The page numbers refer to the assigned text, Seamus Heaney's translation. The links in the outline will take you to the appropriate place in a copy of the original Old English text, which is accompanied by a rough translation.

NOTE: The original Old English text is divided into sections, but the significance of the divisions is unknown. Those sections are reflected in this outline. But the Heaney translation introduces different (and larger) sections, and also shows paragraph divisions that are not in the original. However, the line numbers in Heaney's translation are faithful to the original.

[Prologue] {pp. 41-42, lines 1-52}

♦ The achievements and funeral of Scyld Scefing, King of the Danes.

1. {pp. 42-44, lines 53-114}

♦ Hrothgar's success & his building of Heorot.

♦ Grendel's envy of the happiness in Heorot & Grendel's nature.

2. {pp. 44-45, lines 115-188}

♦ Grendel's first attack.

♦ For 12 years the Danes suffer from Grendel's remorseless attacks.

♦ The Danes, ignorant pagans, pray to their gods without success.

3. {pp. 45-47, lines 189-257}

♦ Beowulf hears of the sufferings of Hrothgar & sails to help him.

♦ Beowulf is challenged by Hrothgar's coastguard, who is impressed by Beowulf's heroic presence.

4. {pp. 47-48, lines 258-319}

♦ Beowulf tells who he is & what his mission is.

♦ The coastguard conducts Beowulf & his men to Heorot in honor.

5. {pp. 48-49, lines 320-370}

♦ At Heorot, Beowulf and his men stack their weapons.

♦ Wulfgar, Hrothgar's trusted retainer, questions Beowulf, is impressed, and asks Hrothgar to give Beowulf an audience.

6. {pp. 49-51, lines 371-455}

♦ Hrothgar expresses his high opinion of Beowulf.

♦ Beowulf, wearing armor, is ushered in to meet Hrothogar.

♦ Beowulf boasts of his strength, asks the favor of fighting Grendel alone and unarmed.

7. {pp. 51-52, lines 456-498}

♦ Hrothgar welcomes Beowulf with an account of the favors he did for Beowulf's father.

♦ Hrothgar bewails the ravages wrought by Grendel.

♦ All sit down to Hrothgar's banquet.

8. {pp. 52-53, lines 499-558}

♦ Unferth, a retainer of Hrothgar, is jealous of Beowulf and challenges him by claiming that he engaged in a foolish swimming contest with Breca and lost.

♦ Beowulf says that Unferth is full of it and tells of how he defended Breca in the sea and killed sea-monsters.

9. {pp. 53-55, lines 559-661}

♦ Beowulf continues his story of his heroics and contrasts himself with Unferth who killed his brothers.

♦ Hrothgar is pleased with Beowulf and feels that he can count on him.

♦ Wealhtheow, Hrothgar's queen, joins the banquet & Beowulf repeats his vow to her.

♦ Hrothgar retires for the night and wishes Beowulf well in the coming battle with Grendel.

10. {pp. 55-56, lines 662-709}

♦ Beowulf reminds himself of his boast & tells himself that God must decide between himself and Grendel.

♦ Beowulf's men go to sleep; Grendel approaches, and only Beowulf is awake, awaiting battle with Grendel.

11. {pp. 56-57, lines 710-790}

♦ Grendel bursts into Heorot and kills and eats a man.

♦ Grendel attacks Beowulf & becomes terror-stricken to find himself in Beowulf's grip.

12. {pp. 57-58, lines 791-836}

♦ Beowulf's men try to use their swords on Grendel, but he is invulnerable to swords.

♦ Beowulf rips off one of Grendel's arms at the shoulder. Grendel, doomed to death, flees, and Beowulf is glad that he has fulfilled his vow.

13. {pp. 58-60, lines 837-924}

♦ Everyone celebrates Beowulf's victory over Grendel; a bard composes a poem comparing Beowulf to the great hero Sigemund.

14. {pp. 60-62, lines 925-990}

♦ Hrothgar praises Beowulf; Beowulf replies that he wishes that he could have killed Grendel on the spot, so that Hrothgar could see the body, but assures him that Grendel will certainly die and go to hell.

♦ Unferth changes his attitude about Beowulf, and everyone wonders at the severed "grip" of Grendel, with fingernails like shards of steel, that no sword have been able to cut.

15. {pp. 62-63, lines 991-1049}

♦ Heorot is decorated for a feast, and Hrothgar gives glorious gifts to Beowulf.

