Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-2-5-beowulf [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [Primary](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary.md) › [History](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history.md) › [History: KS2 National Curriculum](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum.md) › Beowulf # Beowulf History: KS2 National Curriculum, topic 3.2.5 ## Beowulf ### What is Beowulf? ![What is Beowulf?](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2025-08/4bc5cb03-8678-499d-bd5e-0b54e9ed31b5/fd7592f4-9607-42b6-94d1-c2b5798b6e57.png) - Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon poem. - Nobody knows who created it or when. - Some scientists say it was written in the 8th century. ### The story, part 1 ![The story, part 1](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2025-08/cf4dbbbb-13a1-4055-bc33-cd6a0c64d9ef/adeac7b8-2be5-475f-aca0-46a214ef4d05.png) - Part 1 of the poem happens in Denmark. - King Hrothgar's palace is now and then attacked by the monster Grendel. - Beowulf is a prince of the Geats (Sweden). He travels to Hrothgar's palace and kills the monster. - The monster's mother attacks the palace but is also killed by Beowulf. ### The story, part 2 ![The story, part 2](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2025-08/07525b31-58ab-4d06-be09-b71a5fca1381/0ba60a8a-e343-40ec-8241-64e4a2793227.png) - Part 2 of the poem happens in the Geats. - When the king and his son die, Beowulf becomes the new king. - 50 years later, a fire-breathing dragon attacks the land. - Beowulf kills the dragon but dies shortly after. ## Test yourself on Beowulf - What type of work is Beowulf? - What monster attacks King Hrothgar's palace? - What happens when Grendel's mother attacks the palace? - What happens 50 years after Beowulf becomes king of the Geats? - What happens at the end of the poem? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/5bb99626-42d7-4529-a46f-09c2191a6303/section/76ab57f5-6508-452d-a3b8-8dd49bef4660/session) - Previous topic: [3.2.4 Sutton Hoo](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-2-4-sutton-hoo.md) - Next topic: [3.2.6 Anglo-Saxon Tribes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-2-6-anglo-saxon-tribes.md) ## History: KS2 National Curriculum contents ### 1 Changes in Britain from Stone Age to Iron Age - 1.1 Introduction to Prehistory - [1.1.1 Prehistoric Ages & Timelines](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/1-1-1-prehistoric-ages-and-timelines.md) - [1.1.2 Archaeology & Artefacts](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/1-1-2-archaeology-and-artefacts.md) - [1.1.3 Discovering Prehistory](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/1-1-3-discovering-prehistory.md) - 1.2 Changes through the Prehistoric Ages - [1.2.1 Houses through the Prehistoric Ages](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/1-2-1-houses-through-the-prehistoric-ages.md) - [1.2.2 Tool Use through the Prehistoric Ages](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/1-2-2-tool-use-through-the-prehistoric-ages.md) - [1.2.3 Food through the Prehistoric Ages](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/1-2-3-food-through-the-prehistoric-ages.md) - 1.3 Life in Prehistoric Times - [1.3.1 Early Farming & Skara Brae](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/1-3-1-early-farming-and-skara-brae.md) - [1.3.2 Rituals & Stonehenge](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/1-3-2-rituals-and-stonehenge.md) - [1.3.3 Travel & the Beaker Culture](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/1-3-3-travel-and-the-beaker-culture.md) - [1.3.4 Trade & the Amesbury Archer](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/1-3-4-trade-and-the-amesbury-archer.md) - [1.3.5 Tribal Kindoms & Danebury Hillfort](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/1-3-5-tribal-kindoms-and-danebury-hillfort.md) - [1.3.6 Art, Culture & the Battersea Shield](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/1-3-6-art-culture-and-the-battersea-shield.md) ### 2 The Roman Empire & its Impacts on Britain - 2.1 The Roman Empire - [2.1.1 What was the Roman Empire?](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-1-1-what-was-the-roman-empire.md) - [2.1.2 The Roman Army](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-1-2-the-roman-army.md) - [2.1.3 Roman Society](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-1-3-roman-society.md) - [2.1.4 Roman Life](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-1-4-roman-life.md) - [2.1.5 Gladiators & the Theatre](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-1-5-gladiators-and-the-theatre.md) - [2.1.6 Roman Engineering](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-1-6-roman-engineering.md) - [2.1.7 Roman Art](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-1-7-roman-art.md) - [2.1.8 Roman Mythology & Religion](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-1-8-roman-mythology-and-religion.md) - 2.2 Roman