The Copy Book

The Legend of Beowulf

The oldest surviving heroic legend in English begins with a wild creature of the fens that hunts men for prey.

Part 1 of 3

?8th century

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© Jonathan Billinger, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.

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The Legend of Beowulf

© Jonathan Billinger, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0. Source
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‘Beowulf’ is set in Denmark, but the English epic probably originated in East Anglia. This is the interior of a reconstructed Anglo-Saxon hall in West Stow, Suffolk, an area heavily populated by people of Danish descent in the 9th century.

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Introduction

‘Beowulf’ is the oldest surviving epic in English. Set in Scandinavia, it tells of a hero who pays off a debt of honour, by helping a family friend to rid his neighbourhood of a wretched but deadly enemy.

MANY ages ago Scyld, the great King of the Danes, died. His body was committed to the sea in a great funeral ship, and the Danes did not expect to see his like again.

Among his descendants, however, was Hrothgar, a beloved leader who gathered noble men about him in his great mead-hall.

Brave warriors though they were, one enemy had the measure of them, and that was Grendel, a wretched descendant of Cain, who for twelve years had raided their hall, a place of courtesy and music, and brutally slain Hrothgar’s men one-by-one.

When Beowulf of the Geats heard it, his heart was stirred (for Hrothgar had once aided his father). He set sail at once, and pledged his assistance to Hrothgar.

One night, Grendel crept in from the sodden marshes where he had his home, and began his customary attack. But this time Beowulf leapt up, and so fierce was his grip that the creature’s shoulder was wrenched from its place.

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Précis

The hall of Hrothgar the Dane is plagued for twelve years by Grendel, a wretched but deadly enemy who preys one-by-one on his earls. Beowulf, who owes Hrothgar a debt of honour, comes from his home among the Geats to help him. He lies in for Grendel, wrestles with him, and inflicts a mortal wound upon him. (57 / 60 words)

The hall of Hrothgar the Dane is plagued for twelve years by Grendel, a wretched but deadly enemy who preys one-by-one on his earls. Beowulf, who owes Hrothgar a debt of honour, comes from his home among the Geats to help him. He lies in for Grendel, wrestles with him, and inflicts a mortal wound upon him.

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Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: because, despite, if, just, may, since, unless, whether.

Word Games

Sevens Based on this passage

Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.

What was Hrothgar’s problem?

Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.

Jigsaws Based on this passage

Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.

Adam had a son called Cain. Cain murdered his brother Abel. Grendel was a descendant of Cain.

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