In folktales, legends, mythology, and even the Bible, people are told stories about Hero's and their unimaginable strength, wisdom, and power. Beowulf is a great example of this, the poor young eponymous hero is left alone in the woods to survive on his own and then he overcomes all of these to kill three mythological beasts, save two entire countries and live as king of a country for over fifty years of peace and prosperity. Now that in its own is not that special there are millions of stories out there about heroes and how they live happily ever after. This is where Beowulf is different; despite the hero it is a story about the forthcoming apocalypse.
Just from the start the poem the Danes are sad and with out hope, their king "...Shield Sheafson, scourge of many tribes, / a wrecker of mead-benches, rampaging among foes."(4-5) is dead.
The Old English epic poem Beowulf is written in al...
Beowulf & Grendel
Beowulf wrestles with Grendel 1933With in the first twenty lines you find out that one of the best kings the Danes have had is dead and they don't know how they will go on with out him. Four generations of kings go by and finally the Danes are bequeathed a great king again. Hrothgar, son of Hafedane is their answer out of these hard times. King Hrothgar builds a great hall, Heorot Hall. It shows his power and his might for it is detailed with fine gold, jewels and trophies. But not long after the hall is built a new threat presents its self. Grendel "...a powerful demon, a prowler though the dark..." (85) lays down a plague of death and destruction on Heorot hall for twelve long hard miserable years. Every night the demon comes and kills whom ever he pleases that is watching the hall. No one can stand up to...