beowulf

71,359 words, approx. 238 pages

PREFACE. The present work is a modest effort to reproduce approximately, in modern measures, the venerable epic, Beowulf. Approximately, I repeat; for a very close reproduction of Anglo-Saxon verse wo... Read more

Gareth Hinds Biographies (1)

Beowulf

5,572 words, approx. 19 pages

Biography EssayThe knotty problem of the date of Beowulf tells us a great deal about how we think of the past and the kinds of assumptions that are made in confronting history. In the first edition of... Read more

Essays & Analysis (128)

Critical Essay by Margaret E. Goldsmith

9,350 words, approx. 32 pages

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Critical Essay by Richard J. Schrader

5,310 words, approx. 18 pages

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Critical Essay by Fidel Fajardo-Acosta

2,824 words, approx. 10 pages

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Critical Essay by Ward Parks

5,245 words, approx. 18 pages

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Critical Essay by Jack Durant

3,223 words, approx. 11 pages

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Critical Essay by Taylor Culbert

4,948 words, approx. 17 pages

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Critical Essay by Charles Moorman

6,458 words, approx. 22 pages

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Critical Essay by Jane C. Nitzsche

5,776 words, approx. 20 pages

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Critical Essay by Jacqueline Vaught

3,924 words, approx. 14 pages

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Critical Essay by John D. Niles

4,858 words, approx. 17 pages

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Critical Essay by Richard Butts

3,677 words, approx. 13 pages

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Critical Essay by Linda Georgianna

7,607 words, approx. 26 pages

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Critical Essay by Paull F. Baum

4,652 words, approx. 16 pages

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Critical Essay by Kevin S. Kiernan

4,229 words, approx. 15 pages

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Critical Essay by J. D. A. Ogilvy

12,029 words, approx. 41 pages

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Critical Essay by Bernard F. Huppé

14,824 words, approx. 50 pages

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Critical Essay by Stanley B. Greenfield

10,537 words, approx. 36 pages

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Critical Essay by Alain Renoir

18,422 words, approx. 62 pages

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Critical Essay by Stephen S. Evans

10,065 words, approx. 34 pages

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Critical Essay by Eric Stanley

17,618 words, approx. 59 pages

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Critical Essay by John Leyerle

7,658 words, approx. 26 pages

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Critical Essay by Larry D. Benson

8,330 words, approx. 28 pages

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Critical Essay by Margaret E. Goldsmith

16,849 words, approx. 57 pages

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Critical Essay by Gwyn Jones

10,287 words, approx. 35 pages

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Critical Essay by Elisabeth M. Liggins

18,932 words, approx. 64 pages

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Critical Essay by Ramond J. S. Grant

24,549 words, approx. 82 pages

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Critical Essay by Kathryn Hume

9,764 words, approx. 33 pages

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Beowulf vs. Yossarian

959 words, approx. 4 pages

John Yossarian vs. Beowulf John Yossarian, the individualist combateer of Catch-22, and Beowulf, the hero of Denmark, though both protagonists of their stories, portray two seemingly contrasting idea... Read more

Definition of Leadership in the Poems "Beowulf" and "Ulysses"

850 words, approx. 3 pages

The definition of leadership is evident in both the poem "Beowulf" and the poem "Ulysses", through the journeys of the main characters, Beowulf and Ulysses. Ulysses and Ulysses. Ulysses and Beowulf... Read more

Exile in Beowulf and Grendel

1,596 words, approx. 6 pages

Throughout the stories of Beowulf, an Anglo Saxon epic, and Grendel, a more recent novel written by John Gardner, a common theme is constant; the theme of exile. In both stories, the main character li... Read more

The Sun Complex of Cain and Grendel

1,281 words, approx. 5 pages

Everybody loves the sun. It gives us light, it gives us ever-clean solar energy, it gives us trees, therefore giving us oxygen. Yes, the sun is a good guy. One might love the sun so much, they might... Read more

Comparing an Excerpt from "Beowulf" and "Mu-lan"

