The Real Story Of Beowulf

Michael Wendel’s Beowulf Interactive PowerPoint English 9-12th The Real Story Of Beowulf Click on this to begin Presentation

TopicsPlease Click on a topic/Picture To Learn More. Please Select the Quiz last History of Beowulf Plot Overview Concept of BeowulfWhy Read Beowulf Who is BeowulfQuiz Time!

History • Beowulf was constructed by an unknown Anglo-Saxon poet around 700 A.D. • The story itself was passed down orally through oral narrative (or storytelling) Return to Topics Page

What Is Beowulf? • Beowulf is considered a form of epic poetry • Epic poetry is a long narrative focusing around a particular person(s) or event(s) which displays heroic features or attributes • Beowulf is an epic because it revolves around an epic character Return to Topics Page

Who is Beowulf? • Beowulf may be the title, but is also the name of the main character of the story. • Beowulf is a young hero from a place called Geat • He is strong, courageous, valiant, attractive, and skilled in the way of the warrior. • Beowulf is the protagonist/hero of the story Return to Topics Page

PlotOverviewPart 1 • Our story begins in the kingdom of the Danes of a land named Denmark. It was a peaceful place of prosperity and comfort until a great demon named Grendel arose. Grendel was a terrifying monster that attacked and killed countless Dane people causing great sorrow and despair within the hearts of many for several years. Return to Topics Page Next Slide

Part 2 • Then came a very interesting man from a faraway land. A man whose very appearance proved that of a warrior. He was tall, muscular, confident, handsome. He was Beowulf. • Beowulf heard the plea of the Dane king and accepted the challenge of defeating the great demon Grendel as Beowulf had never faced defeat… Return to Topics Page Previous Slide Next Slide

Part 3 • The king of Dane then decides to celebrate by having a party in honor of Beowulf. Great amounts of food and drink are shared among the party along with plenty of laughs and tales of Beowulfs’ previous accomplishments. The people continued to celebrate deep into the night until suddenly a great figure appeared from out of the darkness. Grendel had been awakened… Return to Topics Page Previous Slide Next Slide

Part 4 • Grendel had done Beowulf a great favor, as Grendel came to him. Beowulf accepted the challenge and fought the great demon bare handed! Beowulf and Grendel both displayed great strength and endurance as they battled to the death. Although both were admirable foes, only one could win. Grendel possessed something Beowulf did not….fear. This gave Beowulf the advantage Return to Topics Page Previous Slide Next Slide

Part 5 • After an energetic battle of strength and cunning, Beowulf was the victor. Although Grendel was not yet dead and Beowulf was not yet finished. Beowulf then rips one of Grendels’ arms right off his body and holds it high for all to see. Grendel manages to escape alive but mortally wounded. Grendel returns to his swamp and spends his last moments within the comfort of his mother… Return to Topics Page Previous Slide Next Slide

Part 6 • Few knew that Grendel had a mother and those that did were most likely dead! The main theme then changes from Beowulfs’ heroics to the mothers’ revenge. Grendels’ mother later kills Aeschere, one of the Kings best men/personal aids, out of revenge for her sons’ death and returns to her swamp soon after. A small group of men and Beowulf later travel to the swamp on a quest to avenge the murder of Aeschere… Return to Topics Page Previous Slide Next Slide

Part 7 • Beowulf finds the swamp where Grendels’ mother lies in wait. He dives into the murky water down to the very bottom where he discovers the underwater lair of Grendels’ mother. After a great attempt of seduction, the mother charges at Beowulf and engages him in another great battle of man versus demon. After much sweat and bloodshed, Beowulf stands victorious as he cuts down Grendels’ mother with a Sword forged for giants! Return to Topics Page Previous Slide Next Slide

Part8 • The battle is over, but the story has just begun. Amongst the underwater lair, Beowulf discovers Grendels’ corpse and cuts off his head as a trophy for the king of Dane. The people of Dane are overjoyed as the terrifying monsters have been slain and peace has been restored to their land all thanks to Beowulf. Beowulf then leaves Dane and sails back home to his kingdom of Geat…. Return to Topics Page Previous Slide Next Slide

Part 9 • Upon returning to Geat, Beowulf is appointed king of Geat and becomes a great ruler for over fifty years. Then, one day a thief disturbs an old tomb of treasure that is guarded by a ferocious dragon. The dragon is awakened and begins wreaking havoc upon the people of Geat. Many attempt to kill the dragon but none prevail as there is but one man who could defeat such a terrifying beast. His name is Beowulf... Return to Topics Page Previous Slide Next Slide

Part 10 • Yet Beowulf is no longer the young man he was in Denmark as fifty years have passed and Beowulf has become an old man. Yet, his strength and courage have not left him as he and his companion Wiglaf set off to the dragons lair in an attempt to bring peace back to their land. Return to Topics Page Previous Slide Next Slide

Part 11 • Beowulf and Wiglaf confront the Dragon in what is to be the most difficult and rigorous battle of their lives. After many futile attempts, Beowulf finally manages to penetrate the strong scaly skin of the dragon. His blade cuts deep but at a great price as Beowulf has been bitten and the dragons venom begins to spread… Return to Topics Page Previous Slide Next Slide

Part 12 • Beowulf begun to feel the poison spread through his body and ever closer to his heart. He sits down by a river with his companion Wiglaf and speaks to him his dying words. He asks that his people remember him and his successful reign with the construction of a burial mound overlooking the sea. The last words of Beowulf are as followed, “You are the last of our family Wiglaf. All the others fell when fate decided they must. Now I must follow them…” The End Return to Topics Page Previous Slide

Beowulf is more than just a story, it’s a cornerstone of modern literature as its dynamic structure and theme displays great originality and uniqueness. Given its history, the story plot is certainly original as it was constructed over 1300 years ago! Yet Beowulf has more than just history as the story itself is one of greatness Return to Topics Page

Quiz Time • In the Story of Beowulf, Why does Beowulf originally arrive in Denmark? • To kill the Mighty Dragon • To visit the king of Denmark • To kill the monster Grendel • To seduce Grendels’ mother Return to Topics Page

Incorrect • Not quite, but keep trying! • Beowulf doesn’t actually fight the dragon in Denmark. He fights the dragon near the very end of the story in his homeland of Geatland. Back to Quiz

Incorrect • Not quite, but your getting there!! • Although Beowulf is very good friends with the king of Denmark, that isn’t his prime objective for traveling to Denmark as he sets his sights on a task much larger in size. Back to Quiz

Correct • Way to Go!!! • Yes, Beowulfs’ original purpose for traveling to Denmark is to help slay the ferocious monster Grendel that has been terrorizing the region. To Ending Back to Quiz

Incorrect • Get your mind out of the gutter! • Grendels’ mother does try to seduce Beowulf before attempting to kill him, but Beowulf sees through her disguise of attraction and kills her first. Back to Quiz

The End • I hope you learned something interesting about Beowulf and if you liked this, then you should definitely consider reading the full story!!! • Please click the “Return to First Slide” button for the next student! Return to First Slide

The Real Story Of Beowulf