Beowulf is an Old English EPIC poem, notably one of the earliest surviving works of literature in the English language. It tells the story of a hero, Beowulf, who slays monsters such as Grendel and his mother, as well as a dragon. The poem is an example of an EPIC, which is a long narrative poem that celebrates the deeds of a legendary or historical hero. It is also an epos, which is a type of oral poetry that is composed in a formal style. Beowulf is set in Scandinavia and includes references to MEAD, a type of alcoholic beverage made from fermented honey, and SAGAS, which are stories about heroic deeds. The poem also mentions CAIN, the first murderer in the Bible.