The brave warrior Beowulf travels to the banquet hall of King Hrothgar, where festivities have been disrupted & warriors slaughtered by the monster Grendel. He proves to be a hero by slaying Grendel after a mighty hand-to-hand battle in which he wrenches the monster's arm off & displays it as a trophy. His next heroic deed is a confrontation with Grendel's mother, who he defeats with a magic sword. Beowulf returns to his homeland to rule for the remainder of his life, but dies fighting in his final challenge from a fire-breathing dragon.