# Beowulf — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for Beowulf by Anonymous.

- [The Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/the-story.md): King Hrothgar builds Heorot, but Grendel terrorizes it for twelve years. Beowulf sails from Geatland to help, fights and wounds Grendel fatally. Grendel's mother attacks in revenge; Beowulf slays her as well. He returns 
- [Beowulf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/beowulf.md): The epic poem introduces the lineage of Danish kings, the construction of Heorot, and the terror brought by Grendel. Beowulf, a Geatish hero, arrives to aid King Hrothgar, defeats Grendel in hand-to-hand combat, and late
- [The Life and Death of Scyld](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/i-the-life-and-death-of-scyld.md): The chapter opens with praise for the Spear-Danes' glorious past, focusing on Scyld Scefing, who rose from a friendless, wretched childhood to become a mighty king, conquering neighboring peoples and exacting tribute. A 
- [II: Scyld’s Successors—Hrothgar’s Great Mead-Hall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/ii-scyld-s-successors-hrothgar-s-great-mead-hall.md): The chapter recounts the lineage of Scyld's successors, focusing on Healfdene and his sons, particularly Hrothgar, who achieves great glory and builds the magnificent mead-hall Heorot. The hall stands as a symbol of pros
- [Grendel the Murderer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/iii-grendel-the-murderer.md): Grendel attacks Heorot at night, slaughtering thirty thanemen and continuing his murderous raids for twelve winters, causing great sorrow for King Hrothgar and his people, who turn to heathen practices in desperation.

> 41 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=beowulf_se_324kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest.

- [IV: Beowulf Goes to Hrothgar’s Assistance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/iv-beowulf-goes-to-hrothgar-s-assistance.md)
- [The Geats Reach Heorot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/v-the-geats-reach-heorot.md)
- [VI: Beowulf Introduces Himself at the Palace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/vi-beowulf-introduces-himself-at-the-palace.md)
- [Hrothgar and Beowulf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/vii-hrothgar-and-beowulf.md)
- [Hrothgar and Beowulf—Continued](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/viii-hrothgar-and-beowulf-continued.md)
- [IX: Unferth Taunts Beowulf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/ix-unferth-taunts-beowulf.md)
- [X: Beowulf Silences Unferth—Glee Is High](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/x-beowulf-silences-unferth-glee-is-high.md)
- [XI: All Sleep Save One](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xi-all-sleep-save-one.md)
- [XII: Grendel and Beowulf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xii-grendel-and-beowulf.md)
- [Grendel Is Vanquished](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xiii-grendel-is-vanquished.md)
- [Rejoicing of the Danes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xiv-rejoicing-of-the-danes.md)
- [Hrothgar's Gratitude](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xv-hrothgar-s-gratitude.md)
- [XVI: Hrothgar Lavishes Gifts Upon His Deliverer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xvi-hrothgar-lavishes-gifts-upon-his-deliverer.md)
- [XVII: Banquet (Continued)—The Scop’s Song of Finn and Hnaef](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xvii-banquet-continued-the-scop-s-song-of-finn-and-hnaef.md)
- [XVIII: The Finn Episode (Continued)—The Banquet Continues](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xviii-the-finn-episode-continued-the-banquet-continues.md)
- [XIX: Beowulf Receives Further Honor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xix-beowulf-receives-further-honor.md)
- [XX: The Mother of Grendel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xx-the-mother-of-grendel.md)
- [XXI: Hrothgar’s Account of the Monsters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xxi-hrothgar-s-account-of-the-monsters.md)
- [XXII: Beowulf Seeks Grendel’s Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xxii-beowulf-seeks-grendel-s-mother.md)
- [XXIII: Beowulf’s Fight with Grendel’s Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xxiii-beowulf-s-fight-with-grendel-s-mother.md)
- [XXIV: Beowulf Is Double-Conqueror](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xxiv-beowulf-is-double-conqueror.md)
- [XXV: Beowulf Brings His Trophies—Hrothgar's Gratitude](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xxv-beowulf-brings-his-trophies-hrothgar-s-gratitude.md)
- [XXVI: Hrothgar Moralizes—Rest After Labor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xxvi-hrothgar-moralizes-rest-after-labor.md)
- [XXVII: Sorrow at Parting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xxvii-sorrow-at-parting.md)
- [XXVIII: The Homeward Journey—The Two Queens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xxviii-the-homeward-journey-the-two-queens.md)
- [Beowulf and Higelac](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xxix-beowulf-and-higelac.md)
- [XXX: Beowulf Narrates His Adventures to Higelac](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xxx-beowulf-narrates-his-adventures-to-higelac.md)
- [Gift-Giving Is Mutual](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xxxi-gift-giving-is-mutual.md)
- [XXXII: The Hoard and the Dragon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xxxii-the-hoard-and-the-dragon.md)
- [XXXIII: Brave Though Aged—Reminiscences](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xxxiii-brave-though-aged-reminiscences.md)
- [XXXIV: Beowulf Seeks the Dragon—Beowulf’s Reminiscences](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xxxiv-beowulf-seeks-the-dragon-beowulf-s-reminiscences.md)
- [XXXV: Reminiscences (Continued)—Beowulf’s Last Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xxxv-reminiscences-continued-beowulf-s-last-battle.md)
- [XXXVI: Wiglaf the Trusty—Beowulf Is Deserted by Friends and by Sword](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xxxvi-wiglaf-the-trusty-beowulf-is-deserted-by-friends-and-by-sword.md)
- [XXXVII: The Fatal Struggle—Beowulf’s Last Moments](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xxxvii-the-fatal-struggle-beowulf-s-last-moments.md)
- [XXXVIII: Wiglaf Plunders the Dragon’s Den—Beowulf’s Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xxxviii-wiglaf-plunders-the-dragon-s-den-beowulf-s-death.md)
- [XXXIX: The Dead Foes—Wiglaf’s Bitter Taunts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xxxix-the-dead-foes-wiglaf-s-bitter-taunts.md)
- [XL: The Messenger of Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xl-the-messenger-of-death.md)
- [The Messenger's Retrospect](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xli-the-messenger-s-retrospect.md)
- [XLII: Wiglaf’s Sad Story—The Hoard Carried Off](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xlii-wiglaf-s-sad-story-the-hoard-carried-off.md)
- [XLIII: The Burning of Beowulf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/xliii-the-burning-of-beowulf.md)
- [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters/endnotes.md)

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/beowulf_se/chapters