ISBN: 9781406348873
The story of Beowulf is a retelling based on the original Old English, untitled poem, written by an unknown author. Later the poem was named after the Scandinavian hero Beowulf, and the author was titled “The Beowulf Author”.
In this Germanic myth, Beowulf was the son of king Ecgtheow. Ecgtheow had previously slain a man from another clan, and apparently, because the victim was from a prominent family, the weregild (man price – a value placed on every being and piece of property, that had to be repaid if property was stolen or someone was injured or killed as restitution by the offender) was set too high, and so Ecgtheow was banished and had to seek refuge among the Danes. The Danish king Hrothgar generously paid the weregild, and had Ecgtheow swear an oath.
When King Hrothgar and his people were terrorized by the monster, Grendel, Beowulf sailed to Zealand with fourteen warriors in order to pay his father’s debt. For twelve years King Hrothgar’s mead hall (feasting hall, also the residence of a lord and his followers), was attacked and ravaged by Grendel, presumably because he couldn’t stand their celebrations. King Hrothgar lamented that the most courageous men who tried to fight Grendel before, were all slain by the beast, because they possessed courage, but not strength enough.
Beowulf vows to take on Grendel with nothing but his own strength, and when Grendel devours one of his sleeping men, Beowulf grapples him with all his might, and in his fight to free himself, Grendel’s arm is torn off and he dies from his mortal wound.
Grendel’s arm becomes a victory trophy, and Heorot rejoices, but the next night Grendel’s mother comes to avenge her son, killing Hrothgar’s most favourite lord. Beowulf seeks her out in her lair at the bottom of a deep, dark lake filled with sea serpents. He is caught in ambush by the “sea hag”, and the sword he was given fails him against her, but with his last strength he uses a war-trophy, a giant sword, to make an end to her, and Heorot is free at last!
The last part in the story rapidly covers Beowulf’s succession to kingship and his peaceful rule of 50 years, after which a fire-breathing dragon ravages his land when awakened from his 300-year sleep. Beowulf courageously engages in this battle, but forsaken by his retainers, it becomes his last.
This version is an artful retelling of the Old English epic story by Sir Michael Morpurgo, and is magnificently illustrated by Michael Foreman.
Beowulf is separated in three parts:
- Beowulf and Grendel, the Monster of the Night
Where the background of the story and Beowulf’s encounter with Grendel are told.
- Beowulf and the Sea Hag
In which is told Beowulf’s encounter with Grendel’s mother in their lair, and Beowulf’s retelling of events to his king.
- Beowulf and the Death Dragon of the Deep
Beowulf’s reign as king, and his end while fighting his last battle against the treasure-hoard-keeping dragon.
Michael Morpurgo is truly a very talented author. Using an older English style in Beowulf, yet making it understandable so even kids can read it, he has proven himself a writer of different styles that appeal to a wide range of readers.
The poem Beowulf, which is contained in the Nowell Codex, is grounded in Germanic religion and mythology. There is no evidence of a historical Beowulf, but some characters, sites, and events in the poem can be historically verified. It is the oldest surviving epic in British literature.
The Old English poem can be read at Project Gutenberg and a Modern English version at poetryfoundation.org.
Read a Parallel Translation of the poem at Sparknotes, as well as a summary and notes and a Character List of the poem.
View the original, the ‘Southwick Codex’ here.
Beowulf has often been translated into modern English. Renderings by Seamus Heaney and Tolkien became best sellers. It has also been the source for retellings in text, e.g. John Gardner’s Grendel (1971), which takes the point of view of the monster, and as movies.
