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This article focuses on the story, "Beowulf".
For the character, see Beowulf.

Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon epic poem featured on ABC's Once Upon a Time in Wonderland and Once Upon a Time.

A date of composition is a matter of contention among scholars; the only certain dating pertains to the manuscript, which was produced between 975 and 1025. The author was an anonymous Anglo-Saxon poet, referred to by scholars as the "Beowulf poet".


Traditional Plot

The main protagonist, Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of HroĆ°gar, the king of the Danes, whose great hall, Heorot, is plagued by the monster Grendel. Beowulf kills Grendel with his bare hands and Grendel's mother with a sword of a giant that he found in her lair.

Later in his life, Beowulf is himself king of the Geats, and finds his realm terrorised by a dragon whose treasure had been stolen from his hoard in a burial mound. He attacks the dragon with the help of his thegns or servants, but they do not succeed. Beowulf decides to follow the dragon into its lair, at EarnanƦs, but only his young Swedish relative Wiglaf dares join him. Beowulf finally slays the dragon, but is mortally wounded. He is buried in a tumulus or burial mound, by the sea.

Beowulf is considered an epic poem in that the main character is a hero who travels great distances to prove his strength at impossible odds against supernatural demons and beasts. The poem also begins in medias res ("into the middle of affairs") or simply, "in the middle", which is a characteristic of the epics of antiquity. Although the poem begins with Beowulf's arrival, Grendel's attacks have been an ongoing event. An elaborate history of characters and their lineages is spoken of, as well as their interactions with each other, debts owed and repaid, and deeds of valour. The warriors follow a manifest of rules on heroism called comitatus, which is the basis for all of the words, deeds, and actions.

Show Adaptation

  • Grendel was once a man who was transformed into a monster by the Red Queen.
  • Beowulf fights in the Ogre Wars and becomes jealous when Rumplestiltskin steals his glory.
  • The Hrunting was forged by the Blue Fairy many years ago. Its supposed ability is to make the wielder be hailed as a hero to encourage an army to participate in a battle. Later, it is revealed that it is destined to become the sword that kills Emma Swan.

Characters Featured

Original Character Adapted as First Featured in
Beowulf Beowulf "Ill-Boding Patterns"
Grendel Grendel "Forget Me Not"
Beowulf's foghorn "Ill-Boding Patterns"

Items Featured

Original Item Adapted as First Featured in
Hrunting Hrunting "Ill-Boding Patterns"
This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors).
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