901 words, approx. 4 pages

The epic "Beowulf" and the ballad "Mu-lan" are centuries old narrative poems written by anonymous or unknown poets and are believed to have originally been transmitted orally through music or storytel... Read more

Grendel's Search for Identity in "Beowulf"

1,411 words, approx. 5 pages

Beowulf begins with the history of the Danish line, starting with the king Scyld Sceafing and continuing until the current king Hrothgar rules. He has built a mead hall, Heorot, which is known far ... Read more

"Kindest to Kinfolk Yet Keenest for Fame"

1,207 words, approx. 5 pages

Over the course of the poem, Beowulf transitions from a heroic warrior to a noble king. The last lines of the epic, "kindest to kinfolk yet keenest for fame" undoubtedly refers to the transitions of ... Read more

The Roles of Christianity and Paganism in "Beowulf"

1,141 words, approx. 4 pages

In order for us to understand "Beowulf" and its Christian as well as pagan morals, we must first understand the context that "Beowulf" was written in. "Beowulf" was written during a time in which the... Read more

Beowulf as a Pagan Oral Tradition

2,285 words, approx. 8 pages

The unknown author of Beowulf uses examples throughout the poem that suggest the story comes from an "oral" tradition. In the poem Beowulf, a Germanic scop, or bard, recites poetry orally, or in a s... Read more

My Amazing Date With Beowulf

671 words, approx. 3 pages

My "Amazing" Date with Beowulf "Hi, is Sarah there"" "Yeah, hold on a sec." "Hello"" "Hey, it's me. I have been trying to get a hold of you forever! Ahhhhh! You are going to die when I tell yo... Read more

Grendel vs. Beowulf

1,230 words, approx. 5 pages

The Webster Dictionary defines a murderer as "one who commits the crime of unlawfully killing a person especially with malice aforethought." Serial killers are murderers with a minimum of three or fou... Read more

Beowulf

514 words, approx. 2 pages

In the story Beowulf, translated by Burton Raffel, Raffel said that one of the excellence of the book Beowulf "is the poet's insight into people (Raffel)." Raffel said that the poet does an exceptiona... Read more

Beowulf's Unique Style

558 words, approx. 2 pages

The style presented in Beowulf cleverly uses kennings, alliterations and litotes to compose a masterpiece. Despite the small form of repetition and parallelism, kennings were thoughtfully place to ... Read more

Beowulf

322 words, approx. 2 pages

Life is full of choices. Whether their important or insignificant they do make a difference in the long run. Richard Wilbur makes many well thought out choices when writing "Beowulf". There are many ... Read more

The Poet's Effect on the Values of Anglo-Saxon Society

945 words, approx. 4 pages

The writer has always been a powerful figure in society. In Ancient Greece, poets were known for both soothing people and for entertainment. During the reign of the Third Reich, many books and plays... Read more

Beowulf: an Epic Poem

532 words, approx. 2 pages

The English work, Beowulf, embodies the three characteristic traits of an epic poem. Its long narrative style, combined with the deeds of heroism make up its epic qualities. The portrayals of a soci... Read more

Beowulf: Are These Monsters Truly Evil?

889 words, approx. 3 pages

When thinking of Grendel in Beowulf along with the other creatures Beowulf destroys, it seems a typical hero kills monster tale. However, what if there was more than evil to these "monsters." In Be... Read more

Beowulf's Three Battles

1,522 words, approx. 6 pages

In the narrative epic poem Beowulf, Beowulf, the great Anglo-Saxon hero, engages in three main battles. Beowulf approaches each of these three battles in a different way and with a different s... Read more

The Poetic Traditions in "Beowulf"

295 words, approx. 1 pages

Scops, or poets, used many elements of oral poetic traditions, such as caesura, in order to remember the thousands of lines that were essential to the epic, Beowulf. In the short excerpt from Beowulf... Read more

The World of Beowulf

1,090 words, approx. 4 pages

The world of Beowulf is one that differs vastly from the world we call our own. The time period in which Beowulf, a great warrior in the book of the same name, lives in, focuses and prides itself on ... Read more

