- The beginning is basically explaining the beginning of the Danish nation and Shield Shaefson being the founder due to his great skills as a warrior. It would then continue to describe the birth of Beow and the his strength as a leader.
- Hrothgar became the leader when Heorot became terrorized by a demon monster named Grendel that continues to terrorize every night by kidnapping the men from Heorot.
- The stories of the demon Grendel terrorizing Heorot reaches the ears of the Geats in which Beowulf " ... the mightiest man on earth, highborn and powerful. [O]rdered a boat that would ply the waves. [A]nnounced his plan: to sail the swan's road and seek out the king, the famous prince who needed defenders" (p. 46; line 197-201)
- Once they arrive to Heorot they meet with Hrothgar after first encountering one of Hrothgar's horsemen on the beach. Since Beowulf claims loyalty and promised to defeat Grendel, Hrothgar held a mighty feast to honor their guests.
- Beowulf is determined to fight Grendel unarmed and waited for the demon to come forth. Finally Grendel came charging in while eating the first guard that he laid eyes on. When he aimed for Beowulf the fight began. Grendel was overpowered by Beowulf who defeated him by having Grendel in a form of headlock. In the morning the city of Heorot rejoiced and Beowulf was lathered with gifts such as having a thane written about his heroic deeds. In addition to gold, an embroidered banner, armor, sword, helmet, and eight horses with gold bridles or harnesses.
- They were still not safe because if you kill someone there will usually be an avenger, in this case it was Grendel's mother, a "monstrous hell-bride" (p. 69; line 1259). She doesn't seem to find Beowulf so she takes the guard Aeschere who is Hrothgar's right hand and kills him. Following the attack he asks for Beowulf for help and he obliges.
- Beowulf goes to look for Grendel's mothers lair and once he has found it a battle ensues. However, the difference this time is that Beowulf comes armed with his sword for this battle and ultimately defeats her. Once it is over Beowulf ends up finding the Grendel's corpse and decides to bring his head a a trophy back to Heorot.
A quote that I found very intriguing was when Beowulf and his men meet with Hrothgar's herald and officer at the first hall in Heorot and Wulfgar, a Wender chief. They first begin to ask where they are from and what might have brought them from Hrothgar. With that Beowulf responds:
"'We are retainers from Hygelac's band. Beowulf is my name.
If your lord and master, the most renowned son of Halfdane,
will hear me out and graciously allow me to greet him in person,
I am ready and willing to report my errand'"
Wulfgar then offers to play as a messenger to deliver that exact message. However, what was most interesting was Beowulf's high regard of himself that he would prefer to deliver the message in person rather than someone else deliver it. Even if they were foriegn to the Danish shores and the people of the land had a right to know why the Geats arrived, Beowulf did not regard them as worthy enough hear the reason for arriving to their shores and that is only for the ears for Hrothgar himself. It shows Beowulf's great sense of pride in his own accomplishments.
Finally, one website that I found interesting was in regards to translation of Old English to English text and if it truly makes a difference in the meaning.
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