Epic poetry is defined as a long serious poetic narrative about a significant event that often features a hero. The heroes of epic poems are typically called epic heroes. Epic heroes convey a lot of characteristics; such as bravery, loyalty, selflessness, fame, etc. It’s said that before writing was developed epic poems were memorized and they played an important part in maintaining records of the great deeds and history of a culture. One specific epic poem is Beowulf. Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon epic poem. Beowulf is thought to be one of the oldest long poems in Old English. Its commonly cited as one of the most important works of Old English Literature. The poem is set in Scandinavia home of Beowulf, the hero of the Geats. The events in the poem take place over most of the sixth century and before the beginning of the seventh century, and is thought to have been brought over to England by people of Geatish origins. …show more content…
On the first night of the beginning of their anguish, Grendel went up to the hall and killed thirty sleeping men and took their bodies back to his lair, delighted with his night’s slaughter. After many nights of trying to escape Grendel’s terror all the people fled leaving the hall barren of life. All the way to the home of Beowulf, Higlac’s follower and strongest of the Geats, the tales of the terror filled nights Grendel caused were told. In hearing the tales Beowulf got a boat and picked out the strongest of Geats and set sail to slay the beast and relieve Hrothgar of his problems. Once Grendel was slayed, along with his mother, Beowulf traveled back home and ended up having to vanquish a dragon which didn’t end in his