Seamus Heaney's "Beowulf"

529 words, approx. 2 pages

In the introduction of Seamus Heaney's Beowulf, "We immediately recognize [the Geat woman's] predicament and the pitch of her grief and find ourselves the better for having them expressed with such a... Read more

Anglo-Saxon Culture in Beowulf

993 words, approx. 4 pages

The world that Beowulf depicts greatly reflects Anglo-Saxon culture. The structure of the poem also follows the definition of an epic, while still providing details about the Anglo-Saxon culture. It h... Read more

Beowulf: Hero of All Heroes

792 words, approx. 3 pages

Beowulf is a true heroic character because his attributes in the anonymously written Anglo-Saxon poem, Beowulf, turn him into a man many people admire. Beowulf, the main character, shows his characte... Read more

The Strength of Beowulf

489 words, approx. 2 pages

Beowulf is not your average type of man. His supernatural abilities are truly not human. Beowulf uses his supernatural abilities most often when he is fighting. Since Beowulf is not like everyone ... Read more

Beowulf

437 words, approx. 2 pages

In the twenty-first century there are unlimited sources of distractions, allowing society to escape from reality. In the Anglo-Saxon period however, epics were considered to be the only source of en... Read more

The Evil Incarnate

395 words, approx. 2 pages

The story Beowulf perfectly plays out the well used good verses evil theme. The good is represented by Beowulf, but the evil is represented by Grendel. Grendel is a "monster", so to speak, whose on... Read more

Beowulf

1,048 words, approx. 4 pages

The epic poem, Beowulf, is one of the oldest European epics in existence. When Beowulf was written, the writer incorporated many of the ideals of the Anglo-Saxons. Some of these ideals included loyalt... Read more

Beowulf

970 words, approx. 4 pages

Beowulf is a single manuscript that survived Henry the VIII's dissolution of monasteries, and the destruction of their great libraries. The manuscript is a copy, how close to the original this version... Read more

The Men of Beowulf Vs. James Bond

774 words, approx. 3 pages

When you think of a hero you think of the man in shining armor, someone that comes to his fair maidens rescue just in time to saver her life. You think of him being handsome with a strong phy... Read more

Beowulf and Sir Gawain: a Comparison of Two Heroes

1,482 words, approx. 5 pages

In Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight there are two heroes that help the present day reader gain insight into what the hero of the Middle Ages would have held as ideals and necessary triumphs... Read more

Beowulf and Ilia Muromets - Two Heroes, Two Cultures.

439 words, approx. 2 pages

Epics are the earliest tales that were retold from one generation to another. The epic reflects culture and traditions of a particular country where it was written. Every country has their own epic ... Read more

Christian Story with Bits of Paganism

990 words, approx. 4 pages

The story "Beowulf" is thought to have been written by Christian monks. But the story could be either a Christian story, or a Pagan story. Scholars have argued that the author of "Beowulf" relates the... Read more

Beowulf's Embodiment of Anglo-Saxon Virtues

1,074 words, approx. 4 pages

Even though Beowulf is viewed as the cornerstone of modern literature, it is also a prime example of an Anglo-Saxon literary work. The Anglo-Saxon era was defined by a heroic code found in the people... Read more

Beowulf

740 words, approx. 3 pages

"How the Almighty had made the earth a gleaming plain girdled with waters; in His splendor He set the sun and the moon to be earth's lamplight, lanterns for men and filled the broad lap of the world... Read more

The Role of Women in "Beowulf" and "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"

1,263 words, approx. 5 pages

Men exemplify heroic qualities in both Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, however, women are depicted differently in the two stories. In Beowulf, women are not necessary to the epic, whe... Read more

Beowulf as Kindergarten Teacher

501 words, approx. 2 pages

The title character in Beowulf, an epic poem translated by Burton Raffel, has many characteristics valued both in his ancient time and modern days. Beowulf is a fearless, fair, and responsible man. ... Read more

"Beowulf" and "The Day of Destiny"

