Beowulf is an Old English epic poem written down sometime between the eighth and twelth centuries which tells the adventures of the hero Beowulf in the early sixth century. Until the nineteenth century, Beowulf went relatively unnoticed until it was "discovered" in a collection of Old English manuscripts. From that point on, interest in Beowulf has steadily grown and now its importance as a major work in English literature cannot be denied. It has been translated countless times (with new translations constantly surfacing--see Syd Allan's website for an extensive list of translations), criticised and interpreted, and finally adapted into numerous formats: novels, movies, operas...and comic books and graphic novels.

The storyline of the poem is already somewhat serialized since it is comprised of very distinct story arcs which can be converted easily into the panels of the comic form. There are several plot breakdowns offered by Beowulf scholars (see the Story Outlines section of Syd Allan's web site for more detail on this), but in general there are three major plot segments, along with some prologue material and historical tangents scattered throughout.

The first part (lines 1-1250) recounts the prologue material regarding Scyld Scefing (Sheafson) and the founding of the Danish kingdom, the birth of Hrothgar and his building of the hall Heorot, and the twelve years of attacks by the monster Grendel upon Hrothgar's hall and people. Beowulf arrives, fights Grendel unarmed, rips the monster's arm off ensuring a mortal wound, and saves the day. Much dispensing of gifts and rejoicing!

Part two (lines 1251-2199) recounts the vengeance enacted by Grendel's monster mother after her son dies, Beowulf's journey into her underwater lair and the battle which ensued there, and his triumph over the creature. He returns to Heorot, where more gifts are dispensed and there is much more rejoicing before he returns to his homeland.

Part three (lines 2200-3182) tells of Beowulf's life fifty years after his adventures at Heorot. He is now king of his people and a much older man, but when a dragon is awakened from where it guards a horde of riches, Beowulf must protect his people. In addition, he knows that the riches the dragon is guarding may save his people, the Geats. He goes forth against the dragon alone, is mortally wounded, and then, with the aid of a loyal warrior, slays the dragon. The poem ends with his burial and the Geats' lamentation for his death.