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P5 Reading Exercise 60-2

The document provides an introduction to the epic poem Beowulf. It describes how Beowulf is the only surviving poem from Anglo-Saxon times, consisting of over 3,000 lines written in Old English. The poem tells the story of the Swedish hero Beowulf and his battles with monsters in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, including Grendel and his mother. It is divided into three parts that describe Beowulf's initial battle with Grendel, his fight with Grendel's mother, and his final battle later in life with a dragon as king of his own kingdom.

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68 views

P5 Reading Exercise 60-2

The document provides an introduction to the epic poem Beowulf. It describes how Beowulf is the only surviving poem from Anglo-Saxon times, consisting of over 3,000 lines written in Old English. The poem tells the story of the Swedish hero Beowulf and his battles with monsters in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, including Grendel and his mother. It is divided into three parts that describe Beowulf's initial battle with Grendel, his fight with Grendel's mother, and his final battle later in life with a dragon as king of his own kingdom.

Uploaded by

中文軍事基地
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

Beowulf: An Epic Poem

Introduction
The story of the hero Beowulf is the only surviving
poem from Anglo-Saxon times. It is over 3,000
lines long and was written in Old English. The
tale tells us about the Swedish hero Beowulf who
spends his time fighting monsters (Grendel and his
mother in particular) across Denmark, Norway
and Sweden.

The Poem
The poem is in three parts:

1. It opens when Beowulf travels


to Denmark and kills the monster
Grendel. The monster’s mother
decides to take revenge and attacks the
King’s hall, killing many soldiers,
including the King’s best friend.

2. Beowulf follows her to her


underwater home and fights another long
and exhausting battle. At last he grabs a
magical sword from her and kills her too.

3. 50 years later, Beowulf is


now king of his own kingdom,
but his people are being
threatened by a fierce
dragon. Once more,
Beowulf takes his
warriors and sets
off to fight. Beowulf
is wounded, but
eventually manages
to cut the beast in
half with his sword.

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Beowulf: An Epic Poem

A translation of part of the poem

Grendel the Murderer


{Grendel attacks the sleeping heroes}

When the sun was sunken, he set out to visit

The lofty hall-building, how the Ring-Danes had used it

For beds and benches when the banquet was over.

Then he found there reposing many a noble

Asleep after supper; sorrow the heroes,

Misery knew not. The monster of evil

Greedy and cruel tarried but little.

{Grendel drags off thirty of them, and devours them}

Fell and frantic, and forced from their slumbers

Thirty of thanemen; thence he departed

Leaping and laughing, his lair to return to,

With surfeit of slaughter sallying homeward.

In the dusk of the dawning, as the day was just breaking,

Was Grendel’s prowess revealed to the warriors.

When was the poem created and written down?


As it was so long ago, it is really difficult to say for sure when it was created.
At that time, poems and stories were told by travelling minstrels as most people
could not read or write. The poem must have been passed down, being changed
by each storyteller, until the surviving copy was written down by two people,
somewhere in Anglo-Saxon England about 1000 years ago.

Page 2 of 4
Beowulf: An Epic Poem

Questions
1. Who is the text about?

2. In which country did he live?

3. In the text, what is the writing in bold called?

4. In what language was the poem written?

5. How many monsters did the hero fight in the poem?

6. Look at the text box with part of the poem. Can you find and record words which tell you
what time of day the monster returned home to his lair (home)?

7. Where was the poem first written down and by whom?

8. How do historians know that there were two people who wrote the poem?

9. Can you find examples of words that tell you the order of some of the events?

Page 3 of 4
Beowulf: An Epic Poem
10. Draw a picture of what you think Beowulf would have looked like and what he may
have worn.

Page 4 of 4
Beowulf: An Epic Poem

Answers
1. Who is the text about?
The text is about the Saxon hero Beowulf.

2. In which country did he live?


Beowulf lived in Sweden.

3. In the text, what is the writing in bold called?


The parts of the text in bold is headings and sub-headings.

4. In what language was the poem written?


Beowulf was written in Old English.

5. How many monsters did the hero fight in the poem?


Beowulf killed three monsters (Grendel, his mother and the dragon).

6. Look at the text box with part of the poem. Can you find and record words which tell you
what time of day the monster returned home to his lair (home)?
In the dusk of the dawning, as the day was just breaking.

7. Where was the poem first written down and by whom?


The poem was written somewhere in Anglo-Saxon England by scribes.

8. How do historians know that there were two people who wrote the poem?
Historians looked at the handwriting and could tell it was by two different people.

9. Can you find examples of words that tell you the order of some of the events?
Words that tell the order of events are; opens, eventually, 50 years later.

10. Draw a picture of what you think Beowulf would have looked like and what he may
have worn.

Page 1 of 1

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