1,131 words, approx. 4 pages

In the stories "Beowulf" and "The Day of Destiny' we were introduced to two great characters who had many similarities in their deaths. In both stories there was a sign of bad fate against both Beowu... Read more

Differences and Similarities between the Battles in "Beowulf"

854 words, approx. 3 pages

There exits many similarities between them. This is due to the fact that both battles practically develop in the same way. In both battles there is an initial task which is accomplished by defeating ... Read more

Beowulf: a Character Study

871 words, approx. 3 pages

"Purge Herot And your ship will sail home with its treasure-holds/ full."(661-662). This is what the Danish King, Hrothgar, says to Beowulf. Beowulf is the son of Edgetho. Beowulf is a warrior and ... Read more

The Heroism Theme in Beowulf

509 words, approx. 2 pages

What is a hero? Or what defines heroism? "True heroism is remarkable sober, very un- dramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.... Read more

Examining Themes in Beowulf

499 words, approx. 2 pages

In Beowulf, the conflict of good and evil is the poem's most important theme. The story describes Beowulf's adventures coming from Sweden to save the people of Denmark. In these adventures, he is f... Read more

The Epic Hero Beowulf

676 words, approx. 3 pages

In the epic poem Beowulf, translated by Burton Raffle, Beowulf devours three hideous monsters: Grendel, Grendel's mother, and a fire breathing dragon. Grendel is a monster that can kill thirty men i... Read more

The Monsters of Beowulf

738 words, approx. 3 pages

It has long been a method in epic poems and stories to feature a hero who must overcome several monsters in order to reach an esteemed goal. The title character in Beowulf embodies the traits of the ... Read more

Beowulf as a Cartoon Character

810 words, approx. 3 pages

Beowulf- the first masterpiece in English literature- is going to be featured as a Saturday morning cartoon character, exposing school-aged children to violent actions. Children will typically not u... Read more

The Use of Alliteration in Beowulf

463 words, approx. 2 pages

Beowulf, a courageous hero of whom this fascinating epic poem is about. The poem has an anonymous author because it was written many centuries ago. This poem consists of a writing technique called ... Read more

Good Vs. Evil in Beowulf

989 words, approx. 4 pages

"Beowulf" is an epic that illustrates many defined themes, one of which is good versus evil. Good vs. evil are two opinions or ideas that do not agree with each other, and therefore start an argument,... Read more

Bede Versus Beowulf

402 words, approx. 2 pages

The reason why Beowulf was more successful than Bede is: that Beowulf has been a Christian all his life which made him successful, but Bede was not he had been a pagan most of his life and wanted to c... Read more

Geatland's Beloved Epic Hero: Beowulf

1,074 words, approx. 4 pages

The tale of Beowulf is an epic poem, which originated from England. An epic is defined as a long narrative poem that recounts, in formal language, the exploits of a larger-than-life hero. The first... Read more

Beowulf's Battles

402 words, approx. 2 pages

Beowulf has three battles with monsters throughout the epic, and all of them tested his strength and valor. He first fights the monster Grendel, who terrorizes Hrothgar's kingdom for a long time. H... Read more

Symbolism of the Three Battles and Monsters in Beowulf

717 words, approx. 3 pages

."..My purpose was this: to win the good will/ of your people or die in battle, pressed/ In Grendel's fierce grip. Let me live in greatness/ And courage, or here in this hall welcome my death!" Line 3... Read more

Beowulf without Monsters?

893 words, approx. 3 pages

On the topic of Beowulf, by unknown author, some critics have taken the position of "Oh, those monsters, so silly, so juvenile; if they were gone this might be a poem worth something." This is incor... Read more

The Heroes of Beowulf and Canterbury Tales

744 words, approx. 3 pages

Through literature, civilizations convey their values and beliefs to establish the ideal of their society. The Anglo-Saxon's ideal was depicted through the character Beowulf; he represented all that ... Read more

Beowulf and Knights

418 words, approx. 2 pages

There are many unique characteristics that make up a hero. Beowulf is from the Old English Period and the knight of Arthurian legend is from the Middle Ages. Even today, our heroes have some qualitie... Read more

Heroes and How They Have Evolved Over the Years

636 words, approx. 3 pages

Although much has changed from the time of Anglo-Saxon literature until now, qualities found in heroes remain very similar through and through. In Beowulf, Beowulf is the main character and possesses... Read more

What Is an Epic Hero?