Britain - [2.2.1 Julius Caesar Invades Britain](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-2-1-julius-caesar-invades-britain.md) - [2.2.2 Emperor Claudius](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-2-2-emperor-claudius.md) - [2.2.3 Claudius Invades Britain](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-2-3-claudius-invades-britain.md) - [2.2.4 Client Rulers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-2-4-client-rulers.md) - [2.2.5 Queen Boudica's Rebellion](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-2-5-queen-boudicas-rebellion.md) - [2.2.6 Caledonia](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-2-6-caledonia.md) - [2.2.7 Hadrian's Wall](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-2-7-hadrians-wall.md) - [2.2.8 ‘Romanisation’ of Britain: Town Life](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-2-8-romanisation-of-britain-town-life.md) - [2.2.9 ‘Romanisation’ of Britain: Industry & Trade](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-2-9-romanisation-of-britain-industry-and-trade.md) - [2.2.10 ‘Romanisation’ of Britain: Religion](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-2-10-romanisation-of-britain-religion.md) ### 3 Britain's Settlement by Anglo-saxons & Scots - 3.1 Life After the Romans - [3.1.1 Roman Withdrawal from Britain](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-1-1-roman-withdrawal-from-britain.md) - [3.1.2 Immediate Consequences](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-1-2-immediate-consequences.md) - [3.1.3 Changes in Culture & Society](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-1-3-changes-in-culture-and-society.md) - [3.1.4 Roman Legacy Today](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-1-4-roman-legacy-today.md) - [3.1.5 Scots & Picts](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-1-5-scots-and-picts.md) - 3.2 The Anglo-Saxons - [3.2.1 Anglo-Saxon Invasions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-2-1-anglo-saxon-invasions.md) - [3.2.2 Why did the Anglo-Saxons Invade?](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-2-2-why-did-the-anglo-saxons-invade.md) - [3.2.3 Anglo-Saxon Culture](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-2-3-anglo-saxon-culture.md) - [3.2.4 Sutton Hoo](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-2-4-sutton-hoo.md) - [3.2.5 Beowulf](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-2-5-beowulf.md) - [3.2.6 Anglo-Saxon Tribes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-2-6-anglo-saxon-tribes.md) - [3.2.7 Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-2-7-anglo-saxon-kingdoms.md) - [3.2.8 Christian Conversion](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-2-8-christian-conversion.md) - [3.2.9 Important People during Christian Conversion](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-2-9-important-people-during-christian-conversion.md) ### 4 The Vikings & Anglo-Saxon Struggle for England - 4.1 Who were the Vikings? - [4.1.1 Where & When Lived the Vikings](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-1-1-where-and-when-lived-the-vikings.md) - [4.1.2 Culture & Beliefs of the Vikings](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-1-2-culture-and-beliefs-of-the-vikings.md) - [4.1.3 Pirate Raids](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-1-3-pirate-raids.md) - 4.2 Viking Raids in Britain - [4.2.1 Lindisfarne & The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-2-1-lindisfarne-and-the-anglo-saxon-chronicle.md) - [4.2.2 Danegeld & The Great Heathen Army](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-2-2-danegeld-and-the-great-heathen-army.md) - 4.3 Vikings Settlements - [4.3.1 Resistance by Alfred the Great](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-3-1-resistance-by-alfred-the-great.md) - [4.3.2 The Danelaw Boundary](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-3-2-the-danelaw-boundary.md) - [4.3.3 Vikings in the Danelaw](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-3-3-vikings-in-the-danelaw.md) - [4.3.4 Athelstan, the First King of England](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-3-4-athelstan-the-first-king-of-england.md) - 4.4 Struggles in the 10th Century - [4.4.1 Kings after Athelstan](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-4-1-kings-after-athelstan.md) - [4.4.2 Aethelred the Unready](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-4-2-aethelred-the-unready.md) - [4.4.3 Viking Kings in England](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-4-3-viking-kings-in-england.md) - [4.4.4 King Cnut & Emma of Normandy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-4-4-king-cnut-and-emma-of-normandy.md) - [4.4.5 Kings after Cnut](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-4-5-kings-after-cnut.md) - [4.4.6 King Edward the Confessor](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-4-6-king-edward-the-confessor.md) - [4.4.7 The New King](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-4-7-the-new-king.md)