Beowulf

Anonymous

• Publisher: HarperPerennial Classics
• Year: 2014
• eBook ISBN: 9781443435604
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Classics
• Index: Literature

The epic poem Beowulf is the tale of the life and great deeds of Beowulf, hero of the Geats. The first half of the poem focuses on Beowulf's aid to Hrothgar, king of the Danes, who has been terrorized by the creature Grendel. In the second half of the poem, after his heroic youth, an older Beowulf is serving as king of the Geats when his realm is attacked by an immense dragon, prompting Beowulf to once again take up arms.

Set in ancient Scandinavia, the legend of Beowulf is one of the earliest surviving examples of Anglo-Saxon literature. Originally recorded in Old English around the tenth or eleventh century, this edition is a translation into more modern language by John Lesslie Hall. The legend of Beowulf was adapted into a 2007 film starring Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, and Angelina Jolie.

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Table of contents

• CONTENTS
• Translator's Dedication
• Preface
• Abbreviations Used in the Notes
• Book I—The Life and Death of Scyld
• Book II—Scyld’s Successors—Hrothgar’s Great Mead-Hall
• Book III—Grendel, the Murderer
• Book IV—Beowulf Goes to Hrothgar’s Assistance
• Book V—The Geats Reach Heorot
• Book VI—Beowulf Introduces Himself at the Palace
• Book VII—Hrothgar and Beowulf
• Book VIII—Hrothgar and Beowulf—(continued)
• Book IX—Unferth Taunts Beowulf
• Book X—Beowulf Silences Unferth—Glee is High
• Book XI—All Sleep save One
• Book XII—Grendel and Beowulf
• Book XIII—Grendel is Vanquished
• Book XIV—Rejoicing of the Danes
• Book XV—Hrothgar’s Gratitude
• Book XVI—Hrothgar Lavishes Gifts upon his Deliverer
• Book XVII—Banquet (continued)—The Scop’s Song of Finn and Hnæf
• Book XVIII—The Finn Episode (continued)—The Banquet Continues
• Book XIX—Beowulf Receives Further Honor
• Book XX—The Mother of Grendel
• Book XXI—Hrothgar’s Account of the Monsters
• Book XXII—Beowulf Seeks Grendel’s Mother
• Book XXIII—Beowulf’s Fight with Grendel’s Mother
• Book XXIV—Beowulf is Double-Conqueror
• Book XXV—Beowulf Brings his Trophies—Hrothgar’s Gratitude
• Book XXVI—Hrothgar Moralizes—Rest after Labor
• Book XXVII—Sorrow at Parting
• Book XXVIII—The Homeward Journey—The Two Queens
• Book XXIX—Beowulf and Higelac
• Book XXX—Beowulf Narrates his Adventures to Higelac
• Book XXXI—Gift-Giving is Mutual
• Book XXXII—The Hoard and the Dragon
• Book XXXIII—Brave Though Aged—Reminiscences
• Book XXXIV—Beowulf Seeks the Dragon—Beowulf’s Reminiscences
• Book XXXV—Reminiscences (continued)— Beowulf’s Last Battle
• Book XXXVI—Wiglaf the Trusty—Beowulf is Deserted by Friends and by Sword
• Book XXXVII—The Fatal Struggle—Beowulf’s Last Moments
• Book XXXVIII—Wiglaf Plunders the Dragon’s Den—Beowulf’s Death
• Book XXXIX—The Dead Foes—Wiglaf’s Bitter Taunts
• Book XL—The Messenger of Death
• Book XLI—The Messenger’s Retrospect
• Book XLII—Wiglaf’s Sad Story—The Hoard Carried Off
• Book XLIII—The Burning of Beowulf
• Glossary of Proper Names
• List of Words and Phrases not in General Use
• About the Author
• About the Series
• Copyright
• About the Publisher