Beowulf

«Beowulf» is an epic poem that is considered the first great work of English literature. Scholars do not know who wrote «Beo­wulf», but they believe the poem dates from the A. D. 700's. It is written in Old English, the language used by the Anglo-Saxons in England from about A. D. 500 to 1100. Like all old English poetry, «Beowulf» has no rhyme but instead uses alliteration (words that begin with the same sound).

The poem begins in a customary way, by tracing tribal history from the reign of the first great king of the Danes, Scyld Scefing (shild' shaf 'ing), down to the time of Hrothgar.

Listen!

The fame of Danish kings

in days gone by, the daring feats

worked by those heroes are well known to us.

Scyld Scefing often deprived his enemies,

many tribes of men, of their mead-benches.

He terrified his foes; yet he, as a boy,

had been found a waif; fate made amends for that.

He prospered under heaven, won praise and

honor, until the man of every neighboring tribe,

across the whale's way, were obliged to obey him and pay him tribute. He was a noble king!

The poem describes the adventures of Beowulf, a mighty warrior who has the qualities most admired be the Anglo-Saxons - strength, courage, loyalty, and generosity. Beowulf goes to the aid of the Danish king, whose royal hall has been repeatedly raided by a savage monster named Grendel. Beowulf kills Grendcl and later slays the monster's fearsome mother. In his final battle, Beowulf kills a fire-breathing dragon, but he himself is fatally wounded. The poem ends with a description of Beowulf's funeral.