All 50 Uses of

Beowulf
in
Beowulf

Then comes to the helping of Hrothgar Beowulf, the son of Ecgtheow, a thane of King Hygelac of the Geats, with fourteen fellows.†
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They are met on the shore by the land-warder, and by him shown to Hart and the stead of Hrothgar, who receives them gladly, and to whom Beowulf tells his errand, that he will help him against Grendel.†

They feast in the hall, and one Unferth, son of Ecglaf, taunts Beowulf through jealousy that he was outdone by Breca in swimming.†

Beowulf tells the true tale thereof.†

And a little after, at nightfall, Hrothgar and his folk leave the hall Hart, and it is given in charge to Beowulf, who with his Geats abides there the coming of Grendel.†

Soon comes Grendel to the hall, and slays a man of the Geats, hight Handshoe, and then grapples with Beowulf, who will use no weapon against him: Grendel feels himself over-mastered and makes for the door, and gets out, but leaves his hand and arm behind him with Beowulf: men on the wall hear the great noise of this battle and the wailing of Grendel.†

Soon comes Grendel to the hall, and slays a man of the Geats, hight Handshoe, and then grapples with Beowulf, who will use no weapon against him: Grendel feels himself over-mastered and makes for the door, and gets out, but leaves his hand and arm behind him with Beowulf: men on the wall hear the great noise of this battle and the wailing of Grendel.†

Then come the king and his thanes to look on the token of victory, Grendel's hand and arm, which Beowulf has let fasten: to the hall-gable.†

The king praises Beowulf and rewards him, and they feast in Hart, and the tale of Finn and Hengest is told.†

Then Hrothgar leaves Hart, and so does Beowulf also with his Geats, but the Danes keep guard there.†

In the morning is Beowulf fetched to Hrothgar, who tells him of this new grief and craves his help.†

Then they follow up the slot and come to a great water-side, and find thereby Aeschere's head, and the place is known for the lair of those two: monsters are playing in the deep, and Beowulf shoots one of them to death.†

Then Beowulf dights him and leaps into the water, and is a day's while reaching the bottom.†

Then Beowulf strikes upward, taking with him the head of Grendel and the hilts of the sword.†

They come to Hrothgar, and Beowulf gives him the hilts and tells him what he has done.†

Much praise is given to Beowulf; and they feast together.†

On the morrow Beowulf bids farewell to Hrothgar, more gifts are given, and messages are sent to Hygelac: Beowulf departs with the full love of Hrothgar.†

On the morrow Beowulf bids farewell to Hrothgar, more gifts are given, and messages are sent to Hygelac: Beowulf departs with the full love of Hrothgar.†

Beowulf comes to Hygelac's house.†

Beowulf tells all the tale of his doings in full to Hygelac, and gives him his gifts, and the precious-gemmed collar to Hygd.†

Here is told of Beowulf, and how he was contemned in his youth, and is now grown so renowned.†

Time wears; Hygelac is slain in battle; Heardred, his son, reigns in his stead, he is slain by the Swedes, and Beowulf is made king.†

Therefore he turns on the folk, and wars on them, and burns Beowulf's house.†

Now Beowulf will go and meet the Worm.†

He comes to the ness, and speaks to his men, telling them of his past days, and gives them his last greeting: then he cries out a challenge to the Worm, who comes forth, and the battle begins: Beowulf's sword will not bite on the Worm.†

Wiglaf eggs on the others to come to Beowulf's help, and goes himself straightway, and offers himself to Beowulf; the Worm comes on again, and Beowulf breaks his sword Naegling on him, and the Worm wounds Beowulf.†

Wiglaf eggs on the others to come to Beowulf's help, and goes himself straightway, and offers himself to Beowulf; the Worm comes on again, and Beowulf breaks his sword Naegling on him, and the Worm wounds Beowulf.†

Wiglaf eggs on the others to come to Beowulf's help, and goes himself straightway, and offers himself to Beowulf; the Worm comes on again, and Beowulf breaks his sword Naegling on him, and the Worm wounds Beowulf.†

Wiglaf eggs on the others to come to Beowulf's help, and goes himself straightway, and offers himself to Beowulf; the Worm comes on again, and Beowulf breaks his sword Naegling on him, and the Worm wounds Beowulf.†

