(1)

Beowulf was originally written in Old English about the adventures of a warrior named Beowulf. There is only one remaining manuscript, that survived over ten centuries of destruction and fire. The manuscript still has the scorch marks from the fire five centuries ago. It is now held at the British Library in London.
(2)


Beowulf Info
Beowulf is both the first English literary masterpiece and one of the earliest European epics written in the vernacular, or native language, instead of literary Latin. The story survives in one fragile manuscript copied by two scribes near the end of the 10th or the first quarter of the 11th century. Until quite recently, most scholars thought that this surprisingly complex and poignant poem was written in the 8th century or earlier, but Kevin Kiernan stirred up controversy in 1981 by asserting that the work was composed in the 11th century, and that the manuscript itself may have even been the author's working copy.(3)

Beowulf Boar-Crested Helmet
This helmet provides a possible model for imagining what Beowulf might have worn [4]


Grendel by John Gardner(6)
The Novel Grendel by John Gardner is the story of Grendel the infamous monster from Beowulf. The novel is from Grendel’s prospective as he faces the existential terror of human existence and as he observes humanity from the shadows. As Robin Clark summarizes it, “While trying to work out who he is and what he should do, Grendel eavesdrops on Hrothgar's hall, is fascinated by Wealtheow and the Shaper, Hrothgar's harper, humiliates Unferth, confronts a nihilist dragon, and confuses priests, before meeting his end at the hands of a stranger from over the
sea.”(5)

Grendel Pics

Grendel ruthlessly attacking an Anglo-Saxon warrior. [7]



Beowulf rips Grendels arm off. [8]



A picture of Grendel. [9]

What is the importance of Beowulf?
Beowulf is the first English literary masterpiece and one of the earliest epics written in the native language, instead of literary Latin. (10)

Sources
(1) http://www.sd84.k12.id.us/SHS/departments/Language/edaniels/English%20IV%20(H)/Beowulf/beowulf.htm
(2) http://www.lone-star.net/literature/beowulf/
(3)http://www.library.unr.edu/subjects/guides/beowulf.html
[4]http://spider.georgetowncollege.edu/english/allen/helmets.htm
(5)http://dannyreviews.com/h/Grendel.html
(6)http://www.library.gatech.edu/about_us/news/banned/images/grendel.gif
(7)http://pages.infinit.net/celte/Image/chevalier/beowulf.jpg
(8) www.wildlife-fantasy.com/artwork/beowulf.jpg
(9) http://surbrook.devermore.net/gallery/galleryother/grendel.jpg
(10) http://www.library.unr.edu/subjects/guides/beowulf.html#poetry