BEOWULF (WORLDWIDE BESTSELLER EDITION): THE HARVARD CLASSICS TRANSLATION Beowulf Nook Edition NOOKBook Classics of English Literature Worldwide Bestseller (BEOWULF AND GRENDEL)

by Harvard Classics Edition (Translator), Beowulf Nook, NOOKBook Beowulf, Francis Grummere (Translator), Classics of English Literature (Editor)

Overview

The main protagonist, Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, whose great hall, Heorot, is plagued by the monster Grendel. Beowulf kills Grendel with his bare hands and Grendel's mother with a sword, which giants once used, that Beowulf found in Grendel's mother's lair.

Later in his life, Beowulf is himself king of the Geats, and finds his realm terrorised by a dragon whose treasure had been stolen from his hoard in a burial mound. He attacks the dragon with the help of his thegns or servants, but they do not succeed. Beowulf decides to follow the dragon into its lair, at Earnanæs, but only his young Swedish relative Wiglaf dares join him. Beowulf finally slays the dragon, but is mortally wounded. He is buried in a tumulus or burial mound, by the sea.

Beowulf is considered an epic poem in that the main character is a hero who travels great distances to prove his strength at impossible odds against supernatural demons and beasts. The poem also begins in medias res ("into the middle of affairs") or simply, "in the middle", which is a characteristic of the epics of antiquity. Although the poem begins with Beowulf's arrival, Grendel's attacks have been an ongoing event. An elaborate history of characters and their lineages are spoken of, as well as their interactions with each other, debts owed and repaid, and deeds of valour.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940013474277
Publisher:	Classic of English Literature
Publication date:	12/11/2011
Series:	Beowulf Harvard Classics Beowulf and Grendel Classics of English Literature Epic Poems Anglo-Saxon Epic Poetry
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	237 KB

Editorial Reviews

Asks to be placed immediately in the hands of every child ... reads aloud resoundingly.

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