Beowulf << BAY uh wulf >> is an epic poem that is considered the first great work of English literature. Beowulf has survived in only one manuscript, and its author is unknown. It is written in Old English, the language the Anglo-Saxons used in England from about A.D. 500 to 1100. Most scholars date the poem from the 700’s, but some date it much closer to the end of the Old English period. Like all Old English poetry, Beowulf uses accent (the emphasis with which a syllable is pronounced) and alliteration (words that begin with the same sound).
The poem describes the adventures of Beowulf, a mighty warrior who has the qualities most admired by the Anglo-Saxons—strength, courage, loyalty, and generosity. Beowulf goes to the aid of the Danish king, whose royal hall has been repeatedly raided by a savage monster named Grendel. Beowulf kills Grendel and later slays the monster’s fearsome mother. In his final battle, Beowulf kills a fire-breathing dragon, but he himself is fatally wounded. The poem ends with a description of Beowulf’s funeral.
