Reading Notes: Beowulf, Part B

The Story of Beowulf by Strafford Riggs

In the second half of the unit, Grendel attacks the hall and puts everyone into a magical sleep. Except, Beowulf wasn't asleep so he is able to fight against the spell. Grendel breaks in and kills one man but while he is devouring him, Beowulf wakes up and the two fight together. The are fairly well matched, until Beowulf is able to get a hold on one of Grendel's arms and rips it off.

With that, Grendel runs away and the others wake up. The next day, they celebrate but that night, one of Hrothgar's men is killed and they realize that they forgot about Grendel's monster mother who has taken revenge for her son and will continue to kill them.

Beowulf vows to fight her too, so he, his men and king Hrothgar and his men track Grendel's mother with hounds until they reach a murky pond. Beowulf jumps in alone and descends to the bottom. For a while, it is pitch black and he has to strike out blindly against things that pass him but then he can see.

He is pulled into a cave by a hag, Grendel's mother and they fight. Beowulf is almost bested but he pulls a magical sword out of the wall and kills her. Then he cuts of Grendel's head and swims back to the top where his men are still waiting for him.

Together they return to Hrothgar and show him the head of Grendel. After that, they return to their own land where Beowulf eventually becomes the king. For a long time it is peaceful until a dragon starts terrorizing the land.

Beowulf and some earls go after it but the earls run away, leaving Beowulf to fight alone, except for Wiglaf who fights with him. The dragon gets a killing blow on Beowulf but Wiglaf kills it. As he is dying, Wiglaf brings him a beautiful crown from the dragon's lair. Then he dies and has a glorious funeral.

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