Beowulf - The Tragedy of a Hero

Although Beowulf is the most important poem in Anglo-Saxon poetry, it is set in Denmark and southern Sweden. And it originated in Denmark, where the earliest criticism of the work also saw the light of day. Beowulf is a Germanic hero type but is saved by the Christian poet to a life in God's world, despite demanding to be buried in a pagan mound. The tragic dimension of Beowulf's life story is shown partly by the fact that the gold treasure he gains at the risk of his life in the dragon battle will not please anyone, and partly by the fact that he has no queen and no heir . . . at his death he leaves his country open to enemies.