English History and Literature – 3rd Year

Beowulf – Plot Summary

Video script

Beowulf’s introduction opens with the history of the great Danish warrior kings. It
introduces Hrothgar, a great king who for the last twelve years has suffered under frequent
pillages in the hands of an evil monster named Grendel.

During the rising action Beowulf himself comes to the rescue of Hrothgar in repayment for
saving his father many years ago. He tells Hrothgar of his great feats and vows to defeat the
monster Grendel. Beowulf lays down his armour and sword so that he is Grendel’s equal. In a
great battle Beowulf tears Grendel’s arm off his body. Grendel retreats home and dies. To avenge
her son’s death, Grendel’s mother kills one of Hrothgar’s elders, taking Grendel’s arm.

During the explosive climax, Beowulf follows her to her lair to fight her but his sword is
ineffective. He grabs a magic sword off a wall and slices off her head. He finds Grendel’s corpse
and takes his head as a trophy, the blade of the sword melts away, and he brings Grendel’s head
and the hilt of the sword to Hrothgar. Hrothgar showers him in gifts, and he returns to the Geats
where he is proclaimed a hero.

During Beowulf’s falling action, after the fall of the two kings, Beowulf receives the crown.
For fifty years he maintains relative peace until a runaway slave sneaks into a dragon’s lair and
steals a golden goblet. Infuriated, the dragon torments Beowulf’s lands. Beowulf brings eleven
men to battle the beast, but all but one, Wiglaf, flee upon seeing the horrible dragon. Beowulf and
Wiglaf fight the dragon, killing it, but unluckly for Beowulf he is fatally injured. As he dies, Beowulf
requests to see the treasure the dragon kept, a bounty he is proud to be leaving to his people.

During the resolution, Beowulf dies a hero and Wiglaf brings his body back to his Geat
people. Wiglaf predicts the invasions that are going to come once word spreads that their king is
dead. Beowulf did not leave an heir which will likely seal the Geats fate. They hold a great funeral
for the hero Beowulf and burn his treasure with his body.