Classics Summarized: Beowulf 

Types of Old English: Shakespeare: Olde English Chaucer: Auldde Anglish Beowulf: Auhlderangledingledanglesch

Fun fact: Tolkien wasn't just a Beowulf fan, he actually provided one of the first modern-English translations.

Important note that's probably already been mentioned: the magic sword in Grendel's mother's cave didn't just fall apart after it was used once. According to the story, Grendel's mother was so evil and monstrous that her blood was boiling-hot acid. When he killed her with the sword, the blood that got on the blade dissolved it instantly.

3:09 this is how you know Red cares about her viewers. She wrote a poem for a three second part of the video that probably no one noticed, and it's a masterpiece. I love this content and I'm so grateful to Red and Blue for giving up their time to make these awesome videos

Every weapon breaks. OP protagonist. “God, they go through swords like coffee filters around here!” *shudders in Breath of the Wild*

"But in my defense, I was slightly slowed down by the NINE SEA CREATURES I killed along the way!" "Dammit, I made him more badass."

Man, now I want to see a full Dr. Seuss style retelling of Beowulf.

4:55 Beowulf: "I was slightly slowed down by the 9 giants monsters I killed along the way!" Wiglaf *whispers* : "Last time there were 3."

Can we stop for a moment to appreciate how Red gives, like, every norseman and norse god ever the most luxurious and long locks of hair?

Ah yes who could forget the ancient tribe of the YEETs

FYI for anyone watching this six years later: the original text uses the same word to describe Beowulf as for Grendel’s mother. Modern translators interpreted the word as “hero” or “warrior” for Beowulf but “monster” or some female variant (hag or witch) for Grendel’s mother. The assumption was that because she fought Beowulf, and was female, she must have been monstrous. However, it is quite likely that audiences at the time would have pictured her as a female supernatural warrior, that is, a Valkyrie. (Note that Valkyries were not “good guys” in Norse mythology, so this wouldn’t necessarily be out of character for a Valkyrie).

I've always wanted to see parody novels or short stories where all the names present are directly translated "Sir there's a giant constantly attacking our mead hall, what should we do?" "Call in *dramatic pause* Bear..."

As someone who went to university, I sympathise with Grendel.

Beowulf's last request was literally "let me see what loot that boss dropped".

Fun fact, Tolkien was not just a fan of the classics, he is the reason that Beowulf is considered an actually important text and that the anglo-saxons were not some sort of un-important culture.

1:19 Bee Wolf = Bee Hunter 1:29 Scyld Scefing - King of Denmark 1:33 Beowulf, son of Scyld Scefing 1:40 Healfdene, son of Beowulf who sparked a long-standing feud between his family and the Heathobards by getting himself killed by Froda 1:57 Heorogar, Helga and Hrothgar (no relation). 2:10 huge mead hall - Heorot. 2:45 Grendel 2:55 Lake of Monsters 3:24 Grendel kills 30 of the Thanes 3:48 Hrothgar considers calling on their buddies, the Geats, for a little bit of help. 4:11 "Well you know, I've been thinking. Grendel's not really a warrior 'cause he doesn't use weapons right? Well, I think it's only fair if when we fight, I don't use any weapons either!" 4:37 Breka 5:11 Beowulf wins by ripping off Grendel's arm with his bare hands. 5:19 Beowulf gives Grendel's arm to Hrothgar to hang from the Heorot's rafters, 5:29 Unferth 5:32 Hrunting - heirloom sword 5:40 Grendel's mother storms into the hall 5:43 grabs Grendel's arm and vanishes into the night. 5:56 Aeschere's head 6:12 Grendel's mother ambushes him and drags him into her cave. 6:30 But luckily for beowulf Grendel's mother has a bit of a hoarding problem, and her cave is absolutely full of nifty Magical Weaponry. So he grabs a shiny looking sword that turns out to be super magical and manages to kill her with it. 6:59 sword dissolves 7:12 Then Beowulf and the Yates, having done all the monster slaying they felt obligated to do, sail back to their homeland where Beowulf presents their King Hygelac with a bunch of treasure and is lauded as a great hero. 7:26 damascened 7:47 Damascus steel is a legendarily tough metal who's forging process has been lost. 8:28 DRAGON 9:25 Naegling - sword Hygelac gave him 10:10 Beowulf's actually dying and he's like; "Wiglaf, come closer. I have one last request. Could you go drag the treasure out of the barrow so I can take one last look at the riches I just won?" 10:26 So Wiglaf, now King Wiglaf, exiles the 11 dudes who ran away from the dragon and the Yates retrieved the rest of the dragon's treasure and hold Beowulf's funeral.

