Beowulf

The oldest surviving epic in the canon of British literature, Beowulf was originally transcribed into Old English -- from the oral tradition -- sometime before the 10th century. Beowulf describes the adventures of a great Scandinavian warrior of the 6th century, Beowulf of the Geats, who travels to Denmark to help defeat the great monster, Grendel. A classic example of heroic literature, Beowulf lives in a world in which his actions are, he believes, governed by fate and destiny.