Beowulf (Heaney)
Short summary
Ancient Denmark. King Hrothgar built a magnificent mead-hall called Heorot where his warriors feasted and celebrated. A monster named Grendel, descended from Cain, was enraged by the sounds of joy and began attacking the hall at night, killing and devouring Hrothgar's men. For twelve years, Grendel terrorized the Danes, and the hall stood empty after dark.
News of Hrothgar's plight reached the land of the Geats. A warrior decided to help the Danish king.
He sailed to Denmark with fourteen companions and offered to fight Grendel. Hrothgar welcomed him, remembering Beowulf's father. That night, Beowulf waited in Heorot without weapons. Grendel attacked and killed one warrior, but when he seized Beowulf, the hero gripped his arm with tremendous strength. They wrestled violently, and Beowulf tore off Grendel's arm. The mortally wounded monster fled to his lair and died.
The Danes celebrated, but the next night Grendel's mother came to avenge her son. She killed Hrothgar's closest advisor and took back Grendel's arm. Beowulf pursued her to a haunted mere and dove into its depths. In an underwater cave, he fought the she-monster. His sword failed, but he found an ancient giant-made blade and beheaded her. He also beheaded Grendel's corpse and returned to the surface with the trophies. Hrothgar rewarded him richly, and Beowulf sailed home to Geatland.
Fifty years later, Beowulf ruled as king of the Geats. A slave stole a cup from a dragon's treasure hoard, and the enraged dragon began burning the countryside. The elderly Beowulf went to fight the dragon with eleven warriors, but when battle began, all but one fled. Only Wiglaf stayed to help his king. Together they killed the dragon, but Beowulf was mortally wounded. As he lay dying, he spoke his final words:
You are the last of us, the only one left
of the Waegmundings. Fate swept us away,
sent my whole brave high-born clan
to their final doom. Now I must follow them.
Beowulf died, and the Geats built a great funeral pyre for him. They constructed a barrow on a headland overlooking the sea as his memorial, mourning the loss of their beloved king.
Detailed summary
Division into chapters is editorial.
The Danish kingdom and Grendels terror
The story began with the glory of the ancient Danish kings, whose courage and greatness were celebrated throughout the land.
So. The Spear-Danes in days gone by
and the kings who ruled them had courage and greatness.
We have heard of those princes' heroic campaigns.
The royal line descended from the legendary founder, who arrived as a foundling and rose to become a great king.
His descendants ruled wisely until the throne passed to a prosperous king who built a magnificent mead-hall called Heorot. This hall stood as a wonder of the world, where the king dispensed gifts and treasures to his warriors. But a terrible threat lurked in the darkness. A demon haunted the marshes, nursing a grievance against the joyful sounds of celebration that echoed from the hall each night.
Then a powerful demon, a prowler through the dark,
nursed a hard grievance. It harrowed him
to hear the din of the loud banquet
every day in the hall
Beowulfs arrival in Denmark
This monster was descended from the cursed line of Cain, dwelling in misery among the banished. After nightfall, he set out for Heorot and found the warriors sleeping after their feast. He seized thirty men and carried them to his lair. When dawn broke, the Danes discovered the horror and wept. Their king sat stricken and helpless, bewildered by the demon's trail.
The attacks continued relentlessly. For twelve winters, the lord of the Danes suffered under this affliction. The monster would never make peace or pay compensation. All were endangered, young and old alike, hunted by the death-shadow in the long nights. The great hall stood empty after dark, though the throne itself remained protected by divine power. In desperation, some Danes turned to pagan shrines, seeking help from any source.
News of this terror reached distant lands. Across the sea in Geatland, a mighty warrior heard of the Danish king's plight. This man was renowned for his extraordinary strength and courage. He ordered a boat prepared and announced his plan to sail across the swan's road to help the famous prince who needed defenders. His elders did not try to dissuade him, though he was dear to them. Instead, they inspected omens and encouraged his ambition. He selected fourteen companions, the best warriors he could find, and set out as their captain.
