Beowulf by Anonymous (1000)

Name: Beowulf
Author: Anonymous

Beowulf is an epic poem written in Old English, likely composed between the 8th and 11th centuries. It is one of the most important works of Anglo-Saxon literature, and tells the story of the hero Beowulf and his battles against the monster Grendel, Grendel's mother, and a dragon. Beowulf, a prince of the Geats, travels to the land of the Danes to help King Hrothgar, who is being terrorized by Grendel. Beowulf defeats Grendel in a fierce battle and then kills Grendel's mother in her underwater lair. After returning home, Beowulf is made king of the Geats and rules for fifty years. In his old age, Beowulf is called upon to fight a dragon that is terrorizing his people. He defeats the dragon, but is mortally wounded in the process. Before he dies, Beowulf passes his kingdom to his nephew Wiglaf and is buried with great honor. The poem ends with a reflection on Beowulf's heroic deeds and his legacy.

By Anonymous · First published 1000 · Genre: Epic Poetry, Heroic Poetry, Mythology · 50 chapters

Chapter 1: ADDENDA
Chapter 1: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF SCYLD
Chapter 1: PREFACE
Chapter 2: THE STORY
Chapter 2: SCYLD'S SUCCESSORS
Chapter 3: GRENDEL THE MURDERER
Chapter 3: ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE NOTES
Chapter 4: BIBLIOGRAPHY OF TRANSLATIONS
Chapter 4: BEOWULF GOES TO HROTHGAR'S ASSISTANCE
Chapter 5: THE GEATS REACH HEOROT
Chapter 5: GLOSSARY OF PROPER NAMES
Chapter 6: LIST OF WORDS AND PHRASES NOT IN GENERAL USE
Chapter 6: BEOWULF INTRODUCES HIMSELF AT THE PALACE
Chapter 7: HROTHGAR AND BEOWULF
Chapter 8: HROTHGAR AND BEOWULF
Chapter 9: UNFERTH TAUNTS BEOWULF
Chapter 10: BEOWULF SILENCES UNFERTH
Chapter 11: ALL SLEEP SAVE ONE
Chapter 12: GRENDEL AND BEOWULF
Chapter 13: GRENDEL IS VANQUISHED
Chapter 14: REJOICING OF THE DANES
Chapter 15: HROTHGAR'S GRATITUDE
Chapter 16: HROTHGAR LAVISHES GIFTS UPON HIS DELIVERER
Chapter 17: BANQUET (_continued_)
Chapter 18: THE FINN EPISODE (_continued_)
Chapter 19: BEOWULF RECEIVES FURTHER HONOR
Chapter 20: THE MOTHER OF GRENDEL
Chapter 21: HROTHGAR'S ACCOUNT OF THE MONSTERS
Chapter 22: BEOWULF SEEKS GRENDEL'S MOTHER
Chapter 23: BEOWULF'S FIGHT WITH GRENDEL'S MOTHER
Chapter 24: BEOWULF IS DOUBLE-CONQUEROR
Chapter 25: BEOWULF BRINGS HIS TROPHIES
Chapter 26: HROTHGAR MORALIZES
Chapter 27: SORROW AT PARTING
Chapter 28: THE HOMEWARD JOURNEY
Chapter 29: BEOWULF AND HIGELAC
Chapter 30: BEOWULF NARRATES HIS ADVENTURES TO HIGELAC
Chapter 31: GIFT-GIVING IS MUTUAL
Chapter 32: THE HOARD AND THE DRAGON
Chapter 33: BRAVE THOUGH AGED
Chapter 34: BEOWULF SEEKS THE DRAGON
Chapter 35: REMINISCENCES (_continued_)
Chapter 36: WIGLAF THE TRUSTY
Chapter 37: THE FATAL STRUGGLE
Chapter 38: WIGLAF PLUNDERS THE DRAGON'S DEN
Chapter 39: THE DEAD FOES
Chapter 40: THE MESSENGER OF DEATH
Chapter 41: THE MESSENGER'S RETROSPECT
Chapter 42: WIGLAF'S SAD STORY
Chapter 43: THE BURNING OF BEOWULF

Beowulf by Anonymous (1000)

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