Wiglaf smites the Worm in the belly; Beowulf draws his ax, and between them they slay the Worm.†

Beowulf now feels his wounds, and knows that he is hurt deadly; he sits down by the wall, and Wiglaf bathes his wounds.†

Beowulf speaks, tells how he would give his armour to his son if he had one; thanks God that he has not sworn falsely or done guilefully; and prays Wiglaf to bear out the treasure that he may see it before he dies.†

Wiglaf fetches out the treasure, and again bathes Beowulf's wounds; Beowulf speaks again, rejoices over the sight of the treasure; gives to Wiglaf his ring and his armour, and bids the manner of his bale-fire.†

Wiglaf fetches out the treasure, and again bathes Beowulf's wounds; Beowulf speaks again, rejoices over the sight of the treasure; gives to Wiglaf his ring and his armour, and bids the manner of his bale-fire.†

Thence he sends a messenger to the barriers of the town, who comes to the host, and tells them of the death of Beowulf.†

The warriors go to look on Beowulf, and find him and the Worm lying dead together.†

Then they bring Beowulf's corpse to bale, and they kindle it; a woman called the wife of aforetime, it may be Hygd, widow of Hygelac, bemoans him: and twelve children of the athelings ride round the bale, and bemoan Beowulf and praise him: and thus ends the poem.†

Then they bring Beowulf's corpse to bale, and they kindle it; a woman called the wife of aforetime, it may be Hygd, widow of Hygelac, bemoans him: and twelve children of the athelings ride round the bale, and bemoan Beowulf and praise him: and thus ends the poem.†

THE STORY OF BEOWULF
I. AND FIRST OF THE KINDRED OF HROTHGAR.†

He therefore, the Life-lord,
The Wielder of glory, world's worship he gave him:
Brim Beowulf waxed, and wide the weal upsprang
Of the offspring of Scyld in the parts of the Scede-lands.†

In the burgs then was biding Beowulf the Scylding,
Dear King of the people, for long was he dwelling
Far-famed of folks (his father turn'd elsewhere,
From his stead the Chief wended) till awoke to him after
Healfdene the high, and long while he held it,
Ancient and war-eager, o'er the glad Scyldings:
Of his body four bairns are forth to him rimed;
Into the world woke the leader of war-hosts 60
Heorogar; eke Hrothgar, and Halga the good;
Heard I that Elan queen was she of Ongentheow,
That Scylding of battle, the bed-mate behalsed.†

NOW COMES BEOWULF ECGTHEOW'S SON
TO THE LAND OF THE DANES,
AND THE WALL-WARDEN SPEAKETH WITH HIM.†

V. HERE BEOWULF MAKES ANSWER TO THE LAND-WARDEN,
WHO SHOWETH HIM THE WAY TO THE KING'S ABODE.†

BEOWULF AND THE GEATS COME INTO HART.†

Unto him then the heart-hardy answer'd and spake, 340
The proud earl of the Weders the word gave aback,
The hardy neath helm: Now of Hygelac are we
The board-fellows; Beowulf e'en is my name,
And word will I say unto Healfdene's son,
To the mighty, the folk-lord, what errand is mine,
Yea unto thy lord, if to us he will grant it
That him, who so good is, anon we may greet.†

So Wulfgar spake forth to his lord the well-friendly: 360
Hither are ferry'd now, come from afar off
O'er the field of the ocean, a folk of the Geats;
These men of the battle e'en Beowulf name they
Their elder and chiefest, and to thee are they bidding
That they, O dear lord, with thee may be dealing
In word against word.†

BEOWULF SPEAKETH WITH HROTHGAR,
AND TELLETH HOW HE WILL MEET GRENDEL.†

Then Beowulf spake out, on him shone the byrny,
His war-net besown by the wiles of the smith:
Hail to thee, Hrothgar!†

HROTHGAR ANSWERETH BEOWULF
AND BIDDETH HIM SIT TO THE FEAST.†

Spake out then Hrothgar the helm of the Scyldings:
Thou Beowulf, friend mine, for battle that wardeth
And for help that is kindly hast sought to us hither.†

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Definition:

the legendary hero of an anonymous Old English epic poem composed in the early 8th century; he slays a monster and becomes king but dies fighting a dragon

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Beowulf in Beowulf

Beowulf
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Beowulf