"Beowulf"
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Beowulf is the greatest surviving poem in Old English. Set in Scandinavia, it tells a story that comes from myth, legend and history. The mighty warrior Beowulf offers to help the King of the Danes in a quest to kill the vicious monster Grendel and free his people from terror. After killing Grendel, Beowulf must also kill the monster’s mother before he can return to his homeland, where he eventually becomes king. But he is called for a new adventure, as a great dragon comes to destroy his kingdom. Will Beowulf’s efforts cost him his life this time?
In this epic poem the Anglo-Saxon values of courage and pride are set against the terrifying monsters that lurk on the edges of society.
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Text Analysis: Unique words: about 1,000 Total words: about 7,410
Hard words: shield, spear, knife, helmet, axe, sword, armour, hilt, exploits, subdued, blessed, golden standard, drifted, heir, summoned, harpist, demon, bleak, Cain and Abel, seized, bloodstained, corps, wept, ashamed, Geatland, issued a challenge, shores, shone, Wendel, ashore, avenged, single combat, feud, minstrel, vanity, struggle, came about, dreadful, drove us apart, own people, relied on, cheerfulness, bit into, flowed, leapt, wrestle, grasp, rushed, agony, fled, trace, drowned, soul, wealth, squeeze, heavy, wickedness, saddle, compensation, Frisians, glanced over, posted, grabbed, alongside, mere, forbidding, hound, cheered, tracks, trial, cliff, pursue, foul, dragged, sprang, failed him, disgust, stub, harm, swung it, struck, shook, in the depth, melt, frost, achieve, sickness, ceases, bow, do not fall into that trap, blame, salute, despite, feared, moored, enmity, Heathobarts, slaughter, yang fellow, barrow, a lone, blood, rest, foolish, jeweled goblet, troubled, beast, fortune, for the sake of glory, outcome, arch, challenge, enraged, flinch, gave a mighty blow, retreat, eager, plunged, belly, made a final effort, revive, deserted, cowardice, Franks, funeral pyre, lit, grief, dust, dirge, lamenting him, mourned
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