The challenge and preparation
The ship flew like a bird over the waves until the seafarers sighted the Danish coast. They vaulted over the side onto the sand and moored their vessel. A Danish coast-guard rode down to challenge them, demanding to know their purpose. The leader of the troop unlocked his word-hoard and explained that they came from Geatland, owing allegiance to their lord. He identified himself and stated that they sought the son of Halfdane to offer help against the danger that plagued his land.
The coast-guard, impressed by their bearing, agreed to guide them and ordered his men to watch their boat. The warriors marched until the timbered hall rose before them, radiant with gold. Their escort indicated the way and departed. Inside Heorot, a proud warrior questioned them about their origins. The Geat leader answered that his name was known for courage, and he came as a retainer from his king's band, ready to report his errand to the Danish lord.
The Danish king recognized the visitor's lineage, remembering his father and the tales of his extraordinary strength. He welcomed the Geats warmly and invited them to enter. Standing on the hearth in his gleaming mail-shirt, the hero greeted the king and recounted his past triumphs. He explained that he had come to purify Heorot with his own men, and since the monster scorned weapons, he would renounce sword and shield to fight hand-to-hand.
Beowulf defeats Grendel
The Danish king recalled an old friendship with the hero's father and expressed gratitude for this timely help. A feast was prepared in the hall. The queen appeared, gracious and dignified, distributing mead and gifts. However, one warrior spoke contrary words, made sick with envy by the visitor's reputation.
This man challenged the hero about a swimming contest, claiming he had been defeated. The Geat corrected him, explaining the true story of how he had fought sea-monsters for five nights and survived. He rebuked the doubter for his failure to protect his own king and reaffirmed his determination to defeat the monster. The grey-haired king was glad and counted on the warrior's steadfastness. The queen came forward, offering the cup and thanking God for sending a deliverer.
As darkness gathered, the Danish king departed to his rest, leaving the hall in the Geat's keeping. The hero removed his armor and lay down with his companions. None expected to see their homeland again, knowing how many Danes had fallen in that hall. But the Lord was weaving victory for them. When night came, the shadow-stalker emerged from the moors. The hall-guards slept, all except one who waited, awake and spoiling for action.
The demon came greedily loping through the mist. He ripped open the hall door and seized a sleeping warrior, devouring him completely. Then he reached for the hero, but found himself caught in a handgrip harder than anything he had ever encountered.
The captain of evil discovered himself
in a handgrip harder than anything
he had ever encountered in any man
on the face of the earth.
The monster desperately tried to escape, but the hero held firm. The hall trembled and sang as the two contenders crashed through the building. An extraordinary wail arose as the demon howled in pain, overwhelmed and manacled tight. The hero's companions struck at the monster with their swords, but no blade could harm him. Finally, the demon's shoulder split, sinews burst, and bone-lappings tore apart. He fled mortally wounded to his den, leaving his arm and shoulder behind as proof of defeat.
Grendels mothers revenge
Morning came and warriors gathered to marvel at the monster's tracks leading to the mere, where the water wallowed with blood. The Danes praised the hero's deeds repeatedly. A minstrel sang of his triumph and told tales of ancient heroes. The king himself came to view the trophy—the monster's severed arm displayed high under the eaves. He thanked God and adopted the hero as a dear son, promising him endless rewards. A great feast followed with gifts of treasure, horses, and weapons.
But that night, as the warriors slept in the hall, another avenger came. The monster's mother, a monstrous hell-bride, brooded on her wrongs and sallied forth on a savage journey, desperate for revenge. She burst into Heorot and seized the king's most beloved counselor, carrying him away to the fen. She also took back her son's severed arm. The old king was heartsore when he learned his dearest companion was dead.
