Beowulf is probably the most famous story from the language known as ‘Old English’. Old English existed roughly between 550 and 1066. It would not be understood by modern British people today because it is so different from modern English. It is different in vocabulary and totally different in grammatical structure.

It was spoken by the Anglo-Saxons who were Germanic tribes that came from northern Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands in to England and settled here.

The story revolves around the hero of the tale whose name is Beowulf. He comes to help the Danish king, Hrothgar who for twelve long years has faced attacks from a horrible monster by the name of Grendel. Beowulf who is from southern Sweden in the region now known as Gotland hears of this and goes to Denmark to help Hrothgar against Grendel. One night Grendel comes into the ‘herot’ or feast hall where the Danes would try to party and make merry. What Grendel does not know is that Beowulf is lying down on the floor of the ‘herot’. Grendel first of all gets one warrior and eats him, he then goes on to getting a second warrior.

What he does not know is that the second warrior is in fact, none but Beowulf himself. The brave Swedish warrior struggles heroically with Grendel and with his own strength and without any weapons or the help of anyone else eventually manages to kill Grendel. By doing this he manages to finally give some peace to the Danes after twelve years of suffering from Grendel. Later on in the story, Beowulf then goes and does other things. Though it was written and recited as a poem in old English in later centuries it has been translated on many occasions into more modern forms of English. It has also been made in to a film.

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