Beowulf: *sees a bee* Book Narration: ACCORDING TO ALL KNOWN LAWS OF AVIATION

Me reading the book: *everything serious* Overly Sarcastic Production summarizes the story: *Grendel is the Grinch, oh heck some murder can’t stop our dance party, look at the hobbit steal the cup, Skyrim quest completed!*

Beowulf’s weapon durability seems on par with Link’s from Breath of the Wild.

I want someone to eventually become friends with the dragon by offering gold for friendship. The dragon accepts on the condition that the man bring more gold coins every time he visits. Eventually, the man is out of gold, but the dragon chases him down and tells him to come by anyways because he enjoys the company.

"Why Grendel's mother left the one thing that could kill her in arm's reach is probably of much scholarly debate" Yhorm: *sweats*

"Now, Grendel has a Grinch complex the size of east Texas" Omfg i died

3:33 "A rampaging Hell Beast murdering their friends didn't kill the party atmosphere the first time" We never let mass death stop a Covid party.

2:22 anyone else find the “floof” hilarious and adorable? I want long floofy hair

“He rips off Grendel’s arm with his BEOWULF hands!”

What I love is how quintessentially English this is when it's boiled right down. The monster starts shit, gets hurt, and then its ACTUAL MUM comes down to complain. Amazing.

Just for clarification, when Beowulf sliced the Dragon's neck open, he actually reached into it with one of his arms (the one on the side where he was bitten since it dislodged the arm and made his reach longer) and tore it's heart out and ate it in front of the dragon, which was actually how he got poisoned. Way late but that was a minor detail that needs to be added.

I remember this being the first OSP video I ever watched five years ago. I recall sitting on the auditorium stairs, filtering through RU-vid videos to use for a school project and finding this. I was so enthralled by it for the remaining class time and considered subscribing to the channel, which I did later that day. This video was never used in the project, though, since it was too long and I didn't know how to clip at the time. Still, I kept watching and waiting for more videos, and now OSP is quite literally my favorite RU-vid channel of all time.

I love how Beowulf’s solution to seeing the treasure before he dies is “Bring the treasure to me,” instead of “bring me to the treasure.” Either he’s so jacked he thinks nobody can carry him, or he’s too proud to accept help doing something as trivial as walking.

Nothing is funnier than getting interutped by an ad when they actually introduce Beowulf

Tolkien wasn't just a "fan of the classics", he was actually a renowned Beowulf scholar.

I remember one of my English teachers telling us the story of Beowulf. I can't speak to his sources, but the man knew how to tell a good story. He told us how Hrothgar had called for many heroes before Beowulf. They would party in the Mead Hall in preparation, and when Grendel smashed the doors open, the heroes would fight. But none of them could hurt Grendel. Then, one day comes Beowulf. Not the biggest man Hrothgar has seen, in fact, he's even a little on the short side. Furthermore, his eyes are puffy & squinted, a side effect from bee stings when he was a child (part of the origin of his name). Beowulf offers to help Hrothgar, but Hrothgar warns him of Grendel's track record with "heroes". The best have come, and they have been slain. Beowulf tells Hrothgar he is not the best, but he is someone who understands the darker side of the world. He said something about this old cursed apple tree and he was eating one of said apples to kinda show he understood evil. That part is a bit fuzzy, it's been 17 years, sue me. Hrothgar allows Beowulf to drink in the Mead Hall with the other, more promising/pure heroes he's hired to bring down Grendel. Night falls, the party is underway, and Grendel smashes the doors open. The heroes leap into action as Grendel begins murderizing them. At which point Beowulf challenges Grendel. Eschewing both his weapons and his armor, he fights Grendel with nothing but himself. And he succeeds, ripping off Grendel's arm and driving him away. I loved his version of Beowulf as the underdog & imperfect warrior. A person who can draw unexpected strength from the understanding of his own failings.

