1. It was unusual that Shield became the ruler because he started out an orphan but them rose to power. Like Egyptian rulers, His funeral consisted of his personal treasures being put into a boat; including his son, and was sent out to the sea. After shield's death he was succeeded by Hrothgar.
Heorot is Attacked
1. Hrothgar built the hall of Heorot. Grendal attacked it every night for twelve years killing hundreds. In response the Danes do not dare go to the hall due to fear of Grendal.
The Hero Comes to Heorit
1. When Beowulf hears about Hrothgar's problems he creates an army to stop Grendel.
2. When the Geats first arrive in Denmark they come across a nameless watcher who guards the shore and questions Beowulf, whom explained he was there to cast out Grendel and meet king Hrothgar.
3. This nameless watcher is actually Hrothgar's Herald. He goes to his master and tells him about the Geats insisting that his master invite them. Hrothgar agrees to this, at which time he remembers Beowulf because he knew Ecgtheow at one point in time.
4. Beowulf tells Hrothgar he plans to fight Grendel. Hrothgar paid the family of a man whom Beowulf's father killed.
Feast at Heorot
1. Unferth accuses Beowulf of having lost a swimming contest, but Beowulf denies this saying he came across many sea monsters and killed 9 by the time he made it ashore. This is important because Beowulf shows no fear when telling his story. Beowulf accuses Unferth of weakness because he has not had the courage to fight Grendel.
2. During the feast Queen Wealhtheow takes care of Beowulf's men and thanks him for coming.
The fight with Grendel
1. Beowulf's preparations for battle with Grendel is different from heroic poetry because instead of putting on armor, he takes it off because he wants a "fair fight."
2. When Grendel enters Heorot he tares the door off, and drinks the blood of a great warrior. With no weapons Beowulf attempts to kill Grendel who escapes but loses an arm which is left behind.
Celebration at Heorot
1. Sigemund and Beowulf are alike because they have both slayed creatures. Beowulf slayed Grendel, and Sigemund slayed a dragon. They are different because Beowulf has no fear.
2. When Beowulf returns Hrothgar adopts him as his own leaving Unfirth with nothing to say.
3. The song is about how the Finns defeated the Danes, but their king made a truce to live separate but under one rule. It also suggests that it is wise to use marriages to unite tribes on common grounds.
4. Weatheow asks Hrothgar not to make Beowulf heir to the throne, because they have two real sons.
5. The necklace Wealtheow gave Beowulf ends up in the hands of Hygelac. The queen asks Beowulf to watch over her sons.
6. Many men end up sleeping in the beer hall because Grendel is dead and they think it is safe. This is a mistake because Grendels mother is coming after them for revenge.
Another Attack
1. Grendel's mother comes to Heorot to take revenge for her son's life.
2. Hrothgar is devistated by the death of his retainer and sends Beowulf and Beowulf's men with his own.
3. The mere is a lake where Grendel's mother lives among many other monsters.
Beowulf Fights Grendel's Mother
1. Beowulf tells Hrothgar to revenge the death of a loved one, not to morn them.
2. Before Beowulf enters the mere Aeschere's head is found. Beowulf kills a monster.
3. Beowulf prepares for battle by putting on his chain mail, golden helmet, and takes his sword called Hrunting given to him by Unferth.
4. When Beowulf enters the mere he is attacked my monsters. Grendel's mother takes him to her hall where the water could not hurt him.
5. The sword Beowulf borrowed from Unferth melts.
6. Beowulf escapes when he wiggles free from the rubble.
7. Beowulf uses the sward to decapitate her. He also findes Grendel's body, decapitates it and takes the head home. The sword he used melts.
8. When Beowulf leaves he finds everyone left (except the great warriors), him because they expected him to die. The warriors are ecstatic at his return.
Further Celebration at Heorot
1. Beowulf gives Hrothgar both the head and sword.
2. After Beowulf resurfaces, Hrothgar tells in speech the story of King Heremod who killed both friend and foe for wealth and power. Here he warns Beowulf of the evils that tempt men as they grow into positions of power; fame, greed, and power. Heremod was a great warrior as Beowulf was, here Hrothgar reminds of these temptations and the serious consequences of dishonor/immorality that will lead to death or worse, banishment by the people who once loved him.
3. Beowulf gives Unferth the sword Hrunting as he leaves.
Beowulf Returns Home
1. Hrothgar predicts that Beowulf has the greatness to be a good king.
2. Hygd is the queen of the Geats, as a queen she is kind, beautiful and young; however Queen Modthryth was cruel and a murderer.
