King Hrothgar of Denmark, a descendant of the great king Shield Sheafson, enjoys a wealthy and victorious reign. He builds a great mead-hall, called Herot, where his warriors can get together to drink, recieve gifts from their lord, and listen to stories sung by the scops, or bards. But the proud noise fron Herot andgers Grendel, a horrendous demon who lives in the swamplands of Hrothgar's kingdom. Grendel terrorizes the Danes every night, killing them and defeating their hard work to fight back. The Danes suffer many years of fear, danger, and death at the hands of Grendel. Eventually, however, a young Geatish warrior named Beowulf hears of Hrothgar's troubles. Motivated by the challenge, Beowulf sells Denmark witha small group of men, determined to defeat Grendel.
Hrothgar, who had once done a great favor for Beowulf's father Ecgtheow, accepts Beowulf's offer to fight Grendel and hold a feast in the hero's honor. During the feast, a jealous Dane named Unferth taunts Beowulf and accuses him of being worthless of his reputation. Beowulf responds with an arrogant description of some of his past accomplishments. His confidence cheers the Danish warriors, and the feast lasts happily into the night. At last, however, Grendel arrives. Beowulf fights him unarmed, proving himself stronger than the demon, who is terrifying. As Grendel struggles to escape, Beowulf ters the monster's arm off. Incurably injured, Grendel slinks back into the swamp to die. The detatched arm is hung high in the mead-hall as a trophy of victory.
Thrilled, Hrothgar showers Beowulf with gifts and treasure at a feast in his honor. Songs are sung in praise of Beowulf, and the celebration lasts late into the night. But another threat is approaching. Grendel's mother, a swamp-hag who lives in an isolated lake, comes to Herot looking for revenge for her son's death. She murders Aeschere, one of Hrothgar's most trusted advisers, before slinking away. To retaliate Aeschere's death, the group travels to the gloomy swamp, where Beowulf dives into the water and fights Grendel's mother in her underwater den. He kills her with his sword forged for a giant, then, finding Grendel's corpse, decapitates it and brings the head as a price to Hrothgar. The Danish countryside is now purged of it's unfaithful monsters.
The Danes are again overjoyed, in Beowulf''s fane spreads across the kingdom. Beowulf departs after a sorrowful goodbye to Hrothgar, who has treated him like a son. He returns to Geatland, where he and his man are reunited with the king and queen, Higlac and Hygd, to whom Beowulf recounts his adventures in Denmark. Beowulf then hands over most of his treasures to Higlac, who, in turn, rewards him.
Ultimately, Higlac is killed in a war against the Shylfings, and, after Higlac's son dies, Beowulf ascends to the throne of the Geats. He rules wisely for fifty years, bringing prosperity to Geatland. When Beowulf is an old man, however, a theif disturbs a barrow, where a great dragon lies guarding a pile of treasure. Engraded, the dragon emerges from the barrow and begins unleashing fiery destruction upon the Geats. Sensing his own death approaching, Beowulf goes to fight the dragon. With the aid of Wiglac, he succeeds in killing the beast, but at a heavy cost. The dragon bites Beowulf in the neck, and its fiery venom kills him moments after their encounter. The Geats fear that thier enemies will attack them now that Beowulf is dead. According to Beowulf's wishes, they burn their departed king's body on a huge funeral pyre and then burry him with a massive treasure in a barrow overlooking the sea.
Hrothgar, who had once done a great favor for Beowulf's father Ecgtheow, accepts Beowulf's offer to fight Grendel and hold a feast in the hero's honor. During the feast, a jealous Dane named Unferth taunts Beowulf and accuses him of being worthless of his reputation. Beowulf responds with an arrogant description of some of his past accomplishments. His confidence cheers the Danish warriors, and the feast lasts happily into the night. At last, however, Grendel arrives. Beowulf fights him unarmed, proving himself stronger than the demon, who is terrifying. As Grendel struggles to escape, Beowulf ters the monster's arm off. Incurably injured, Grendel slinks back into the swamp to die. The detatched arm is hung high in the mead-hall as a trophy of victory.
Thrilled, Hrothgar showers Beowulf with gifts and treasure at a feast in his honor. Songs are sung in praise of Beowulf, and the celebration lasts late into the night. But another threat is approaching. Grendel's mother, a swamp-hag who lives in an isolated lake, comes to Herot looking for revenge for her son's death. She murders Aeschere, one of Hrothgar's most trusted advisers, before slinking away. To retaliate Aeschere's death, the group travels to the gloomy swamp, where Beowulf dives into the water and fights Grendel's mother in her underwater den. He kills her with his sword forged for a giant, then, finding Grendel's corpse, decapitates it and brings the head as a price to Hrothgar. The Danish countryside is now purged of it's unfaithful monsters.
The Danes are again overjoyed, in Beowulf''s fane spreads across the kingdom. Beowulf departs after a sorrowful goodbye to Hrothgar, who has treated him like a son. He returns to Geatland, where he and his man are reunited with the king and queen, Higlac and Hygd, to whom Beowulf recounts his adventures in Denmark. Beowulf then hands over most of his treasures to Higlac, who, in turn, rewards him.
Ultimately, Higlac is killed in a war against the Shylfings, and, after Higlac's son dies, Beowulf ascends to the throne of the Geats. He rules wisely for fifty years, bringing prosperity to Geatland. When Beowulf is an old man, however, a theif disturbs a barrow, where a great dragon lies guarding a pile of treasure. Engraded, the dragon emerges from the barrow and begins unleashing fiery destruction upon the Geats. Sensing his own death approaching, Beowulf goes to fight the dragon. With the aid of Wiglac, he succeeds in killing the beast, but at a heavy cost. The dragon bites Beowulf in the neck, and its fiery venom kills him moments after their encounter. The Geats fear that thier enemies will attack them now that Beowulf is dead. According to Beowulf's wishes, they burn their departed king's body on a huge funeral pyre and then burry him with a massive treasure in a barrow overlooking the sea.
