Unique to this title is:

• A historical introduction
• An overview of Beowulf
• A study of the themes present in Beowulf

You may of course skip all of it and go straight to the main title if you do not want any spoilers and come back later to the beginning.

The Epic of Beowulf dates back to CE 1000 and is considered the oldest surviving piece of work in English literature. Although written in Britain, the story of Beowulf is set in Scandinavia.

The epic poem is composed in Old English and consists of 3,182 lines. It is written in the alliterative verse style, which is common for Old English poetry.

The poem is about the legendary hero, Beowulf, a nobleman of the Geats. They were a North Germanic people inhabiting modern-day Gotaland in Southern Sweden.

Beowulf begins with a description of the life of Scyld Scefing, the legendary home of the Danish royal family. We learn of several descendants of Scyld before being introduced to Hrothgar, who is the current king of Danes. His "court" is the hall of Heorot. It is believed that Heorot may refer to a sixth-century hall excavated near Lejre in 2004.

King Hrothgar of Denmark, a descendant of the great king Shield Sheafson, enjoys a long and successful reign. He reigns from the mead-hall, called Heorot, where his warriors gather to drink, talk, receive gifts from the king, and listen to stories sung by the bards.

Enjoy this timeless classic!