Summary of The Book Beowulf

Outline, organization, and content for the story of Beowulf


We have three different summaries of Beowulf on this site.

Outline

The poem is broken into 2 books, 3 parts, and 43 sections.

In addition, our unit study has these divided into 12 lessons.

Book One: The Rise of Beowulf

Part 1: Grendel

• Lessons 1 to 6
• Fitt 1 to 19
• Lines 1 to 1251

Part 2: Grendel's Mother

• Lessons 7 to 9
• Fitt 20 to 31
• Lines 1252 to 2322

Book Two: The Fall of Beowulf

Part 3: The Dragon

• Lessons 10 to 12
• Fitt 32-43
• Lines 2323 to 3182

Lesson One

I. The Funeral of Scyld Scefing

• Lines 1-52
• Manuscript 129 r, 129 v, 130r
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Beow vs Beowulf
  • Sea Burial
  • Archaeology at Sutton Hoo
  • Tolkien and Beowulf Scavenger Hunt
  • Scylds Mysterious Beginning - The Legend
  • Themes: Honor AND Heroic Deeds
  • Scandinavia: Definition and Map
  • Old English: thorn and eth and #7
  • Old English: Line 2
  • Old English and Anglo-Saxon English Definition

II. Hrothgar Builds Heorot

• Lines 53-114
• Manuscript 130r, 130v, 132r (page 131 was misplaced, now behind 146)
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Kennings
  • Hearot Hall - foreshadowing
  • Old English - þæt wæs god cyning
  • Hrothgar and Scyld Shefing - a contrast
  • Comitatus
  • Hearot Hall arachaeology
  • Creation Poem

Lesson Two

III. Grendel Attacks

• Lines 115-188
• Manuscript 132r, 132v, 133r, 133v, 134r
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Three Threads in Bowulf (Legend, History, Culture)
  • Anglo-Saxon Timeline (450-1066) 2 handouts
  • Theme: Christianity vs Paganism

IV. Beowulf Hears and Sets Out

• Lines 189,257
• Manuscript 134r, 134v, 135r, 135v
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Old English - opening H
  • Pronounciation of Geats (yee ots)
  • Geography -Sweden Peninsula (map)
  • Geats, Weder Lake
  • Old English - he guðcyning ofer swanrade secean
  • Windows of Time and Change - Our View of Beowulf

Lesson Three

V. A Danish Watchman Allows the Geat
Warriors to March to Hearot

• Lines 258-319
• Manuscript 135v, 136r, 136v, 137r
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Ectheow and Old English Pronunciation
  • More Kennings
  • Alliteration and Old English - worda 7 worca
  • Anatomy of a Teutonic Poem (second half line is leader)
  • Writing our Own Teutonic Poem
  • Inflections
  • Boars Head Helmet

VI.Beowulf's Company at Hearot's Gate

• Lines 320-370
• Manuscript 137r, 137v, 138r
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Beowulf’s Name (Bee Hunter or Bear-Man)
  • Tribal Names - Scyldings vs Scyfings
  • Hrothgar’s Character
  • Encircling Sea

VII. Beowulf Tells Hrothgar His Plan

• Lines 371-455
• Manuscript 138r, 138v, 139r, 139v, 140r
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Beowulf’s History
  • History and Legend twisted together
  • Old English - fate/wyrd

VIII. Hrothgar Responds to Beowulf's Arrival

• Lines 456-498
• Manuscript 140r, 140v, 141r
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Wulfings
  • Weregild
  • Hearot Hall
  • Motif vs Theme

Lesson Four

IX. Unferth Taunts Beowulf

• Lines 499 - 558
• Manuscript 141r, 141v, 142r, 142v
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Unferth’s name and character
  • Swimming Contest with Breca
  • Flyting
  • Nicors and Monsters

X. Beowulf and Brecca's Contest

• Lines 559-661
• Manuscript 142v, 243r, 143v, 144r, 144v, 145r
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Assessment: Legend vs History
  • Geography of Finns and Brondings
  • Sarcasm & Understatements
  • Theme: Fate

XI. God Gave One Man the Strength to Save Them

• Lines 662-709
• Manuscript 145r, 145v, 146r
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Assessment: Fighting without weapons
  • Author’s Purpose
  • Rising Action