Having read Beowulf, I have come to the realization that Beowulf hates weapons because weapons aren't as STRONG AS HIS FISTS Seriously, every time he has to use a sword, the sword breaks, and before he fights the dragon, he spends a few verses wishing that he could fight it unarmed like he would have done in his youth

Love your show, but as a sword collector and amateur swordsmith, I need to point out that Damascus steel is not lost technology and we have reversed engineered almost all of the 14 variations on pattern forge-welded steel AKA "Damascus " steel. When someone wrote "the forging process has been lost" They mean that we do not know-how with the energy output and metal refining process they were able to produce it. Similar to the idea that we do not know the process used to assemble stone henge or the pyramids, but we sure as heck can make both those things and the same is true for "Damascus" steel (small point that name is more a marketing term as the city for the land around Damascus could not produce this metal, its called that because it was often sold in the massive market of Damascus). The point being, we can and I totally have made Damascus steel. I can even gift you with a bilit of it if you like. on that point the sword at @8:11 is a modern reproduction, if my memory serves me this was a replica produced by Dr. Jim Hrisoulas PhD who has written books on the subject and has learned and taught many a swordsmith in metallurgical sciences of making this stuff. Side note: Now what is crazy about the Nords model of producing this is that they would forge this metal, cut it up and forge weld it back together just to make it look better and stronger. We have examples of 4 bar composite weapons found in troves made this way. There is a lot of myth in this area with a huge amount of misinformation and fanboy theories, think the Ulfberht swords or the people who blindly believe the highlander movie about how "katanas were the worlds most perfect sword" (hint they were not, impressive yes, but flawed and the result of less than ideal metal quality... before someone tries to argue... _stop_. I have made these from tamahagane on up.) Anyhow if you want to get a whole rundown on the history of this often history-making metal talk to Jim and read his 6+ books.

For those wondering, you may have heard the term damascus steel used for modern processes, but it is not the same thing. What people call damascus steel produced these days is actually known as forge welded or pattern welded steel. It's made by putting pieces of different kinds of steel together and forming them into a single piece of metal. This ends up looking kinda like real damascus steel (i.e., the wave patterns of dark and light grays), but it is not the same. e: though apparently modern researchers have managed to produce steel with the same patterns as real damascus using experimental processes. Cool stuff.

As someone whose personally dug through as much information about Damascus as possible and felt the fury of a thousand smith's echo through my soul, I appreciate the acknowledgment.

"ghoulis, ghostlies and long-leggedy-beasties" is now my favorite new term to describe nighmare inducing monsters

I love how your version of Grendel's mother just stomped all over the film's version of Grendel's mother.

1:23 Okay, that apparently befuddled expression on that bear is absolutely _adorable_

In the version I had read, not only does Beowulf rip off Grendel's arm, he pins Grendel to the ground, and when he escapes he ends up ripping off his entire shoulder too! He then laments with the fact that he wishes he could've taken his head instead of his arm (which ends up getting to do anyway). Also, he decapitates Grendel's mom too.

The Danes: did you die? Beowul: sadly yes... BUT I LIVED!!

*Grendel's Mom, Has Got It Goin On And I Don't Know How To Feel About That*

This is my first time watching this episode, as opposed to just listening to it as background noise while at work, and now that I’ve read the on-screen quips, “Talk to Proventus” genuinely had me laugh. Also, Beowulf’s comment of “I’ve got you right were I want you!” reminded me of a quote from the Out of Context DnD Quotes tumblr that followed up that statement with the line “On top of, and attempting to eat me!”

Minor detail I love is when grendals mother grabs him the metal gear solid noise is distorted like it's really underwater. It's the little touches that really bring it all together.

