Beowulf

Author: Micheal Morpurgo

Illustrator: Michael Foreman

This is Morpurgo’s version of an old English poem. The story is set in Denmark in the fifth-century. The peaceful kingdom of Hereot is attacked each night by the evil monster Grendel. There is no one strong enough to defeat him until Beowulf, prince of the Geats arrives from across the sea.

There are three parts to the book. Beowulf must fight the beast Grendel, his terrible sea-hag mother and then a powerful dragon.

I enjoyed each of the stories. The illustrator has drawn such detailed pictures of the characters and I especially liked the monsters. The descriptions of the fight scenes are exciting.

“this Geatish hero, was boiling with war-fury… He sprung to the wall , caught up the sword by its hilt, and whirling it once above his head, the blade singing out its death-song, he brought it down on her neck…”

Beowulf and the Sea-Hag

I was a bit surprised by the ending of the last story Beowulf and the death-dragon of the deep but I think Beowulf and the Sea-Hag was my favourite.

My score 4/5

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