Tower and Town, December 2018

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Beowulf

This writing is from Year 5. The children were reading Beowulf. They predicted the endings, acted these out and then wrote them. They also created some art work to accompany their writing. They imagined what either Grendel, Grendel’s mother, or the dragon looked like, designed this and then created raised images with papier mâché. Five of these images are on the front cover and page 11.

Once Grendel was out of sight, Beowulf blew the victory horn as loud as he possibly could. The Danes were awake like a flash of lightning and surrounded Beowulf, cheering and shouting all the time – some even fell to their knees and cried! As the sun rose, they hung Grendel’s arm above the doors of Heorot and started to celebrate. They held a great feast, however they all fell silent when Hrothgar swiftly lifted his arm.

“Brave Beowulf, you have rid us of a ghastly beast and we cannot thank you enough!” announced Hrothgar, “but we humbly present you with this mighty sword as a symbol of gratitude.”

“I will use it wisely. However, now my Geats and I must return home” proposed Beowulf.

After celebrating (which I assure you, felt like days), the thirteen remaining Geats were led triumphantly down to their ship by Beowulf.

Meanwhile, back at Heorot, Grendel’s mother – a bony, elderly woman – flew past on her dragon and saw her son’s severed arm above the door. She was so surprised that someone had been able to injure him at all, therefore she went to search for him and to seek out revenge.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t on the moors, where he usually retreated to, but hidden in a cramped, minuscule cave that was as dark as night. Grendel explained to his mother what had happened earlier and how he overheard where the Geats’ home was. In the end, they came to the conclusion that they would follow Beowulf’s ship. They would follow him to the ends of the world if they had to! They would have their revenge and Beowulf would die – even if it meant death for them too!

As the Geats’ ship met with the shore again, Beowulf was greeted with welcoming words and open arms. He was a true hero. All night long, there was a party no-one could miss therefore nobody noticed when Beowulf quietly slipped away. He went into the feasting hall but the scene that met him was truly dreadful. There lay Hygelac, on his throne, dead. Beowulf ran over to him, shouting for help as he went. However, he was not surprised, for he could smell the gruesome scent of Grendel.

Eventually, help arrived and Beowulf watched helplessly as Hygelac was carried away. “In the morning, my army and I shall seek out Grendel!” ordered Beowulf.

So that was what happened. At sunrise, Beowulf and his best men were out in the courtyard preparing for battle when, out of the woods, came Grendel. Bravely, Beowulf stepped forward with his sword and shield at hand whereas Grendel came with no shield, no sword – nothing! Grendel plunged down at Beowulf and the fight began.

Beowulf was doing well when all of a sudden, Grendel’s mother emerged from the wood! Beowulf struggled on though until Grendel held him tight, legs dangling. There was only one way out. Full of hope, Beowulf flung his sword straight into Grendel’s mother’s heart. Then Grendel did exactly what Beowulf had hoped he would. He dropped Beowulf and ran to his mother. But it was too late. She was dead!

As quick as a flash, Beowulf had Grendel’s other arm in his hands. Grendel fell to the ground and died. Beowulf walked over to Grendel’s mother to examine her but he heard someone whisper “I shall avenge my son!” and felt a cold piece of metal run through him.

And so, the three of them lay on the blood-stained path however Beowulf lay with a smile on his face for Grendel was finally dead and he was proud to be a true hero.

Rachel