The plot of the earliest epic, "Beowulf" was set in_____

Beowulf:
- It is considered as the first epic in English literature.
- Beowulf takes place in early 6th-century Scandinavia, primarily in what is known today as Denmark and Sweden.
- This poem chronicles the hero’s exploits, notably his slaying of the monster Grendel – actually only the first of three monsters Beowulf has to vanquish.
- It is also considered the highest achievement of Old English literature.
- It is called earliest European vernacular epic.
- It deals with events of the early 6th century CE and is believed to have been composed between 700 and 750.
- So Beowulf is the first English long poem as well.
- The author of Beowulf is unknown. It is possible that the poem was composed by and transmitted between several different poets before it was preserved in a single manuscript that dates to about 1000.

Short Summary:
- Beowulf is the protagonist of the epic Beowulf.
- He is a Geatish hero who fights the monster Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and a fire-breathing dragon.
- Beowulf’s boasts and encounters reveal him to be the strongest, ablest warrior around.
- In his youth, he personifies all of the best values of the heroic culture. In his old age, he proves a wise and effective ruler.

Source: Britannica and British Library