“If you’re so great how did you lose that swimming race” “I was distracted killing nine sea dragons with a knife and lost by a hair”

I just keep hearing 'the yeets'... "Beowolf and the Yeets", "So the Yeets..." etc etc... It's very entertaining

Your comedic timing and punchlines are GOLD. Had me giggling at work all day

First time I heard of this channel was grade 8. This video specifically I laughed hard at 8:12 for some reason with my friends I am now back. In grade 11 learning about intermolecular forces and a picture of a carbon nanotube was on the sheet and before ANY theory came to my head (quite little since this is holiday topic prep homework) I just thought... Beowulf... *Carbon Goddamn Nanotubes* And that kids is how you know when something sticks with you Visited: - 2018 - 2021 (Will edit if I ever come back)

“My god this is Skyrim” DEAD 😂

So old writers are like anime writers.

I am in a British Literature course right now reading this epic and I have to say this video made it SO much easier to understand. ALSO this was so fun to watch, the graphics were hilarious, your narrative style is so funny and engaging. LOVED this video

I didn't think I could love this video more than the Grinch reference... until 6:30 with the magikarp reference "I believe the beast is weakening!" after melee-ing it's leg. You're brilliant. 🍺

Beowulf: King of the Yeets

Beowulf: "I too am extraordinarily humble"

So I had a test today on Beowulf, not that hard but I still forget small things. Anyways, I decided to listen to this right before the test and passed! I got a perfect 100 and I am ecstatic! Thank you for making wonderful content

Fun fact: Damascus steel blacksmithing is not a lost art. It's very difficult and tedious to do, but skilled blacksmiths still make blades out of damascus steel. It's basically just layering two dissimilar types of steel, usually a difference of carbon content, and forging them together.

The translation I read of Beowulf mentioned that the lake he swam through to get to Grendel's Mother was literally boiling and that Grendel's Mother's blood was so hot that it melted the giant forged sword the moment Beowulf cut into her with it. You know, in case Beowulf wasn't metal enough.

I like how the runes on the sword hilt actually say something and aren't just random gibberish

Red: "Beowulf inspired all the coolest parts of J. R. R. Tolkien and Skyrim" Me who is a huge fan of both J. R. R. Tolkien and Skyrim: Oh my wow me! This story must me awesome!

4:43 , that scene is pure gold and I love it

Legend says that beowulf beat Grendel with a folding chair

Love how you had Grendel's mom from the book just stomp on the Angelina Jolie version from the movie

Indeed. It was pretty nice that you mentioned that Beowulf inspired both, The Hobbit and Skyrim.

5:40 love the movie reference (As up until this point in the movie it was faithful to the book)

"Couldn't bear to watch Beowulf be mildly inconvenienced..."

7:24 "By God this IS Skyrim!" Wait, I havent been watching a Quest guide all along?!?

My favorite part of old English is that King of the hills "Hwat?!" Is literally correct in that What in old English is spelled Hwat.

fun fact, there are two types of Damascus steel, one of which is forgeable, but the variant that Red is talking about is the Woots steel, which has been lost to history, but there is a modern, forged varient

“Some dragon probably called dibs on the barrow” *probably* *goes to Denmark with a dragon costume and a pickaxe

Grendel’s mother probably kept the sword with her because she wanted to keep an eye on it and because she didn’t want it to fall into the hands of her enemies. And it’s not like she had any way of anticipating Beowulf suddenly coming to her house and using it to kill her, so we can’t really blame her there.

This confirms to me that Bob Zemkis and his team working on the Cgi movie that condensed the tale down made alot of good calls, love that movie! Awesome channel ! :)

2:35 "Ghoullies, ghosties, and long-leggedy beasties" are my spirit animals

The quests. The houses. The nords. The constant breaking of weapons. This is like Skyrim and Breath of the Wild had a child.

"I heard a dragon had been spotted near Old King Beowulf's Barrow." *Thump thump* 'Quest Objective. Visit King Beowulf's Tomb'

7:30 all craftdwarfship is of the highest quality

5:03 And that, ladies and gentlemen is the basis behind Skullgirls' Beowulf. Especially for his Gigantic Arm super.

