Beowulf Summary
Part 1, Sections 5-13
Section 5
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Hrothgar talking to Beowulf
Hrothgar appointed Beowulf’s father a king
Hrothgar asks Beowulf to focus on the future and to defeat Grendel to save the Danes
Section 6
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Unferth calls out Beowulf regarding his swimming race against Brecca
Unferth does not like Beowulf because he views him as being cocky and arrogant
“Bonstan’s son” = Brecca (kenning)
Beowulf claims he killed a sea monster **not sure if we should trust him
Section 7
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Beowulf states he was able to defeat other monsters and they fled
Beowulf claims he killed 9 sea monsters in total
Beowulf landed on Finnish soil **Finland
Beowulf announces that Unferth murdered his two brothers
Beowulf says the Danes are cowards and then none of them are a match for Grendel
“Gold-ringed queen” = Motif for gold, consonance for d sound.
Hrothgar promises riches for the Geats if they are successful
“God’s bright beacon” = Sun (kenning)
Section 8
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“Trap on his trip to high Herot” = alliteration
“gold-shining hall” = Herot (kenning and motif)
“shepherd of evil” = Grendel (kenning)
Section 9
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Grendel and Beowulf fight in the hall
Beowulf backs his promise and defeats Grendel by ripping the monster’s arm off.
Beowulf hangs Grendel’s arm in the rafters for all of Herot to see. It serves as a trophy/reward
Section 10
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Men from other kingdoms heard the word of Grendel’s defeat and the man that killed the monster
The people spread the news of Beowulf’s accomplishments and it makes Hrothgar look like a poor king/leader
Section 11
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Prior to this section, Grendel’s mother attacks Herot and takes Hrothgar’s best friend captive
Hrothgar reminds Beowulf that if he kills Grendel’s mother that he will be repaid in gold and riches
Section 12
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Beowulf fights Grendel’s mother
“greedy she wolf” = Grendel’s mother (kenning)
“water witch” = Grendel’s mother (kenning)
Beowulf realizes that she, also, cannot be harmed by weapons
“So fame Comes to the men who mean to win it And care about nothing else!” Sums up what Beowulf cares
about
Section 13
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Beowulf discovers a sword in the cave that is bigger than any sword he has ever seen. It is blessed by giants.
Beowulf slices and kills Grendel’s mother with the sword blessed by magic.
Beowulf discovers the dead body of Grendel
Fearless fighter = Beowulf (kenning)