Beowulf

legendary Geatish hero

7th-century boar-crested Anglo-Saxon helmet

decorated Anglo-Saxon helmet

portion of an Old English heroic poem, transcribed by George Hickes from a now lost medieval manuscript.

thumb|right|The first page of the Beowulf manuscript Heorot (Old English 'hart, stag') is a mead-hall and major point of focus in the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf. The hall serves as a seat of rule for King Hrothgar, a legendary Danish king. After the monster Grendel slaughters the inhabitants of the hall, the Geatish hero Beowulf defends the royal hall before subsequently defeating him. Later Grendel's mother attacks the inhabitants of the hall, and she too is subsequently defeated by Beowulf.

sole surviving manuscript of Beowulf

1936 lecture by J. R. R. Tolkien

mother of the monster Grendel in the epic poem Beowulf

Hrunting was a sword given to Beowulf by Unferth in the ancient Old English epic poem Beowulf. Beowulf used it in battle against Grendel's mother.

7th-century Anglo-Saxon helmet

modern English translation by J. R. R. Tolkien

450 legendary battle

sources of Tolkien's fiction

right|thumb|Beowulf fights the dragon, wielding Nægling.