Beowulf

An Anglo Saxon poem of epic proportions thought to have been written between 650 and 780. It tells the story of Beowulf, the nephew of the southern Swedish king Gaetas. The story goes that Beowulf slays Grendel, a Monster who had been threatening the neighboring Danes for many years. When Beowulf becomes king following the death of his uncle, a dragon attacks his people. He manages to kill the dragon but is killed in the process. The content epitomizes the tradition and culture of the people. Some of the events in the poem are based on historical fact.