Hrothgar, King of the Danes, builds a great palace for the enjoyment of he and his knights. Unfortunately, the monster Grendel, in his watery den, becomes jealous--a fact only exacerbated by the joyous feastings and celebrations held within the great hall. With a vengeful heart, the monstrous one emerges from the depths to torment the King as one by one he abducts his minions and carries them off in the night to devour. For twelve long years Grendel persecutes Hrothgar and his vassals, for among their number there is none strong or brave enough to stand against his monstrous might.
Then from across the sea, Beowulf, nephew to Higelac, King of the Geats, receives word of Grendel’s villany and Hrothgar’s misery. The young hero resolves to journey to the side of the aging Danish Monarch and to defeat the vile creature Grendel. Fourteen brave companions, sail with Beowulf on his epic quest.
They companions arrive in the hall of Danish Monarch, and spend the evening drinking. When the aging King leaves his hall for his bed, he telling Beowulf that never before has he given over wardship of his palace to another. Beowulf and his companions then lay down to rest as they await the arrival of Grendel.
Grendel arrives with the loud bravado of one who believes he has nothing to fear. Grendel seizes one of the sleeping warriors and kills him there in the hall. He then advances on Beowulf and a fierce hand-to-hand combat ensues. It is a test of fiercesome strength between two warriors. Beowulf tears Grendel’s shoulder from his body, and the monster retreats howling in agony and fury. The wound is fatal and the monster Grendel is no more.
The next day there is great rejoicing in the hall of Hrothgar, King of the Danes, but as they learn with the night, their celebration was premature.
Grendel’s mother comes with the dark hours of the night to avenge his death. She is furious with such a rage as can only be know by a mother who has lost a child. Beowulf sleeps in a room some distance from the other warriors. She seizes one of Hrothgar’s favorite counsellors, and devours him. Beowulf is summoned. With his quest, it seems, as yet unfinished, he arms himself, and goes after the monstrous female.
He travels long hours beneath the waters of the fen and catches up with her finally deep below the surface. They struggle and she drags him to her den, where he sees Grendel lying dead. A desperate, almost fatal battle ensues, but in the end it is Beowulf who is triumphant, and he takes with him Grendels head as a trophy.
The celebration is renewed, and Beowulf is hailed a hero and rewarded with many treasures from the grateful Danish King, and declared next in line to the Danish throne by his vassels. But Beowulf leaves the Danish Kingdom behind, and sails away amid much weeping and lamenting.
He arrives in his own land, and there is feted with a heroes homecoming, and later honored with the throne of his own people, the Geats. He ruled there well for fifty years, and died ridding his land of the depredations of a fire-spewing dragon. A great funeral-pyre was built, and his mortal remains consigned to the Gods in fiery honor. He was greatly mourned for he was much beloved for his bravery, his gentleness and his goodness of heart and generosity. He people swore to honor his memory and a memorial-barrow was made so that it might be visible from a great distance and even sailors sailors from afar would rememember Beowulf hero of the Danes and the Geats.
If all of this sounds vaguely familiar it is probably because the movie The Thirteenth Warrior was based on Michael Critchen's novel, The Eaters of the Dead which was in turn loosely based on the legend of Beowulf.
BEOWULF PRELUDE