638 words, approx. 3 pages

To me, the definition of an epic hero is someone is created by a particular culture, usually as the badge of this culture. People look on the epic hero as their idol, but he does not actually exist in... Read more

Epic Hero - Beowulf

749 words, approx. 3 pages

Epic Hero, what is an epic hero? What is an epic? Epic means poetic, hero has a number of meanings. It is courage, positive, strong and intelligent. An epic Hero is a Poetic mighty man, which is ver... Read more

Analyzing Aristotle: Beast or God?

563 words, approx. 2 pages

Aristotle's statement, "To live alone one must be a beast or a god," directly relates to Heaney's translation of "Beowulf" and to John Gardner's Grendel. The statement is valid to a great extent, be... Read more

Evil Is Absolute in "Beowulf"

875 words, approx. 3 pages

The nature of evil is bought up over and over again in Beowulf. A denotative sense of the word can be described as morally reprehensible, sinful and wicked. However, the word has many connotations e... Read more

Beowulf as a Hero

798 words, approx. 3 pages

Beowulf describes himself in lines 407-455. Looking closely at this description, and at another scene of your choice, write about Beowulf as a character in the poem. Is he a hero? How do you know? ... Read more

The Worlds of Beowulf and Le Morte D'arthur

1,187 words, approx. 4 pages

Le Morte D'Arthur and Beowulf... they are the two wonders of literature of their time. They are two completely different epics with many similar connections to each other. These two marvelous epics ar... Read more

Contemporary and Legendary Heroes

1,129 words, approx. 4 pages

"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon `em" (Quote by William Shakespeare). Throughout history, there have been many who have had an impact on the w... Read more

The Three Monsters in Beowulf

1,094 words, approx. 4 pages

The epic Beowulf presents three great battles during which the main character slays three very powerful and evil monsters. Each encounter shows that Beowulf is a worthy hero, because after each he be... Read more

The Values of the Anglo-saxons

1,040 words, approx. 4 pages

One of the first pieces of British literature recorded is the epic poem Beowulf. The poem concentrates on the life of the adventurous Geat warrior, Beowulf. Beowulf faces several challenges througho... Read more

Beowulf and Mead Hall

327 words, approx. 2 pages

The mead hall is symbolic of the strength of a tribe: the more powerful the tribe, the more they conquer, the more wealth they obtain through those conquers and the greater the mead hall they are abl... Read more

King Hrothgar and King Beowulf

396 words, approx. 2 pages

The ideal king in the Anglo-Saxon culture first gains power and wealth through successful wars, and then gains loyalty through friendships and generous gift giving. King Sheafson described in the fir... Read more

Letter from Beowulf

461 words, approx. 2 pages

Dear my longing family, Hark! The angels! For time is flying like a leaf flying in the vicious winds. Thou shall not be worried about me, for I have arrived safely till now, in the Hrothgar's Hall- ... Read more

Is Man a Monster?

872 words, approx. 3 pages

Honors English 11 9/16/04 Is Man a Monster" Sometimes, when different views on subjects are presented, it is difficult to decide on whom to believe. No two people who witness an event will have ex... Read more

Beowulf Pagan or Christian

900 words, approx. 4 pages

BEOWULF: PAGAN OR CHRISTIAN" The epic poem Beowulf is a tale of a warrior-turned-hero, namely Beowulf, and the events that lead to his death. One of the essential concerns of this epic poem is whethe... Read more

Beowulf Compared to General George S. Patton

985 words, approx. 4 pages

Many present-day movies consist of a similar plot: good vs. evil. In these movies, there is the bad guy, or the evil enemy that tries to ruin all normality and all viewers love to hate. On the other... Read more

