The epic poem Beowulf tells the deeds of the hero Beowulf who, according
"his hand-grip has thirty man's strength"(line 287). Beowulf is from Sweden and
has come to Denmark to kill a creature named Grendel. This creature has been
tormenting the people of Denmark for 12 years until Beowulf hears about it. It takes
place in Anglo-Saxon times in the countries of Denmark and Sweden. Three battles take place in this poem. In the first Beowulf fights Grendel.
Secondly he fights Grendel's mother. Finally he has to fight a dragon.
When Beowulf hears about Grendel's raids in Denmark he gathers his best
thanes(fighting men), and travels there to kill him. When he arrives there the king is
glad he is there but thinks the outcome of the battle will be bad. Beowulf says that
"single-handed I'll settle the strife"(line 330). This is because Grendel has put a
spell on all swords that they will not hurt him. So Beowulf takes off all his armor,
puts down all his weapons and acts like he is asleep and waits for Grendel to raid.
That night when he is waiting Grendel comes into the mead hall and grabs one of
Beowulf's men. Then, Beowulf jumps up and attacks him. In the ensuing battle
Beowulf rips Grendel's arm off and he eventually bleeds to death. Beowulf's men
all thought he would lose the fight even though they knew his strength.
When Beowulf killed Grendel his mother became very enraged and decided
she would have her vengeance. She went to the mead hall the next night and
grabbed Æschere, who was "my comrade, closest of counselors"(line 849), said the
king, and took him away to kill him. Beowulf gets his men and tracks her down to
her lair where they find Æschere's head on a pole. Her lair is at the bottom of a lake
and Beowulf dives in to go there. He brings with him Hrunting, the sword of
Unferth, to slay her with. When he gets there he attacks with the sword and finds
out that she has a spell on s...