I find it amazing that the epic Beowulf has made it this far. The original poem exists as a single manuscript that resides in the British Library. It seems to have been hand written by two different monks, prior to whom it was most likely an oral story that was passed down from generation to generation. The date it was written is unknown. Its possible that it was scribed anywhere between 650 and 1000 A.D. Between then and now it has survived a fire that scorched the last part of the poem. It has been revised into several versions and can now be downloaded from the internet for free. Perhaps Beowulf was meant to exist forever. I can easily understand why. Beowulf provides a valuable insight into Anglo-Saxon society, the living conditions, and the people themselves.Initially, Beowulf was interpreted as a guide to showcase the historical aspects of Anglo-Saxon life. It told of vast numbers of warriors who gathered in meadhalls, where soldiers would share their love of poetry, beverages, war, and the honoring of their own king. This meadhall was named after the popular alcoholic drink that was made of fermented honey. Each warrior was outfitted with swords, daggers, and shields. Some of the strongest and courageous wore flexible body armor made of woven metal called mail shirts. The kings of that time played a less assertive role in the political system. They did not have as much power or control that kings of later times had. Instead, the kings were more or less a governor to only the warriors who followed the king.According to Beowulf, the warriors lived a life through an ironic cycle. At first there was the death of all the warriors who inhabited Herot, the hall of the Danish king Hrothgar. The local terror Grendel would swoop up from the swamps and invade the hall at night when the people were asleep. Grendel would scoop them up in a single hand, eat them, and smear their blood throughout the hall. This savage act brought forth Beowul...