16. {pp. 63-66, lines 1050-1124}

♦ Hrothgar gives gifts to Beowulf's men & provides compensation for the family of the man killed by Grendel.

♦ A bard sings the story of the Fight at Finnsburg, in which a Danish princess, Hildeburgh, saw her son and brother die, fighting on opposite sides.

17. {pp. 66-68, lines 1124-1191}

♦ The story of the Fight at Finnsburg is continued; the Danes who were betrayed by Finn get revenge, kill him, and take his wife, the Danish princess Hildeburgh, back home with them.

♦ In the midst of the mirth of the feast, Wealhtheow, Hrothgar's queen, expresses her happiness, and reminds her husband that now he can leave his kingdom to his heirs in peace, for Hrothluf, Hrothgar's nephew, will surely take care of Hrothgar's children.

18. {pp. 68-69, lines 1192-1250}

♦ More gifts are given to Beowulf, including a golden collar much like the collar which Hygelac, Beowulf's lord, died defending, when making a foolhardy raid.

♦ Wealhtheow, Hrothgar's queen, praises Beowulf & asks him to be a mentor and protector of her sons.

♦ Everyone settles in to sleep, with their helmets, shields, spears, and chain mail at the ready, but one of the men is doomed to die that night.

19. {pp. 69-70, lines 1251-1320}

♦ In the night Grendel's mother comes into Heorot & avenges her son by killing a favorite of Hrothgar and running off with his body. She also takes away Grendel's arm.

♦ Hrothgar, grief-stricken, summons Beowulf.

20. {pp. 70-72, lines 1321-1382}

♦ Hrothgar laments the death of his favorite counselor and brother-in-arms, Aeschere.

♦ Hrothgar says that the killer must have been the female monster reported to have been seen with Grendel, and describes the fearsome forest pond where she can be found. He tells Beowulf that only he can confront the female monster in that place, and promises him a great reward if he returns alive.

21. {pp. 72-73, lines 1383-1472}

♦ Beowulf advises Hrothgar that "It is better for a man to avenge his friend than to mourn him long," and he promises to track down Grendel's mother.

♦ Beowulf and the others follow the track of Grendel's mother & find the head of Aeschere at the edge of her pond. The pond is full of monstrous serpents, and Beowulf kills one with an arrow.

♦ Beowulf prepares to attack Grendel's mother, and his gear is described, including the famous sword, Hrunting, given to Beowulf by Unferth, who has completely changed his mind about Beowulf.

22. {pp. 73-75, lines 1473-1556}

♦ Beowulf tells Hrothgar that he is eager to go after Grendel's mother. His only request is that if he should fail, Hrothgar would send the treasures he gave Beowulf to Beowulf's lord, Hygelac, so that Hygelac may know that Beowulf has found a generous lord and prospered.

♦ The struggle between Beowulf and Grendel's mother is described. She can't penetrate his chain mail, but Hrunting will not wound her. Beowulf is in a desperate situation, but victory will be given to him.

23. {pp. 75-77, lines 1557-1650}

♦ Beowulf finds another sword in Grendel's mother's cave, one so huge that no one but him could wield it. With that sword he kills Grendel's mother and decapitates Grendel's corpse.

♦ Up above, at the edge of the lake, Hrothgar's troop conclude that Beowulf must be dead, and go away, leaving only Beowulf's Geats, who still hope to see their chieftain again.

♦ In the cavern below, the blood of the monsters dissolves the blade of the sword & Beowulf takes the hilt and Grendel's head with him as he swims to the surface.

♦ Beowulf's men rejoice to see their chieftain. It takes all fourteen of them to carry Grendel's head to Heorot, where they salute Hrothgar with their wondrous war-prize.

24. {pp. 77-79, lines 1651-1739}

♦ Beowulf tells the story of his fight and presents the hilt of the giant sword to Hrothgar.

♦ Hrothgar finds on the ancient sword runes telling of the conflict between God and ancient giants.

♦ Hrothgar praises Beowulf as a better man than himself and an example to all kings, who should protect their people, in contrast to Heremod, a king of ill memory who was selfish and cruel. Hrothgar then reflects that sometimes God grants a man everything, fame, power and riches, so that the man thinks the world belongs to him.

25. {pp. 79-80, lines 1740-1817}

♦ Hrothgar continues his thoughts, saying that the man who has everything may be destroyed by complacency, selfishness, and pride. Hrothgar warns him against all this, and urges him to continue to be brave and generous, because he could die at any time. Then Hrothgar uses himself as an example, saying that he had everything then was attacked by Grendel and could do nothing.

