Beowulf

The warrior kings of Denmark began with Scyld, and after several generations his descendant, Hrothgar, came to rule. He was a just king and gathered builders from all over the world to build a great hall called Heorot. At Heorot, the people of Denmark came to drink and tell tales, and there was a time of peace. However, Grendel, a cursed descendant of Cain who lived in the swamp near Heorot became angry at their merrymaking. One night he entered the great hall and slaughtered thirty men. From then on, he terrorized Heorot and the surrounding countryside. He was so strong that no one could beat him, and tales began to spread of his strength and terror.

After over a decade, the tales spread to the land of Geat, where the great warrior hero Beowulf heard of them. Wanting to help Hrothgar and prove his worth, Beowulf set out with fourteen warriors to slay Grendel. Hrothgar is pleased but warns Beowulf that many men have tried to kill Grendel before and failed. Beowulf is so confident, however, that the Danes begin to believe in him.

That night Beowulf and his men camp in the great hall. Grendel approaches and is joyous to find warriors for him to kill. He eats one of Beowulf's men before the warrior, who was pretending to be asleep, grabbed Grendel's arm. A great fight ensues, and eventually Beowulf rips the shoulder and arm off. Realizing he is going to die, Grendel flees to the swamp, leaving his arm behind. Hrothgar is overjoyed at Beowulf's victory, and rewards him with treasure. They celebrate late into the night and fall asleep in the hall, unaware that the danger is not over.

Grendel's mother, also a strong and powerful demon, wants revenge. She enters the hall and kills one of Hrothgar's close friends, carrying his body back to her lair. Hrothgar once again asks Beowulf for help, and he agrees to go after her. They travel to the swamp and Beowulf begins to swim down to the depths. It takes him all day, but eventually he finds Grendel's mother and defeats her as well. He is given more treasure and sails back to Geatland victorious.

Eventually Beowulf becomes King when his kinsmen die, and reigns for fifty years. The time of peace ends when a thief accidentally steals a piece of treasure from a dragon underground. The dragon begins ravaging the countryside, and Beowulf realizes he must fight one more time. He chooses warriors to accompany him, and makes a great shield to defend against the dragon's fire. The dragon is about to overpower him when a young warrior named Wiglaf steps in and helps defeat the beast. Before the dragon dies, however, it bites Beowulf in the neck.

Realizing that he is about to die, Beowulf asks Wiglaf to bring him proof of the dragon's treasure. Wiglaf goes down and sees the immense pile of gold and jewels, bringing an armful back up to where Beowulf is resting. After seeing the treasure, Beowulf dies in peace. After Beowulf dies, Wiglaf is ashamed at the other warriors for being too cowardly to help during the battle.

Messages are sent throughout Geatland, and the people worry that without Beowulf to protect them war is imminent. The hero's body is burned at a funeral pyre and then buried, along with vast amounts of treasure and armor, in a barrow. His people viewed him as one of the greatest kings, and made sure that his name would never be forgotten.