Beowulf: Summary of Key Events and Literary Elements

Beowulf: Key Events and Literary Elements

Early Danish History

Hrothgar Builds Heorot

Grendel Attacks

Beowulf Hears the News

The Coast Guard Greets Beowulf

Wulfgar Greets Beowulf

Hrothgar Greets Beowulf

Unferth Challenges Beowulf; Beowulf Replies

Wealhtheow Greets Beowulf

Beowulf and Grendel Fight

Celebrations at Heorot; Beowulf Rewarded

The story of Sigemund and the Finn episode is told.

More Celebrations

Grendel's Mother Attacks

Beowulf Comes to Hrothgar's Aid

Beowulf Fights Grendel's Mother

Beowulf sinks into the mere, fights Grendel's mother, and cuts off Grendel's head.

Celebrations and Thanks

Hrothgar's Prophecy and Warning

Gifts and parting.

Home to Hygelac and Queen Hygd

Contrast between Queen Modthryth and Queen Hygd revealed.

Beowulf Recounts His Adventures

(He has changed since he was young)

Beowulf Becomes King

Beowulf is king and given gifts, land, etc.

Beowulf and the Dragon

Fifty years later, Beowulf is still ruling. The dragon's treasure is stolen.

The Thief and the Dragon's Cup

The thief took the dragon's cup out of need.

Dragon Attacks

Beowulf's hall burns. Elegy: Beowulf's deeds at battle in which Hygelac died.

Beowulf Salutes His Companions

Beowulf's Boast

Beowulf boasts that he will kill the dragon in single combat.

Companions Flee

Wiglaf Aids Beowulf

Wiglaf helps Beowulf kill the dragon, berates the traitors, predicts chaos (conflict between Swedes and Geats).

Useless Treasure

(paragraph 152)

Funeral Pyre

Heaven swallows the smoke.

Useless Treasure

(paragraph 158)

Research Paper vs. Essay vs. Paragraph

• Research paper: Requires 8 pages and understanding of a topic by researching with evidence.
• Essay: Requires 5 pages and doesn't require an understanding of researching.
• Paragraph: Is a group of sentences that fleshes out a single idea.

Essay Components

• Conclusion: Concludes the essay by reaffirming the thesis statement, discusses the issues, and reaches a final judgment.
• Introduction: Catches the reader's attention by giving background info and providing a thesis statement.

Elements of Effective Writing

• Unity: When all the words and sentences contribute to one idea in a paragraph or essay.
• Support: Develops the main idea of your essay.