beowulf
Storyboard Text
- ORDINARY WORLD
- CALL TO ADVENTURE
- REFUSAL
- MENTOR / HELPER
- Beowulf's ordinary world was Geatland.
- CROSSING THE THRESHOLD
- Beowulf heard stories of a monster known as Grendel, who was hunting the warriors of Heorot. Over twelve years, Grendel killed more than 30 of King Hrothgar’s men. The people needed a hero of epic proportions, so they called upon Beowulf.
- TESTS / ALLIES / ENEMIES
- (No Refusal) Beowulf could not refuse the plight of King Hrothgar, so he gathered his best men and set off for Denmark.
- APPROACH
- King Hrothgar becomes Beowulf's mentor, though his influence is not seen at first. Beowulf uses the incident with Grendel as a guide when he becomes king. Through Hrothgar, Beowulf learns that a king who cannot fight is useless to his people. Another helper is Unferth who lends the sword, Hrunting, to Beowulf to help him defeat Grendel’s mother.
- ORDEAL
- Beowulf and his men cross the sea from Geatland to Denmark.
- Beowulf battles Grendel, and outsmarts the monster; he takes Grendel's arm as a trophy, mortally wounding him. Later, he also battles the swamp hag and the dragon. An important ally against the dragon is Wiglaf.
- Thinking he has ended the battle, the Geats throw a great feast in his honor. However, they learn there is a new foe: Grendel's mother. Beowulf’s work is not yet done.
- Beowulf must defeat the evil swamp hag to save the Danes. To defeat her, he swims into the her underwater lair and stabs her with a sword made for a giant.
- REWARD
- ROAD BACK
- ATONEMENT
- RETURN
- King Hrothgar gives Beowulf his finest horses and a massive treasure.
- Upon returning home, Beowulf ascends to the throne of his homeland where he rules wisely for over 50 years.
- When he first returns, he gives Hygelac gifts. Years later, his heroic deeds are again needed. When a would-be thief disturbs a dragon, it threatens his land. Knowing he has lived a full life and seeing his death before him, Beowulf charges into the action and defeats the dragon, but not before he is bitten in the neck and poisoned.
- According to legend, Beowulf's body and a massive treasure were burned on a funeral pyre overlooking the sea. He dies a hero’s death, and his stories are told over generations.
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