In the land of the Danes, King Hrothgar builds a huge mead hall for his kingdom to celebrate and be merry in. However, after the mead hall is built comes Grendel, an angry and hostile monster, and devours people in the hall.
In the land of the Geats, Beowulf hears of this tragedy that the Danes have endured. So, he and his men go across the sea to help them. King Hrothgar is very happy to hear of Beowulf's
arrival and of his courageous wish to kill the evil Grendel.
Beowulf is able to defeat Grendal, ripping out his arm and leaving him to die in the swamp. However, Grendel's mother is furious to find out that her son has died and the humans have kept his arm as a trophy. She immediately goes to retrieve the arm. She also shows her anger to the kingdom by killing Aeschere, one of Hrothgar's most trusted Thanes, and hanging his head on top of a cliff for them to see.
Beowulf knows that he would have to kill Grendel's mother as well in order to have peace in the land. So, he goes to the monster's cave and fights the beast. They struggle but triumphantly, Beowulf wins. He cuts the head of the mother and brings it back to the king as a trophy.
And for another 50 years, there is basically peace throughout the land while Beowulf rules. However, one incident changes all of that which leads to the very last triumph for Beowulf . . .