You can use this activity to explore the beginnings of English by looking closely at some lines in Old English and by spotting words that look a little familiar. But first - something about the story it tells:

This passage is from the epic tale of 'Beowulf', told around winter fires on long evenings in Britain in the time of Viking invasions. A written copy exists from 1000 years ago, but the story is older than that. You can see an extract from this original manuscript below. The pages are blackened round the edges because the book was damaged by a fire in the library where it was being held.

The story of Beowulf was set in Denmark. The Danish king sent for Beowulf because his people were being attacked and killed by a monster called Grendel who came in the night to the King's hall - Heorot. For many years this continued and the king - Hrothgar - hoped Beowulf would help them. Beowulf fought with Grendel and tore off his arm before the monster escaped, mortally wounded. Everyone celebrated. No-one knew that Grendel had a mother, who came the following night to avenge the death of her son. In this passage the Danish king speaks to Beowulf, telling him of the terrible place where Grendel's mother lived. He describes the desolate landscape: the wolf-haunted slopes, trees bound in eternal frost and the lake itself, whose waters at night burn with a dreadful fire.

Hrothgar the King offers rich rewards of gold if Beowulf can find and kill the monster deep in the lake