Summary and scheme

Beowulf: a national poem

Beowulf is an epic poem which has no certain origin. Some sources claim that Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon poem adapted to Christian culture from the early Roman invaders, while others say that it was developed by a single Christian between the eighth and eleventh centuries. The fact is that the first written version of this saga dates back to the eleventh century.

The facts narrated are set in Scandinavia in a warrior society in which the relations between the various members of the group and the king are based on provision and service. The story finds its beginning in Denmark, Heorot, where Beowulf defeats Grendel, the descendant of Cain who lives in darkness and who has terrorized Heorot for twelve years. Then the setting moves to a mysterious lake protected by dragons, where the hero fights against Grendel's mother: a monster without a name that looks like a woman, whose blood dissolves each blade. The events are concluded in Sweden with the killing of a dragon and the death of the hero himself.

During the course of the various conflicts and the various movements, the character of Beowulf is outlined in order to represent human goodness that fights against evil. The main values ​​that are represented by the main character are loyalty, generosity and courage: Beowulf risks and loses his life to help a neighbouring king and to defend his people.

There is historical evidence and archaeological findings would seem to support that Beowulf is more than an epic poem and that it has some factual basis. In Scandinavia was found a four rooms attributable to the period of Beowulf (sixth century), while in England the discovery of the burial of a ship at Sutton Hoo gives more credibility to the story of the hero.