3. When Beowulf is explaining that Hrothgar planned to wed his daughter Freawaru to Ingeld, he continued to elaborate on the report to explain his point of view on the subject. This marraige is a tool to create a peace treaty between the Danes and the Heatho-Bards. But the closer they become the more they can see what losses they have suffered from one another from years of plundering and instead of peace they get more war. In the report we see that Beowulf is being pessimistic of the decision making skills of those he would normally trust without question.
4. Beowulf continues his reports to cover the battles with both Grendel and his mother. Strangely his reports are similar to how the battles were portrayed in the epic earlier, however he shortens this to conserve on time and instead emphasizes the highlights of his bravery and ferocity as a warrior.
5. Of the gifts he did not give earlier to Hrothgar, he now gives the rest to Hygelac and Hygd as gifts. Some gifts include armor, horses and a priceless necklace; this is all in exchange for land and a prized sword that Beowulf can reign over some of the tribe.
The Dragon Wakes
1. Part Two is 50 years later when Hygelac and Heardred have died in the meanwhile, and now a "The Dragon Wakes", a dragon is disturbing the peace.
2. The dragon was angered because someone broke into his home and stole his beloved treasured goblet. A enslaved man takes to treasure to please his master who seems to be harsh, so the slaved wanted "peace". The treasure was left by the lone survivor of an ancient race and because the treasure was no longer of any use to him or his people he created the burrow.
3. That evening the dragon when on a rampage and destroyed Beowulf's throne hall along with many village homes.
4. Throughout the story in each battle that Beowulf faced he believed that God was on his side, after this attack by the dragon he believed that this was a sign from God that he had done something severely wrong in his life. He orders a new shield in order to fight against such a powerful foe who just so happens to breathe fire. This time he does commission a small force, but no army to help him fight the dragon because he is just to proud of his accomplishments in his youth.
5. Hyelac died in battle and when he returned home he was offered the throne by Hygd; however, he declined in order to preserve the royal bloodline instead offering to become an adviser to Heardred.
6. It was sad that even though Beowulf declined the throne that Heardred was murdered by the Swedes. Beowulf planned to become friends with the man who killed Heardred in order to exact his revenge for the king.
7. Eleven men accompanied Beowulf to meet the dragon.
8. Hygelac's oldest brother Herebeald was killed by their younger brother Haethcyn. Psychologically the fact that your eldest child was murdered by the youngest seems difficult to deal with and in this epic it showed in King Hrethel's inability to kill the youngest himself . His depression affects the health of the kingdom and it doesn't improve until King Hrethel's death. After Hrethel's death the Swedes and Geats began feuding and during this time Haethcyn died.
Beowulf Attacks the Dragon
1. This was Beowulf's personal battle so he told his men not to interferre
2. His protection melted from the heat of the dragon in an instant, then and there most of his men deserted him. All except the loyal and brave Wiglaf. As his lord fights for their homes, he reminds the others of their oaths to this warrior and how ashamed each an every deserter should be. Then he follows Beowulf into battle.
3. Together the two fight once more each striking at vital areas. Wiglaf is able to tear into the dragons belly, while Beowulf is bitten in the neck. As a team they are able to defeat the dragon.
4. Here as Beowulf lies dying he makes his last requests; that he see the treasure before he dies, that the treasure be buried with him, and that this burrow be called Beowulf's Burrow. Once he is able to see his treasures he thanks God for fulfilling his last request.
Beowulf's Funeral
1. Once the others return Wilgaf berates them for abandoning Beowulf and that in the future they remember that Beowulf's optimism was wasted on such cowards. He knows that the riches will mean nothing after their failure here at Beowulf's last battle.
2. The messenger explains that the Frisians, Franks, and Swedish are now undoubtedly going to attack the Geats. Overnight in Favenswood after Ongetheow killed Haethcyn, he had taken the queen and retreated after Hygelac's army started to advance. The messenger also stated that no one could touch the treasure without the will of God.
3. When the crowd meets Wilgaf he explains the cost of this battle was their king in exchange for the riches he displayed on his arm.
4. The dragon's body was thrown into the sea.
5. During and after the funeral the widow sang about the coming doom after these battles, while they built a funeral pyre and monument for their king. The treasure was once again buried.
6. The Geats stated in the last three lines of the poem that Beowulf was the most honored, beloved and kind King and deserved much praise. I believe that men of this modern age are sometimes categorized by their strength and the love each family member has for their personal hero.
