Summary
The tale of Beowulf shows of intense battles where the hero, Beowulf, displays his amazing strength and endurance. The excerpt of the poem we read involves Beowulf's interactions in Heorot. Beowulf comes to Heorot in an attempt to save the town from the monster Grendel. Beowulf arrives and is welcomed into Heorot after meeting with the king, Hrothgar. Beowulf agrees to stay the night in Heorot, waiting for Grendel to emerge ("Beowulf.").
In the middle of the night, Grendel bursts into the sleeping quarters, finding thirty men sleeping. As he begins to feast, Grendel is faced with Beowulf. In the epic fight, where swords made no mark on Grendel, Beowulf used his bare hands to take off the arm of Grendel, making him flee from the village. Beowulf displays the arm of Grendel by hanging it on the rafters of the mead hall. Heorot was safe, for now ("Beowulf.").
In the middle of the night, Grendel bursts into the sleeping quarters, finding thirty men sleeping. As he begins to feast, Grendel is faced with Beowulf. In the epic fight, where swords made no mark on Grendel, Beowulf used his bare hands to take off the arm of Grendel, making him flee from the village. Beowulf displays the arm of Grendel by hanging it on the rafters of the mead hall. Heorot was safe, for now ("Beowulf.").
Beowulf isn't finished in Heorot. A new monster attempts to avenge the death of Grendel. This monster also happens to be Grendel's mother. After killing a trusted friend of Hrothgar, Grendel's mother becomes the new terrorist of Heorot. Beowulf decides that he must destroy Grendel's mother. He thought that if anyone could defeat her, it would be him ("Beowulf.").
So Beowulf plunges into a nearby lake and swims, for hours, until he reaches the den of Grendel's mother. He finds her, with Grendel laying dead in the background. Grendel's mother immediately attacks Beowulf. Beowulf was struggling at first due to her immense strength, but begins to use his anger to make him stronger. Once out of her hands, he quickly grabs a large sword and cuts her head off, thus ending the battle. After swimming back up to the lake, he is greeted by his soldiers. They carry the head of Grendel's mother and the sword that was used to kill her into the village as trophies ("Beowulf.").
So Beowulf plunges into a nearby lake and swims, for hours, until he reaches the den of Grendel's mother. He finds her, with Grendel laying dead in the background. Grendel's mother immediately attacks Beowulf. Beowulf was struggling at first due to her immense strength, but begins to use his anger to make him stronger. Once out of her hands, he quickly grabs a large sword and cuts her head off, thus ending the battle. After swimming back up to the lake, he is greeted by his soldiers. They carry the head of Grendel's mother and the sword that was used to kill her into the village as trophies ("Beowulf.").
After destroying both Grendel and Grendel's mother, Beowulf was glorified as an amazing hero. He saved the people of Heorot from both evils, but he wasn't finished. Beowulf, at the old age of 70, discovered the terrors of a dragon. He decided to set out with his men and attack the beast ("Beowulf.")
The battle between the dragon and Beowulf is long, and weakens Beowulf each minute he fights for his life. The dragon's fire is just too strong for Beowulf's old body. The iron in his armor begins to melt under the heat. There was no way Beowulf could use his hands and pure strength for this one. He fell to the dragon, and his comrades ran. Except for one, known as Wiglaf, who stayed by the warriors side. He promised to tell everyone of Beowulf's amazing life ("Beowulf.").
The battle between the dragon and Beowulf is long, and weakens Beowulf each minute he fights for his life. The dragon's fire is just too strong for Beowulf's old body. The iron in his armor begins to melt under the heat. There was no way Beowulf could use his hands and pure strength for this one. He fell to the dragon, and his comrades ran. Except for one, known as Wiglaf, who stayed by the warriors side. He promised to tell everyone of Beowulf's amazing life ("Beowulf.").