The hero was summoned. The king lamented the loss and described the haunted mere where two creatures had been seen prowling. He explained that one looked like a woman, the other warped in the shape of a man. They dwelt in a terrible place where cold streams disappeared under mist and moorland, where water burned at night and no one had sounded the bottom. The king beseeched the hero to seek out this gap of danger and promised lavish compensation.
The hero responded with words of wisdom, urging the king not to grieve.
Wise sir, do not grieve. It is always better
to avenge dear ones than to indulge in mourning.
For every one of us, living in this world
means waiting for our end.
He promised to track the demon and guaranteed she would not escape. The old lord sprang to his feet and praised God. They mounted horses and followed the monster's trail through forest paths until they discovered the dismal wood above bloodshot water. There they found the severed head of the slain counselor at the cliff's foot. The water was infested with serpents and sea-dragons.
Beowulf defeats Grendels mother
The hero donned his war-gear, including a glittering helmet and fine-webbed mail that would protect him underwater. A Danish warrior lent him an ancient sword named Hrunting, which had never failed in battle. The hero took his leave, asking the king to act as father to his comrades if he should fall, and to send the treasures he had received back to his own lord. Then he plunged into the heaving depths.
The creature who haunted those waters sensed him and lunged, catching him in her brutal grip. His mail-shirt saved him as she carried him to her court. He found himself in a hall where water did not work against him and firelight gleamed. He swung his sword at the demon, but the blade refused to bite. In fury, he flung the weapon away and grappled with her using his bare hands. They struggled fiercely until she pulled out a knife, but again his mail-shirt turned the blade.
Then he saw a blade that boded well—an ancient sword from the days of giants, so huge only he could wield it. He took firm hold of the hilt and swung in an arc, biting deep into her neck and severing it entirely. She fell dead. A light appeared and he saw the monster's corpse lying in the vault. He beheaded it with the giant sword. The blade began to melt from the poisonous blood, dissolving like ice. He took only the jeweled hilt and the severed head.
Meanwhile, the Danes watching from above saw blood in the water and assumed the hero had perished. They abandoned the cliff-top, but the Geats remained, sick at heart yet hoping. The hero surfaced, swimming resolutely with his prizes. His thanes advanced to meet him, thanking God. They wrestled the massive head onto a spear and carried it back to Heorot, where the hero presented it to the astonished court. He recounted the battle and gave the ancient hilt to the king, who examined its engravings showing how war first came into the world.
Return to Geatland
The Danish king spoke wisdom to the hero, praising his even temper and prudence. He contrasted him with an evil king of old who brought only death and destruction to his people. The king warned against the dangers of pride and power, urging the hero to choose eternal rewards over earthly glory.
O flower of warriors, beware of that trap.
Choose, dear Beowulf, the better part,
eternal rewards. Do not give way to pride.
He reminded the hero that strength fades quickly, and death comes to all. He himself had ruled for fifty years, believing his enemies defeated, until the monster struck. Now he thanked God that he had lived to see this triumph. A final feast was held, and the king showered the hero with twelve treasures, urging him to return safely home. The old king kissed him and embraced his neck, then broke down in tears, knowing they would never meet again.
The Geats marched back to their ship, where the coast-guard greeted them warmly. They loaded the vessel with treasure and gifts, including a sword for the guard himself. The ship sailed from Denmark, skimming across the currents until the Geats caught sight of their homeland. The harbor guard hurried out to meet them and moored their craft. The hero went to his king's hall, where he recounted everything that had happened in Denmark. He presented all the treasures he had won, and his lord rewarded him with land, a hall, and a throne. The hero served his people well and was praised for his valor and honor.
The dragon awakens
Time passed and the hero's lord fell in battle. His heir also perished, and the kingdom reverted to the hero, who ruled it well for fifty winters. Then one began to dominate the dark—a dragon who guarded a hoard in a stone-roofed barrow. An intruder, a slave fleeing his master, stumbled upon the hidden passage and stole a gem-studded goblet. This theft drove the dragon into rage.