♦ Beowulf is pleased with speech; there is a feast, then a good night's sleep. In the morning Beowulf returns Hrunting (the sword) to Unferth, without mentioning that it had failed him. Beowulf and his men are now eager to return home, and Beowulf approaches the throne of Hrothgar.

26. {pp. 80-82, lines 1818-1887}

♦ Beowulf says farewell to Hrothgar & promises to return with a thousand warriors if Hrothgar should ever again need help.

♦ Hrothgar praises Beowulf, gives him jewels and gold, and embraces him, weeping.

♦ Beowulf and his men go to their ship, singing praises of Hrothgar.

27. {pp. 82-83, lines 1888-1962}

♦ Beowulf and his men sail home and make their way to the magnificent hall of his lord, the young king Hygelac.

♦ Hygelac's queen, Hygd is praised, and favorably compared to the evil princess Thryth, who had men executed for just looking at her, though when she was married to the good Offa, king of the Hemmings, her character changed.

28. {pp. 83-85, lines 1963-2038}

♦ In the hall of Hygelac, Beowulf salutes his lord, and — as Hygelac's queen, Hygd, serves mead — Hygelac asks Beowulf to tell the tale of his adventure.

♦ Beowulf replies by saying that his defeat of Grendel has cleansed Heorot, then goes on to praise the women of Hrothgar's hall, especially Hrothgar's daughter, Freawaru, whose planned marriage to "Prince Ingeld of the Heathobards" is intended to end the feuds between the Danes and Heathobards. However, Beowulf comments, "But after the death of a prince it seldom happens that the spear lies idle for long, however beautiful the bride may be."

29. {pp. 85-87, lines 2039-2143}

♦ Beowulf foretells how the peace-making marriage between Freawaru, daughter of Hrothgar the Dane, and Prince Ingeld of the Heathobards will end in disaster. When Freawaru arrives in the hall of the Heathobards she will be accompanied by Danish warriors, among whom will be the son of a man who killed a Heathobard. That Dane will be carrying a weapon taken from the Heathobard who his father killed. One of of the old Heathobards will recognize the weapon and stir up a companion to take revenge, and so the feud will rage again.

♦ Beowulf recounts his battles with Grendel and Grendel's mother.

31. {pp. 87-89, lines 2144-2220} [NOTE: There is no section 30.]

♦ Beowulf gives Hygelac the gifts that Hrothgar gave him, and Hygelac rewards him by giving him a corselet precious to the Danes.

♦ The poet comments that now Beowulf is highly honored, but in his youth was not thought to be worth much.

♦ Hygelac gives Beowulf an ancestral Danish sword and a great estate.

♦ The poet tells that, because both Hygelac and Hygelac's son died, the Kingship of the Geats became Beowulf's. Beowulf ruled well for fifty years, but then a dragon began ravaging the countryside because someone stole a cup from the Dragon's hoard.

32. {pp. 89-91, lines 2221-2311}

♦ The story of how the cup was stolen: a slave, running from a beating, stumbles upon the Dragon's lair, is terrified, but steals a cup and runs away.

♦ The story of the Dragon's treasure trove: an unnamed chieftain of an unnamed tribe is the tribe's last survivor; all the rest have been killed, so this survivor puts all of the tribe's treasure in a barrow and speaks his sorrow that all the glorious helmets, harps, shields and swords are now useless. {NOTE: this famous section of Beowulf is often referred to as "The Survivor's Lament."] And 300 years earlier the Dragon happened upon the treasure and has guarded it every since, even though it is useless to him.

♦ The man who stole the cup gives it to his master and mollifies him, but when the Dragon finds that a cup is gone, takes revenge by nightly ravaging the countryside.

33. {pp. 91-92, lines 3212-2390}

♦ When the Dragon burns the great hall of the Geats, Beowulf prepares to confront it by having a shield made all of iron, because he knows that a common wooden shield would be burned by the Dragon's breath. Not knowing that he is destined to die with the Dragon, Beowulf is confident about the upcoming battle, since he has killed monsters before, and escaped many tight corners.

♦ One of the times when Beowulf had survived great danger before was when his lord Hygelac was killed on a raid in Friesland. On that occasion Beowulf escaped by swimming, carrying thirty corselets with him.

♦ On that occasion, Beowulf acted very honorably. Queen Hygd offered the kingship to him, because she was afraid that her young son was not up to the task of defending the Geats, but Beowulf declined the offer and supported her son, Heardred. Only after Heardred died in a feud with the Swedes did Beowulf assume the kingship of the Geats.

