Prologue:
1. Shield became ruler of the danes by fear, no one would challenge his rule because of his power. When he died, he was put in a boat full of riches and sent off to sea. Sheild is Hrothgar's grandfather.
Heorot is attacked:
1. Hrothgar made a place of merry, a sort of hall for freasting and festives. Grendel spawn of Cain attacked this place, killing many danes every time he went. The Danes attempted to fight him but failed, and eventually left.
The Hero Comes to Heorot:
1. Beowulf hears of grendel and seeks to fight him and win glory, and heads to Heorot.
2. The Geats are first greeted by a hostile watchman, who demands to know who they are. Beowulf answers, stating he is son of Ecgtheow, coming to do battle with Grendel.
3. Hrothgars Herald is Wulfgar, who asks Hrothgar to see these men. Hrothgar knows of Beowulf because of his father, ehich is not surprising because it seems like warriors fame spread easily during those times.
4. Beowulf speaks of his recent defeat of five giants and states he will fight Grendel without armor. Hrothgar had helped the Geats pay and survive through a war.
Feast at Heorot:
1. Unferth acuses Beowulf of foolish pride trying to do what many Danes have failed to do, such as when he saw a risky seven day race against Breca which Beowulf lost, causing Unferth to question his commitment. Beowulf states why he lost the race due to sea fish, and that the contests was not one of war and that he will make Grendel pay for what he has done to the Danes, whom Beowulf seeks no feud with. This gives a slight view of Beowulf's motives and shows how strong his resolve is.
2.Queen Wealhtheow is offering drinks from the cup of the hall to everyone.
The Fight With Grendel:
1. Instead of arming for the fight, Beowulf takes his armor off so he is equal with Grendel.
2. Grendel enters seeing the sleeping men kills one. He reaches for Beowulf he grips Grendel with great strength. Grendel attempts to flee, and though immune to swords Grendel is held by Beowulf, who rips of Grendels arm. Grendel runs to die in his moor.
Celebration at Heorot:
1. Beowulf is like Sigemund in how they both fought monsters and won glory, but not like Heremod who seized the treasue and power in greed and did not get glory.
2. Hrothgar is very happy, thanking God, Beowulf, and Beowulfs mother. Hrothgar gives Beowulf many riches of gold, weapons armor, and horses.
4. Wealhtheow asks Hrothgar not to take Beowulf as his son because he already has sons.
5.
6. The men felt safe and guarded with Grendel gone.
Beowulf and Grendels Mother:
1. Grendels Mother comes to Heorot only because she wants revenge for her sons death, which isn't why Grendel went.
2. Grendel killed Hrothgars favorite thane. Hrothgar summons Beowulf, who had not slept in the hall that night.
3. The mere is a strange place where fire is seen upon the water, home of two giants, one Grendel's mother. It is an icy lake wwith many visible seas serepents.
Beowulf fights Grendels mother:
1. Beowulf tells Hrothgar it is best to act and not sit and do nothing.
2. The mere is full of serepents. The warriors and him kill one and drag it out to see the horror.
3. Beowulf puts on his armor and gets ready. Unfreth offers his sword Hrunting whcih is a superior sword. The Sword Beowulf takes is a very special sword that is supposed to never fail its warrior.
4. Grendels mother drags Beowulf to her undersea lair so the monsters wont interfere.
5. The sword has no effect on Grendels mother.
6. Beowulfs armor saves him from Grendels mothers knife.
7. Beowulf finds a sword crafted by giants and strikes Grendels mother in the neck, seeing Grendels body, taking Grendels head and his own sword. The sword of the giants had been made useless by the hot blood of the monsters.
8. Beouwlf returns to a few loyal warriors who had doubted his return but rejoice in it.
Further Celebration at Heorot:
1. Beowulf gives Hrothgar the hilt of the sword he used to kill Grendels mother.
2. Hrothgar talks about Heremod who abused his power by being ruthless and not rewarding the deserving. He warns Beowulf not to make the same mistake, and to bane the thoughts of selfishness.
3. Beowulf returns Hrunting to Unferth.
Beowulf Returns Home:
1. Hrothgar predicts that Beowulf will become king of the Geats.
2. Hygd is the queen of the Geats, and is unlike Modthryth because Modthryth was a very cruel queen.
3. ?
4. Beowulf tells the story with great pride and honor, but does not lie.
5. Beowulf offered his treasures to hos leader Hygelac, who gives him a suit of armor and sword given to him by Hrothgar.
The Dragon Awakes:
1. It is 50 years later, and King Hygelac is dead and Beowulf rules. But now, a dragon is threating the Geats.
2. The Dragon hoardes gold because he is greedy and has a big collection. His favorite peice, a gold cup, was stolen by a runaway slave who succumbed to temptation, which angered the dragon.
3. The Dragon attacked the town, burning down Beowulfs home.
4. Beowulf believes he angered God in some way to desrve this. He orders an iron shield to protect against fire and expects to take down the dragon and die trying.
5. Hygelac died in battle in the land of Frisian.
6. Headred was killed by Onela,and Beowulf was left to be king and pursued Onela.
7. Eleven others.
8. Herebeald was accidently killed by Haethkyn. King Hrethel was forced to punish Haethkyn and was mournful and became a bad king. The Swedes and the Geats had a feud and had been at war with many prominent people dying on both sides.
Beowulf attacks the Dragon:
1. Beowulf tells his companions to not interfere.
2. Beowulf is bested by the Drgaon the first time his attacks and defense weak. His companions flee but one stays. Wiglaf is his name, and ulike the others he is brave and stands beside his king. He yells for his king to fight for his life.
3. The second time Beowulf and dragon meet, Wiglaf had to hide behind Beowulfs iron sheild for protection and Beowulfd struck the dragon on the head with the sword, but it broke. The dragon bites Beowulf in the neck. But with Wiglafs help they are able to weaken the dragon then kills it striking at its exsposed belly.
4. Dying Beowulf asks to see the riches he died for. When he sees it Beowulf thanks God for these gifts for his people, and asks that the lair becomes Beowulfs Barrow so people will remember him.
Beowulfs Funeral:
1. The companions see Wiglaf trying to revie a dead Beowulf. The companions know they failed their leader in his time of need because they were afraid and know death would be better for them.
2. The messenger tells the city of their kings defeat. ?
3. Wiglaf tell the crowd who came to see Beowulf dead that the hoard of treasure was theirs and that the kind had died for it and the lair would become his great resting place.
4. The dragon was dragged to the sea.
5. The people mourned and built a mound around their king. Everyone honored the Geat most worthy of praise.
6. These last lines seem to describe a kind caring person which Beowulf was but does not describe his ferocity in battle.