The hoard had been hidden long ago by the last survivor of a forgotten race, who buried the riches with a mournful lament. For three centuries, the dragon had stood guard over the treasure. When he discovered the theft, he rippled down the rock in fury.
Then the dragon awoke, trouble flared again.
He rippled down the rock, writhing with anger
when he saw the footprints of the prowler
He scorched the ground searching for the trespasser, circling the mound in savage fury. When day waned, he hurtled forth in a fiery blaze. The dragon began to belch flames and burn homesteads, leaving nothing alive in his wake. The Geat nation bore the brunt of his brutal assaults. The hero's own home was burnt to cinder, throwing him into deep anguish. He ordered a marvelous iron shield made, knowing linden boards would burn. He was destined to face the end of his days, as was the dragon.
The final battle
The aged king took eleven comrades and went to reconnoiter, guided by the slave who had stolen the cup. They found the barrow near the sea. The king sat on the cliff-top, sad at heart, sensing his death hovering near. He recalled his early days as a ward at his lord's court and the tragic accident when one brother killed another. He remembered the wars between Geats and Swedes, and how he had always fought at the front of the line.
He made a formal boast for the last time, declaring he would pursue this fight for glory.
I shall win the gold
by my courage, or else mortal combat,
doom of battle, will bear your lord away.
He told his men to remain on the barrow while he faced the monster alone. Drawing himself up beside his shield, he went under the crag and gave a shout. The dragon recognized a human voice and burst forth in flames. The king struck with his sword, but the blade failed to cut through the scales. The dragon spouted deadly fire, and the king's comrades fled to the woods—all except one loyal thane.
This warrior remembered the gifts his lord had given him and could not hold back. He waded through the flames to help his king. The dragon attacked again, and the king's sword snapped. The monster clamped sharp fangs into the king's neck, and blood came welling out. The young warrior struck the dragon lower down, and his sword sank into its belly. The king gathered his strength and drew a knife, stabbing deep into the dragon's flank. Together they had killed the enemy, that pair of kinsmen. But the wound the dragon dealt began to scald and swell with deadly poison.
Aftermath and funeral
The king realized his time had come. He spoke of his fifty-year reign, how he had ruled justly and never murdered kinsmen. He asked his companion to bring treasure from the hoard so he might see it before dying. The young warrior entered the barrow and found astonishing riches—gold, jewels, and a glittering standard. He gathered armfuls and brought them to his dying lord. The king gave thanks that he could leave his people well endowed. He ordered a barrow to be built on the headland as his memorial, then gave his collar, helmet, and mail-shirt to his faithful thane. Those were his last words before his soul fled from his breast.
The cowards who had fled returned in shame. The loyal warrior rebuked them bitterly, predicting that enemies would now attack the Geats. A messenger rode to tell the people their king was dead. He foretold wars with Franks, Frisians, and Swedes, recounting old feuds that would now be renewed. The Geats went to view the two bodies—their beloved king and the scorched dragon lying beside the treasure. They saw the hoard that had cost their lord his life, gold under a spell that had brought doom to all who touched it.
The loyal warrior gave orders for a funeral pyre to be built. They pitched the dragon over the cliff and loaded the gold onto a cart. The Geats built a pyre, stacked and decked with helmets and shining armor. They laid their lord in the middle, mourning him. The fire roared and smoke billowed darkly up. A woman sang out in grief, lamenting invasion and slavery. Then they constructed a mound on the headland, high and imposing, a marker sailors could see from far away. They buried the treasure inside, letting the ground keep that ancestral gold, as useless to men as it ever was.
Twelve warriors rode around the tomb, chanting dirges and mourning their loss. They extolled his heroic nature and gave thanks for his greatness.
They said that of all the kings upon the earth
he was the man most gracious and fair-minded,
kindest to his people and keenest to win fame.