Beowulf - Reality and the Story

Burial mounds, in Britain, play a role in Beowulf’s death. When one of his people robbed a grave, and took away a golden goblet, the old king (who by now has ruled for fifty years) is called upon to fight a dragon. After losing the battle, Beowulf’s body is burned on a funeral pyre.

Watch this video clip to gain a better understanding how such issues played a role - both in Anglo-Saxon times and in the epic itself.