Beowulf Is A Thrilling Tale Of Heroism And Bravery

Beowulf is a thrilling tale of heroism and bravery and is often referred to as the first major work of English literature. It was originally written in Old English, a form of the English language now spoken today. Compared to English today, Old English comes from mainly Germanic backgrounds, with a small bit of influence from the Latin and French languages. As the history of the English language advanced, after the Anglo-Saxons were taken over by the French Normans in 1066, Old English was added to by more and more parts from those languages. Though it is usually viewed as a huge part of modern literature, Beowulf has a strange history that complicates its historical place in English literature. By the time Beowulf was written by an†¦show more content†¦This means that the Beowulf story we are so use to today is probably a lot different than the one originally told. The world that Beowulf takes place in and the heroism that is a part of much of the story is a piece of preâ⠂¬â€œAnglo-Saxon culture. The story takes place mainly in Scandinavia, before the migration. Despite this, it was written in England, telling a story formed from old Scandinavian traditions. King Hrothgar of Denmark, who is a descendant of the great king Shield Sheafson, has a grand and mighty kingdom. This kingdom quickly became prosperous and so, the king builds a great mead-hall Heorot, where the warriors of his army can gather to drink, be granted gifts from their lord, and listen to stories and songs from the Bards. After time, however, this loud and frivolous noise from the hall angers Grendal, a horrible demon who dwells in the swamplands near Hrothgar’s kingdom. Grendal terrorizes the people every night, killing and destroying the villages. The Danes suffer these nights for many years. Eventually, however, a young Geat warrior named Beowulf hears of Hrothgar’s trouble. Loving the idea of a challenge, Beowulf sails to Denmark with a small group of men, determined to end Grendel’s reign of destruction. Hrothgar, who at one time had done a great favor for Beowulf’s father Ecgtheow, accepts the warrior’s offer to kill Grendal and ho lds a grand banquet in his name. During this feast,