34. {pp. 92-94, lines 2391-2459}

♦ Accompanied by eleven warriors and guided by the slave who stole the cup, Beowulf arrives at the headland where the Dragon's barrow is located.

♦ Beowulf has forebodings of doom, and thinks of an incident in which the code of revenge failed. Haethcyn, Hygelac's brother, killed his older brother Herebeald in a hunting accident. Their father, Hrethel, was filled with sorrow not only for the loss of his son, but for the fact that nothing could be done to avenge his death. His feelings were like those of a man who sees his son hanged for a crime; the man can do nothing, and thinks of his son's hall as empty and useless.

35. {pp. 94-97, lines 2460-2601}

♦ Beowulf reminds himself that he has fought many battles and always won; now, as an aged king, he makes his final boast: he will once more fight and win fame.

♦ Beowulf tells his men that the battle is his alone, and that he will either win or die.

♦ Beowulf fights the dragon, but his sword will not bite through the Dragon's scales, and he faces the prospect of defeat and death.

♦ Beowulf's men, instead of coming to his aid, run away — all but one.

36. {pp. 97-98, lines 2602-2693}

♦ The one man who does not flee is Wiglaf, who is very young, untested in battle.

♦ Wiglaf tries to get the others to join him, arguing that Bowulf, who has given gifts and honors to them, should not be abandoned in his time of need.

♦ Wiglaf dives into the battle, but the Dragon's fire burns away his shield, and he had to shelter himself behind Beowulf's shield. Beowulf strikes a direct hit on the Dragon's head, but he is so strong that his sword shatters, and the Dragon slashes Beowulf on the neck with its fangs.

37. {pp. 98-100, lines 2694-2751}

♦ Displaying his skill and daring, Wiglaf avoids the Dragon's head and plunges his sword into the Dragon further down. Beowulf follows up by using his dagger to rip open the Dragon's belly.

♦ Beowulf has achieved his greatest triumph, but realizes that he is dying. He reviews his life with pride and asks that the Dragon's treasure be brought to him, so that he he can make his dying easier by looking on the treasure that he has won.

38. {pp. 100-101, lines 2851-2820}

♦ Obeying Beowulf's request, Wiglaf goes into the Dragon's den, where he sees all of the wondrous treasure there, including a golden banner. When Wiglaf brings the treasure to Beowulf he finds him at his last gasp.

♦ Beowulf makes a last request, that a tumulus be built to commemorate him; it shall be called Beowulf's Barrow and be so high that it can be seen from the sea.

♦ Beowulf gives his golden armor to Wiglaf, the last survivor of his kin, telling him to use them well. His last words are 'Fate has swept away the courageous princes who were my kinsmen, and I must follow them.'

39. {pp. 101-102, lines 2821-2891}

♦ The Dragon is dead, but so is Beowulf, and Wiglaf reproaches the men who fled from the scene of battle, telling them, "To any fighting-man death is better than a life of dishonour."

40. {pp. 103-104, lines 2892-2945}

♦ Wiglaf sends a messenger to Beowulf's people. The messenger tells them that Beowulf and the Dragon are dead, and warns them that now that their hero is dead, the whole tribe can expect attacks from their enemies, especially the Franks and the Swedes.

41. {pp. 104-106, lines 2946-3057}

♦ Wiglaf's messenger tells some details of the quarrel between the Geats and Swedes, and again predicts that the Swedes will attack as soon as they hear of the death of Beowulf.

♦ The messenger goes on to say that the best thing they can do is attend the funeral, there to see Beowulf burned with his treasure, and expect exile and misery.

♦ At the site of the battle they see the body of Beowulf, and the body (more than fifty feet long) of the Dragon, who used to have the freedom of the air. They also see the Dragon's treasure, rusty and charmed from human use by God himself.

42. {pp. 106-107, lines 3058-3136}

♦ The poet reflects on death and gold. The Dragon died defending the gold, and Beowulf died because the gold was cursed.

♦ Wiglaf laments the harshness of fate, then tells the others of Beowulf's last request, then, as the the funeral pyre is being prepared, they go into the Dragon's den and haul away the remaining treasure.

43. {pp. 107-108, lines 3137-3182}

♦ The poet describes Beowulf's funeral. A Geat woman keened a dirge and foretold disaster. The tumulus is constructed within ten days, and all of remains of the Dragon's treasure placed there. Twelve chieftains ride their horses around Beowulf's Barrow and praise him.