Illustrated Timeline of Events
Plot Summary
King Hrothgar of Denmark enjoys ruling over the Danes and had a successful reign. He had builds a great mead-hall, called Herot, where his warriors can gather to celebrate. However, Grendel, a demon who live in the swamp lands of Denmark was jealous of the Danes celebrations. Due to his jealousy Grendel terrorizes the Danes every night, killing them and defeating their efforts to fight back. The Danes suffer many years of fear, danger, and death at the hands of Grendel. King Hrothgar plead for help against the evil demon that was terrorizing his kingdom. A Geatish warrior named Beowulf heard the stories of the off-spring of Cain causing havoc to Denmark and King Hrothgar's call for help. He took the quest, excited for the challenge. Beowulf then sailed to Denmark with a few of the strongest men he could find, determined to defeat Grendel.
Hrothgar accepted Beowulf's offer to fight Grendel and held a feast in the hero's honor and arrival. During the feast a jealous Dane named Unferth taunted Beowulf and accused him of being unqualified. Beowulf confidently responded with descriptions of his past accomplishments. His confidence caused the Dane to cheer and believe in him to save their kingdom. The feast lasted into the night.
At last, Grendel arrived to the Herot and killed a warrior in his sleep. Grendel next target was unfortunately Beowulf and the monster did not expect the fight. In the battle, Beowulf fought Grendel unarmed to demonstrate his inhuman strength and how it was unnecessary to have weapons for the demon who was miserably losing. Grendel struggled to escape Beowulf iron grip and in the act of doing so, Beowulf ripped off the demon's arm. The demon that had caused much distress to Denmark was fatally wounded and he crawled back into the swamp to die. Beowulf hung the severed arm high in the mead-hall as a victory trophy.
King Hrothgar and the Danes were overjoy to be free from the beast. They showered Beowulf with gifts and treasures at a feast in his honor. The celebration lasted late into the night. Though, another threat approached them. Grendel's mother, a swamp-hag who lived in a desolated body of water. She came to Herot seeking revenge for her son's death. She captured and murdered a good friend of the king. Grendel's mother also took back her son's arm before returning to her lair. Hrothgar once again called for Beowulf's help, in order to avenge Aeshere's death. Beowulf and his men traveled to the swamp hag's home. Beowulf dived into the water and fought Grendel's mother in her underwater lair. He killed her with a sword found hung on the wall of her lair. He then found Grendel's corpse and he decapitated it. Beowulf brought the head as a prize to Hrothgar and freed Denmark from the demons wrath.
The Danes rejoiced from the deaths of the demons. Beowulf's fame spread far and wide across the kingdom. Beowulf then bid a sorrowful goodbye to King Hrothgar, who had treated him so well during his stay at Denmark. He returned to his homeland and was reunited with their king and queen, Higlac and Hygd, to whom Beowulf told his adventures in Denmark. Beowulf handed over most of his treasure to his king who in turn rewarded him.
Overtime, Higlac was killed in war and afterward his son also died. Beowulf ascended to the throne of the Geats. He ruled widely for fifty years, brought prosperity to his kingdom. Many years had past and Beowulf was an old man when a thief had disturbed a mound where a great dragon guarded a large amount of treasures. The dragon was enraged and had emerged from the mound and had unleashed a fiery destruction upon the Geats. Beowulf sensed his own death was approaching, as he went to fight the powerful dragon. He had the aid of Wiglaf in the battle and succeed in killing the beast but with a great cost . The dragon bit Beowulf in the neck and it's venom killed him moments after their encounter. The Geats feared that their enemies will attack them now that Beowulf is dead. Beowulf asked for them to burn his body on a huge funeral pyre and then bury him with a massive treasure in a mound overlooking the sea. Beowulf died with fame and glory, a noble ending for a great warrior.
Hrothgar accepted Beowulf's offer to fight Grendel and held a feast in the hero's honor and arrival. During the feast a jealous Dane named Unferth taunted Beowulf and accused him of being unqualified. Beowulf confidently responded with descriptions of his past accomplishments. His confidence caused the Dane to cheer and believe in him to save their kingdom. The feast lasted into the night.
At last, Grendel arrived to the Herot and killed a warrior in his sleep. Grendel next target was unfortunately Beowulf and the monster did not expect the fight. In the battle, Beowulf fought Grendel unarmed to demonstrate his inhuman strength and how it was unnecessary to have weapons for the demon who was miserably losing. Grendel struggled to escape Beowulf iron grip and in the act of doing so, Beowulf ripped off the demon's arm. The demon that had caused much distress to Denmark was fatally wounded and he crawled back into the swamp to die. Beowulf hung the severed arm high in the mead-hall as a victory trophy.
King Hrothgar and the Danes were overjoy to be free from the beast. They showered Beowulf with gifts and treasures at a feast in his honor. The celebration lasted late into the night. Though, another threat approached them. Grendel's mother, a swamp-hag who lived in a desolated body of water. She came to Herot seeking revenge for her son's death. She captured and murdered a good friend of the king. Grendel's mother also took back her son's arm before returning to her lair. Hrothgar once again called for Beowulf's help, in order to avenge Aeshere's death. Beowulf and his men traveled to the swamp hag's home. Beowulf dived into the water and fought Grendel's mother in her underwater lair. He killed her with a sword found hung on the wall of her lair. He then found Grendel's corpse and he decapitated it. Beowulf brought the head as a prize to Hrothgar and freed Denmark from the demons wrath.
The Danes rejoiced from the deaths of the demons. Beowulf's fame spread far and wide across the kingdom. Beowulf then bid a sorrowful goodbye to King Hrothgar, who had treated him so well during his stay at Denmark. He returned to his homeland and was reunited with their king and queen, Higlac and Hygd, to whom Beowulf told his adventures in Denmark. Beowulf handed over most of his treasure to his king who in turn rewarded him.
Overtime, Higlac was killed in war and afterward his son also died. Beowulf ascended to the throne of the Geats. He ruled widely for fifty years, brought prosperity to his kingdom. Many years had past and Beowulf was an old man when a thief had disturbed a mound where a great dragon guarded a large amount of treasures. The dragon was enraged and had emerged from the mound and had unleashed a fiery destruction upon the Geats. Beowulf sensed his own death was approaching, as he went to fight the powerful dragon. He had the aid of Wiglaf in the battle and succeed in killing the beast but with a great cost . The dragon bit Beowulf in the neck and it's venom killed him moments after their encounter. The Geats feared that their enemies will attack them now that Beowulf is dead. Beowulf asked for them to burn his body on a huge funeral pyre and then bury him with a massive treasure in a mound overlooking the sea. Beowulf died with fame and glory, a noble ending for a great warrior.