answers.input_text: short
answers.span_text: 700 -- 1000 AD
questions: when was beowulf most likely composed when did it's events probably take place
name: Beowulf
contexts: Beowulf First page of Beowulf in Cotton Vitellius A. xv Author ( s ) Unknown Language West Saxon dialect of Old English Date c. 700 -- 1000 AD ( date of poem ) , c. 975 -- 1010 AD ( date of manuscript ) State of existence Manuscript suffered damage from fire in 1731 Manuscript ( s ) Cotton Vitellius A. xv First printed edition Thorkelin ( 1815 ) Genre Epic heroic poetry Verse form Alliterative verse Length c. 3182 lines Subject The battles of Beowulf , the Geatish hero , in youth and old age Personages Beowulf , Hygelac , Hrothgar , Wealhþeow , Hrothulf , Æschere , Unferth , Grendel , Grendel 's mother , Wiglaf , Hildeburh .