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Beowulf Biography
Mythical Figure
Beowulf is both the title and the main character of an ancient heroic epic, the oldest known epic narrative composed in English. Beowulf is the powerful warrior who comes to the aid of the Danish king Hrothgar, whose hall is raided each night by the hideous man-eating monster Grendel. The epic is probably a conglomeration of ancient Scandinavian folk tales, compiled by a single unknown author sometime around the eighth century AD.
Extra credit: A 2000 translation of Beowulf by author Seamus Heaney won the Whitbread Book of the Year award in the United Kingdom.
Other heroic warriors include Hercules and King Arthur... Other mythical Grendel-like creatures include Bigfoot, King Kong and the Loch Ness Monster.
Four Good Links
Interview with Seamus Heaney
2000 talk about the poet's popular translation
The Adventures of Beowulf
Modern free-verse translation; a bit casual, but easy to read
Beowulf's Last Moments
Plainspoken explanation of the story, plus modern illustrations
Seamus Heaney on Beowulf
The author talks in delightful detail about his popular 2000 translations
Vital Stats
Birth
?
Birthplace
Scandinavia
Death
--
(mauled by dragon)
Best Known As
Star of the epic tale bearing his name