Lesson Five

XII. Grendel Attacks the Geat Warriors

• Lines 710-789
• Manuscript 146r, 146v, 131r, 131v, 147r (page 131 was misplaced when originally numbered)
• Unit Study Activities:
  • The attack!
  • History, Legend, Fiction: Find the Clues

XIII. Beowulf's Victory

• Lines 790-835
• Manuscript 147r, 147v, 148r
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Boast and Defeat
  • The Unexpected Curse

XIV. Danes Rejoice / A Minstrel’s Tale

• Lines 836-923
• Manuscript 148r, 148v, 149r, 149v, 150r
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Story-In-a-Story Box
  • Sigemund the Dragon Slayer (Volsunga Saga)
  • Heremond: Disgraced King in Exile
  • Old English sið & wrecca
  • Textual analysis
  • Contemporaries: Sigemund & Heremond
  • Mise-En-Abyme

XV. Hrothgar and Beowulf Gaze at the Arm & Speak

• Lines 924-989
• Manuscript 150r, 150v, 151r, 151v
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Beowulf’s Mother
  • Adoption by Hrothgar
  • Role of the Companions in the Fight
  • Humor in Beowulf
  • Unferth
  • Old English - description of the claw

Lesson Six

XVI. Hrothgar Bestows Valuable Gifts on Beowulf

• Lines 990=1048
• Manuscript 151v, 152r, 152v
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Women and Queens
  • Theme: Death
  • Foreshadowing Hearot Hall’s Demise

XVII. More Treasures Given & Song of Hildegard and Finn

• Lines 1049 - 1125
• Manuscript 152v, 153r, 153v, 154r, 154v
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Finnsburg: Part I
  • Author’s Message - leofes 7 laþes
  • Theme: Fate vs God vs Courage
  • Siblings in Conflict (Sigemond & Hnaef)
  • Plight of Women
  • Finnsburg Fragment
  • Widsith Poem

XVIII. Song of Hildeburg & Finn Continued

• Lines 1126-1190
• Manuscript 154v, 155r, 155v, 156r
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Hunlafing
  • Purpose of the Historical Narratives
  • Dating of Beowulf story

XIX. More Gifts, More Gracious Words

• Lines 1191 - 1250
• Manuscript 156r, 156v, 157r, 157v
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Queen Wealhtheow
  • War & Mothers
  • The Golden Torque
  • Dire Prediction

Lesson Seven

XX. She-Monster Attacks

• Lines 1251-1320
• Manuscript 157v, 158r, 158v, 159r
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Cain & Able
  • Blood Feuds
  • Women Warriors
  • Geography: Two Seas

XXI. Hrothgar Answers Beowulf In Sorrow

• Lines 1321-1382
• Manuscript 159r, 159v, 160r, 160v
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Mood
  • Aschere

XXII. Journey to the Water's Edge

• Lines 1383 - 1472
• Manuscript 160v,161r, 161v, 162r, 162v
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Descriptive Phrases
  • Nicors and Monsters
  • Unferth’s Role
  • Geology: Headlands

XXIII. Beowulf Meets the She-Monster

• Lines 1473 - 1556
• Manuscript 162v, 163r, 163v, 164r
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Beowulf’s Character
  • The Attack!
  • Dating: Early vs Late Theory

Lesson Eight

XXIV. Beowulf's Second Victory

• Lines 1557 - 1650
• Manuscript 164r, 164b, 165r, 165, 166r
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Detective Work and Scandinavian Legends
  • The Sword Blade

XXV. Reunion with King Hrothgar

• Lines 1651 - 1739
• Manuscript 166r, 166v, 167r, 167v, 168r
• Unit Study Activities:
  • The Giant’s Sword
  • Pagan vs Christian elements in the poem

XXVI. Hrothgar’s Warning & A Night of Rest

• Lines 1739 - 1816
• Manuscript 168r, 168v, 169r, 169v
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Hrothgar’s Message
  • Themes: Pride and Old Age
  • Review All Themes

XXVII. Farewell to Hrothgar

• Lines 1817 - 1887
• Manuscript 169v, 170r, 170v, 171r
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Foreshadowing
  • Motif: Gold

Lesson Nine

XXVIII. Return to Geatland and
Comparison of Two Queens

• Lines 1888 - 1962
• Manuscript 171r, 171v, 172r, 172v, 173r
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Thryth
  • Offa I
  • Offa II

