Beowulf is the earliest known narrative poem in English, and one of the most famous works of Anglo-Saxon poetry. The poem tells the breathtaking story of a struggle between the hero, Beowulf, and a bloodthirsty monster called Grendel. For many winters, the court of the Danish King Hrothgar has been terrorised by the fearsome monster Grendel, who comes at nightfall to devour men in their sleep. Beowulf kills the monster, and is celebrated as a great hero - but joy turns to horror when Grendel's mother arrives to avenge the killing of her son.

This is the only known manuscript of Beowulf, and dates from c.1000. However, the poem is much older than this manuscript - some historians believe it might date right back to c.750.