Beowulf- How the Legacy Lived

1,161 words, approx. 4 pages

"Talk is cheap" is a fairly common modern expression for society's elevation of actions over expressions. However, even in man's earliest age, when speech was not necessarliy considered "cheap" but de... Read more

The Arrogance That Is Known As: Beowulf

503 words, approx. 2 pages

Imagine being a prince hundreds of years ago, when everything was built upon the basic polite behavior. Now imagine Beowulf being self- concerned with his own fame and what he wished to do. Forge... Read more

Beowulf Themes

265 words, approx. 1 pages

Beowulf, like other books, has many themes and meanings; one is the theme of vengeance. Revenge plays an important role in Beowulf and is an essential factor makes the characters understandable. "He d... Read more

Beowulf as an Ever-Changing Epic

782 words, approx. 3 pages

Most people have probably heard about the childhood game "Telephone," where a phrase or sentence is passed along from person to person and is eventually changed. What some people do not realize is the... Read more

Beowulf: the Life of the Righteous Barbarian

562 words, approx. 2 pages

The moment the word Beowulf is uttered, one immediately thinks of a pagan and barbaric story. Yet even though the Geats were an independent, seafaring tribe located near the southern end of Sweden, ... Read more

Christianity and Paganism in Beowulf

616 words, approx. 3 pages

Beowulf is an epic poem written in the eighth century. During this time period, society was in the process of converting from Paganism to Christianity. By combining these two very different beliefs, t... Read more

Kinship in Beowulf

295 words, approx. 1 pages

E. Talbot Donaldson takes an interesting approach on the topic of Kinship. He says that the concept of wergild was an extremely valued thing. He says money had less significance than avenging the life... Read more

Beowulf: Christian Beliefs Versus Paganistic Values

639 words, approx. 3 pages

In Anglo-Saxon times stories were told showing courage in warriors, generosity in kings and the good nature in all people. Beowulf highlights the effect of the spread of Christianity during the e... Read more

Beowulf, a Tragic Hero

466 words, approx. 2 pages

In the epic of Beowulf, Beowulf displays various heroic traits throughout the poem. He enters numerous confrontations, such as the one with Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the demonic dragon. Beowulf w... Read more

Beowulf

763 words, approx. 3 pages

Beowulf is the embodiment of the classic warrior hero: he is powerful, self-confident and proud, comes from regal lineage, is a savior, and possesses the true traits of the "warrior bond." His heroic... Read more

Beowulf Heroes Journey

500 words, approx. 2 pages

Beowulf Defines the Hero In epics, the main character is usually a hero. This is a person who expresses courage and superhuman strength. These people are recognized as the epitome of all p... Read more

Beowulf

274 words, approx. 1 pages

Between real life and stories we can relate. In the short story Beowulf there is relating levels to the Anglo-Saxon life such as heroes and villains, which relate to anything in Beowulf. Grendel, mons... Read more

Beowulf: Use of Juxtaposition to Suggest a Subtext

1,092 words, approx. 4 pages

Beowulf: Poets' Use of Juxtaposition to Suggest a Subtext Juxtaposition is a literary device that allows an author to reveal a subtext by placing certain events in close relation to each other. In Be... Read more

Beowulf and 3 Monsters

582 words, approx. 2 pages

Through each of Beowulf's battles with the three monsters, we see that Beowulf develops from an arrogant warrior to becoming a wiser warrior. Beowulf illustrates his arrogance before his first encoun... Read more

The Purpose of Fate in Beowulf

1,542 words, approx. 6 pages

The revisionist monk who wrote Beowulf incorporated the pagan and Christian concepts of fate to promote a system of monarchy where power is passed on through heirs as opposed to the system where the ... Read more

Fate in Beowulf

1,520 words, approx. 6 pages

Religous Twist in Beowulf

1,281 words, approx. 5 pages

The incorporation of religious scenes and ideals into various literary works has occurred for many centuries. "Beowulf" appears to be no exception to this common incident. Many parts of "Beowulf" seem... Read more

