anglo-saxon

Shield, Son of Sheaf, was a good king who was feared but had respect from others. He also had a son named Grain. When he died, Shield was sent in a boat filled with gifts and treasures. Grain ruled the Danes a long time after his father's death and to him was born the great Healfdene, fierce in battle, who ruled until he was old. Healfdene had four children-- Heorogar, Hrothgar, Halga the Good, and a daughter who married Onela, King of the Swedes. After Hrothgar became king, he won many battles, and his childhood friends became famous soldiers. So Hrothgar decided to build a mead-hall.

One night, after a beer party, the Danes settled in the hall for sleep. Grendel went one night and killed the great warriors that were sleeping in Danes hall, until no one would sleep there anymore. Later Grendel would sleep in the king’s hall, and the king was trying to kick him out but couldn’t. The King of Danes went to ask for help. Beowulf heard of this slaughter and set sail to Denmark to help the king with his problem. When Beowulf got there, he revealed himself to the protector of the cliff and asked him to lead him to the king so he could talk to him. Later, Beowulf talks to the king and feasts until sunset. Beowulf gets prepared to battle with Grendel. The night came when Grendel went inside seeing one of the warriors sleeping and ate him up then he got to Beowulf. When he was about to bite him, Beowulf got behind him and grasps him with his strong hands. Grendel, who was desperate to get out of Beowulf’s grasp, tore his arm off and ran.

Now that Beowulf won victory against Grendel they had a feast with wine. Hrothgar gave Beowulf horses and weapons, telling Beowulf to enjoy them. As they drank wine at the feast, dark came and every one went to sleep. The guards went to patrolling the hall like usual. Later on that night Grendel’s mom came in and kills the main chief of the Danes and takes back Grendel’s famous hand. The next morning the king was mad about the attack that happened last night and asks Beowulf to find the monster and kill her. Beowulf agrees to find her. When he went to find Grendel’s mom he had to go through courses that led him to her. Beowulf swung at her with the sword, but the sword was useless and didn’t cut her. Then she grabbed Beowulf with her claws and threw him to the ground. She tried to stab Beowulf with a dagger, but the armor kept the dagger from stabbing him. Beowulf got back on his feet and found a giant sword. He grabbed it and swung at her that led to the death of Grendel’s mom. Beowulf saw Grendel sleeping because he was worn out from the fight he had with Beowulf. Beowulf remembered how he killed fifty men and cut off Grendel’s head.

After the battle with Grendel’s mother Beowulf went home and became king for fifty years. In the last of Beowulf ruling king, there was a dragon that was a gold-keeper. That dragon would have treasure in his cave and would protect it from intruders. Till one day an intruder went to the cave of the dragon and took a gold cup while the dragon was asleep. When the dragon woke up he smelled an intruder and went angry flying through the villages and burning every village he encountered with. Till Beowulf was fed up with this problem and went with his crew to faces this dragon for one last battle. When he was fighting the dragon he was surrounded by fire and his soldiers see him need help, but instead all but one ran to the forest. Woehstan is the one who helps Beowulf defeat the dragon but also lost Beowulf life as well.

2."Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow, spoke: "Do not sorrow, wise king! It is better for a man to avenge a friend than mourn much." He is trying to say that the king experience sorrow and as his friend, Beowulf would help seek revenge from the massacre that went on in the meat-hall, displaying his loyalty to the king.
"To him the cup was carried and friendship offered in words. Wound gold was kindly bestowed: two arm ornaments, shirts of mail, rings, and the largest neck ring I have heard tell of on the earth." To him the cup was carried to show that they were thankful and respectful of Beowulf’s kind deeds. They bestow him with presents to show their gratitude to their warrior culture, which Beowulf represents and is the centerpiece to Anglo-Saxon, culture. Part 9 in the episode of Beowulf the monk tells a story of a dragon being a protector of treasure. In the Anglo-Saxon culture, they had the dragon, Thor, who is usually the protector of treasure or warrior graves.

3."You know if it is true what we have heard, that a dark enemy in the nights works violence and slaughter on the Danes . . .. Perhaps in kindness I may advise Hrothgar how he, wise and famous, may overcome this enemy-- if change will ever come, relief from this evil-- and how this seething sorrow might become cool. Otherwise, he will suffer tribulation as long as he lives in that high place, the best of houses." In Beowulf, here he is talking about if it is true that a dark enemy is attacking the Danes at night that he would help the king solve the problem if god lets it be. Like the hero spider-man he senses evil with his spider senses and he fight the bad guy.

4. When Beowulf dies he dies for something that wasn’t his cause. The reason I say this is because Beowulf usually fights for the people, like the time he fought Grendel and Grendel’s mom. He fought those creatures for the people because the people of Danes were being slaughtered so Beowulf went to solve the Danes problem.
When Beowulf in his last battle with the dragon he is in his 80’s or 90’s and battles because some thief stoled an item from the dragon causing the dragon to attack different villages. But Beowulf don’t look for the thief, he goes and fight the dragon and when he does fight the dragon he dies at the end with pride.