And it starts with "hwaet" which could be translated as "yo listen up". That's what my english teacher said.

While I typically love OSP there's a massive sticking point in this video, specifically regarding Damascus Steel. Mechanically Damascus steel has been totally reverse engineered, you can buy Damascus steel kitchen utensils fairly cheaply. The parts we don't know are more or less nitpicking, we don't know what exactly they used as an acid to reveal the pattern ect. Carbon Nanotubes are a naturally occurring and fairly common molecule, the modern nanotechnology is making them longer than a few atoms, which ancient Damascus steel weapons don't do. Basically they fell into the trap that come from taking overhyped sources at face value due to knowledge gaps.

5:15 That TFS reference though Pure gold 😂😂😂

This is easily my favorite of your videos. Makes me laugh every time. Beowulf was such a badass character. Plus we have to thank this book for all the references that our favorite fantasy franchises have utilized.

"i get your hopes up by telling you this story is gonna be short" Red, i think you misunderstand your fanbase. I could literally listen to you talk for hours XD

When I was a kid, my mum told me stories like Beowulf's as bedtime stories. In the version she told, Beowulf asked Wiglaf to dig him a grave, put his body in it, then fill it with the gold from the dragon's treasury. Not sure which would make more sense. It is Beowulf, after all

Wow, that was OUTSTANDING! My first OSP video, and I am very impressed. Very clever humor, terrific visuals. Kudos.

Thank you so much for this video!! I had to read this for my English class and, while I did make it through the full text, I found it rather difficult to read and comprehend at some points. This summarization really helped me understand the bits that I missed. This is a great video, thank you so much!!

Old English Story Is Also Skyrim *Plays How to Train Your Dragon Music*

8:13 “Carbon goddamn nanotubes” -best quotes of 2019

This is beautiful. Bless you for making this video.

I like how in 5:39 it initially shows the animated version of Beowulf's mother before the more accurate depiction of her stomps it as she enters screen.

Nords were probably the most metal people of all time, i mean cmon they had Ragnarok, f**king Ragnarok

Minor fact, it's widely known in Scandinavian folklore, no doubt inspired by this very story, that trolls could not be slain by any weapon forged by man and the only blades that could penetrate their hides were those forged by the trolls themselves. This is why a common theme in Scandinavian folklore is for the hero to outwit the trolls to use the weapons on themselves. Obviously Grendel's mother was a bit too clever for that to work. As for why Grendel's mother would keep weapons that could be used to kill her, I'm going to guess for the same reason humans keep weapons that can kill other humans, yet have the unfortunate side effect of being very efficient at killing us should another human get their hands on it. In case another of Grendel's mother's kind stopped by and decided her treasure trove would look so much better in their cave.

This was the best video I have ever seen! thank you

I actually read this book in high school, there was even an assignment where we each wrote a eulogy for Beowulf, it was fun

HOW ARE YOU NOT SWARMED WITH MILLIONS OF SUBSCRIBERS

Ahh! I heard that! I HEARD THE HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON MUSIC YOU CANT SNEAK THAT PAST ME

This is one of my favorite videos ever. I love you OSP

💚 made this classic enjoyable 💚 wanted analysis of Beowulf, now subscribed and binging your content.

6:55 she probably kept that sword around so some lucky idiot couldn't find it show up and use it to kill her. I mean in most cases whoever enters her cave probably would be dead long before they even got near the sword

You forgot the part where Beowulf hit Grendel with his folding chair and the crowd going wild as he pinned him down in the no holds bared exhibition match.

Bruh you for real made a whole grinch rhyme and Seuss-themed art for just one frame of this. Mad respect, I’ve been reading Beowulf in an English class recently. We’re almost done so I figured I’d watch this for the fun of it and man is the fun part true. This is awesome, that’s a like and a subscribe from me.

I really liked the grinch reference at 3:09-3:13, along with the drawing accompanying it. Made me chuckle!