Beowulf Epic Qualities

491 words, approx. 2 pages

Ancient tales that passed through countless generations without documentation have adapted to become works of art. Burton Raffel's translation of the novel Beowulf falls under this category. The ove... Read more

Supernatural in Beowulf and the Tain (the Cattle Raid of Cooley)

1,206 words, approx. 5 pages

Both Beowulf and the Tain have many supernatural and magical elements. The characters posses supernatural powers, must battle with supernatural creatures, and many events are of mythical proportions. ... Read more

Beowulf Character Analysis

994 words, approx. 4 pages

"A Selfish Hero" Many people recognize Beowulf as the hero of Anglo-Saxon times. Judging by his amazing resume of feats and strengths, this is not hard to believe. However, the epic, Beowulf, illust... Read more

Structure of Beowulf

506 words, approx. 2 pages

I view the structure of this poem as having two parts, divided between Beowulf's youth and his old age. It is more appropriately divided this way, since there is a clear change in Beowulf's demeanor b... Read more

Beowulf: A Critical Analysis

911 words, approx. 4 pages

Evil is defined as something that causes harm, destruction, suffering, and brings misfortune. Evil is also an adjective as which it is used to describe something wicked or morally wrong. Good is the ... Read more

Good vs. Evil in Beowulf

351 words, approx. 2 pages

The epic poem, Beowulf, displays a variety of things that the Anglo-Saxon people valued. Many of those traits were expressed through the main character, Beowulf. In him, we see the qualities of courag... Read more

The Heroism of Beowulf

1,128 words, approx. 4 pages

An epic poem is a narrative piece of literature that collaborates on the defeats of the usually traditional or legendary hero. The hero is often a man of blissful ancestry that is of great histor... Read more

Beowulf Symbolization

265 words, approx. 1 pages

BEOWULF An epic hero can be described as a figure of elite status as well as someone who provides a legendary importance. Beowulf is considered one of these heroes. His large stature and obnoxious p... Read more

Beowulf and Healthcliff: Two Different Types of Heroes

1,024 words, approx. 4 pages

Rare would one classify Heathcliff, from Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, as a hero under any circumstances. The true embodiment of a hero would be within the flesh of the legendary Beowulf. However,... Read more

Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: Compare and Contrast Essay

1,006 words, approx. 4 pages

Sir Gawain is the central figure in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight whose fundamental character change is the focus of the story. At the beginning of the poem he is an eager, optimistic, and loyal kni... Read more

The Epic of Beowulf

715 words, approx. 3 pages

The Epic of Beowulf The story of Beowulf is one of the most perfect examples of an epic in English literature. This long narrative poem is about an epic hero and how he is always there to save the ... Read more

Discussion of the Character of Beowulf

712 words, approx. 3 pages

The way that people were thinking in the story is very different then the way that people think in the 21st century. For them, heroes and kings are very important to have unlike now. Beowulf, who was ... Read more

Beowulf Vs. Sir Gawain: a Comparison of Two Heroes

999 words, approx. 4 pages

The protagonists of both the anonymous Beowulf and Thomas Malory's Sir Gawain and the Green Knight are true heroes. However, the traits they have in common are far less numerous than those that set th... Read more

Beowulf: A Story of Christianity

1,342 words, approx. 5 pages

Beowulf: A Christian-Based Story Involving Valor and Tradition Beowulf can be considered one of the most compelling stories in the English language, and most certainly is considered the first Englis... Read more

Beowulf: Rule of Three

1,838 words, approx. 7 pages

Beowulf's Rule of Three In illiterate societies three was a number that represented importance. This is primarily because one occurrence of an event isn't relevant for it cannot be compared to anot... Read more

Free Book Notes (1)

Beowulf

15,501 words, approx. 52 pages

Beowulf Book Notes is a free study guide on Beowulf by Anonymous. Browse the summary below:   Author Biography / Context of the Work   One-Page Plot Summary   Character Descriptio... Read more

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Beowulf Summary
Gareth Hinds