Beowulf

Beowulf is the oldest surviving long poem, written by an anonymous poet. It is acknowledged as being one of the most important works in English literature. Beowulf tells the story of a monster named Grendel and his mother. After terrorizing villages in what is now Scandinavia, the titular hero arrives to confront and defeat the monsters. The legend of Beowulf is not just about the story itself. The actual poem has been consciously restored and renewed hundreds of times for the last thousand years. What makes this poem so persistent, is that each successive generation prizes it and ensures its ultimate survival. The fact that it is still in print, despite a thousand years of culture and language changes, makes the manuscript itself a mystical legend. Why it's on the list While we know the overarching story - young hero comes to town to slay the terrible monsters - Beowulf is unique. The singsong rhythm of the story makes it hypnotic. The stunning language and glimpses of old Anglo-Saxon culture just add to the mesmerizing effect. Beowulf is classic literature for a reason. It's got everything: loyalty, courage, bravado, death, and, of course, mythical monsters. There are some great lessons you can take away from this book at various times in your life that will change as your circumstances and wisdom changes. Read if you like Superheroes. They are seen everywhere, but if you want to read about the greatest hero in history, check this out. If we ever had a clash between Hercules and Beowulf… Hercules would find himself completely outmatched.