XXIX. Reunion with King Hygelac

• Lines 1963 - 2031
• Manuscript 173r, 173v, 174r, 174v
• Unit Study Activities:
  • War between Danes & Heathobards
  • Hygelac & Beowulf
  • Burning of Hearot Hall

XXX. Freawaru & Ingeld; Beowulf Continues

• Lines 2031 - 2143
• Manuscript 174v, 175r, 175v, 176r, 176v, 177r
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Additional Details About Grendel

XXXI. Beowulf Gives Hrothgar the Treasure

• Lines 2143 -2220
• Manuscript177r, 177v, 178r, 178v, 179r
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Transition to Book II
  • Giving the Treasure to Hygelac
  • Hrothgar’s Brother’s War Gear
  • Beowulf as an Ugly Duckling
  • Is Beowulf based on Offa?
  • King Hygelac’s death: two versions
  • Beowulf as King

Book Two: Part Three: Lesson Ten

XXXII. An Ancient Treasure Found

• Lines 2221 -2323
• Manuscript 179r, 179v, 180r, 181v, 181r
• Unit Study Activities:
  • The Nobel Race
  • Dragons, Greed, Useless Treasure
  • Trouble for the Villagers

XXXIII. How Beowulf Became King

• Lines 2324 - 2390
• Manuscript 181r, 181v, 182r, 182v, 183r
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Death of Hygelac
  • Death of Heardred
  • Queen Hygd’s Offer
  • Geat/Swede Conflict

XXXIV. Beowulf Reminisces

• Lines 2391 - 2462
• Manuscript 183r, 183v, 184r
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Death of Herebeald
  • Young Beowulf as a Foster Child
  • The Grieving Father

XXXV. Beowulf Faces the Dragon

• Lines 2463 - 2601
• Manuscript 184v, 185r, 185v, 186r, 186v, 187r, 187v
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Battle of Ravensbrook
  • Hygelac’s Last Battle
  • Beowulf Battles Alone (Grendel & Dragon)
  • Mack Tack
  • Provenance of the Elements in Beowulf
  • Finding Our Author and Date

Lesson Eleven

XXXVI. Dragon Strikes Again, Wiglaf Comes

• Lines 2602 - 2693
• Manuscript 187v, 188r, 188v, 197r, 197v (197 originally misplaced)
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Wiglaf
  • Waegmundings
  • Beowulf & Swords
  • Three Dragon Charges

XXXVII. Dragon Struck Down; Beowulf's Request

• Lines 2694 - 2751
• Manuscript 197v, 189r, 189v
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Purpose of the Poem
  • Beowulf’s Character
  • Usefulness of the Treasure

XXXVIII. Last Request and Farewell

• Lines 2752 - 2820
• Manuscript 189v, 190r, 190v, 191r
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Warning About Gold
  • The Banner
  • Place of Beowulf’s Death
  • End of a Race
  • Beowulf’s Reward

XXXIX. Wiglaf’s Reproach

• Lines 2821 - 2891
• Manuscript 191r, 191v, 192r, 192v
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Wiglaf’s Speech
  • Hrothgar’s Final Message
  • Contextual Analysis
  • Real & Dream-like Death Scene
  • Foreboding Prediction

Lesson Twelve

XL. Announcement to the Geat Tribe

• Lines 2892 - 2946
• Manuscript 192v, 193r, 193v
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Start of the Battle of Ravensbrook
  • The Announcement
  • Geats vs Franks vs Swedes
  • Theory about Hygelac’s Death
  • Purpose of Historical Narratives

XLI.The Messenger Continues

• Lines 2946 - 3057
• Manuscript 193v, 194r, 194v, 195r, 195v
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Ongentheow’s Death
  • Raven, Eagle, Wolf
  • Treasure and Tragedy

XLII. Fate of the Treasure Hoard

• Lines 3058 - 3136
• Manuscript 195v, 196r, 196v, 198r (197 was misplaced)
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Curse on the Treasure
  • Wiglaf’s Council Ignored
  • Funeral Pyre
  • Dragon’s Plunge
  • Hronesness and Earnaness

XLIII. The Funeral

• Lines 3137 - 3182
• Manuscript 198r, 198v
• Unit Study Activities:
  • Funeral Dirge
  • Assessment of Germanic Heroic Code
  • Funerals of Scyld & Beowulf
  • Compare Scyld & Beowulf
  • Final Words
  • Purpose of Monsters
  • Medieval Knighthood