<P> The poem deals with legends, was composed for entertainment, and does not separate between fictional elements and real historic events, such as the raid by King Hygelac into Frisia . Though Beowulf himself is not mentioned in any other Anglo - Saxon manuscript, scholars generally agree that many of the other personalities of Beowulf also appear in Scandinavian sources . (Specific works are designated in the following section). This does not only concern people (e.g., Healfdene, Hroðgar, Halga, Hroðulf, Eadgils and Ohthere), but also clans (e.g., Scyldings, Scylfings and Wulfings) and some of the events (e.g., the Battle on the Ice of Lake Vänern). The dating of the events in the poem has been confirmed by archaeological excavations of the barrows indicated by Snorri Sturluson and by Swedish tradition as the graves of Ohthere (dated to c. 530) and his son Eadgils (dated to c. 575) in Uppland, Sweden . </P> <P> In Denmark, recent archaeological excavations at Lejre, where Scandinavian tradition located the seat of the Scyldings, i.e., Heorot, have revealed that a hall was built in the mid-6th century, exactly the time period of Beowulf . Three halls, each about 50 metres (160 ft) long, were found during the excavation . </P> <P> The majority view appears to be that people such as King Hroðgar and the Scyldings in Beowulf are based on real historical people from 6th - century Scandinavia . Like the Finnesburg Fragment and several shorter surviving poems, Beowulf has consequently been used as a source of information about Scandinavian personalities such as Eadgils and Hygelac, and about continental Germanic personalities such as Offa, king of the continental Angles . </P> <P> 19th - century archeological evidence may confirm elements of the Beowulf story . Eadgils was buried at Uppsala according to Snorri Sturluson . When Eadgils' mound (to the left in the photo) was excavated in 1874, the finds supported Beowulf and the sagas . They showed that a powerful man was buried in a large barrow, c. 575, on a bear skin with two dogs and rich grave offerings . These remains include a Frankish sword adorned with gold and garnets and a tafl game with Roman pawns of ivory . He was dressed in a costly suit made of Frankish cloth with golden threads, and he wore a belt with a costly buckle . There were four cameos from the Middle East which were probably part of a casket . This would have been a burial fitting a king who was famous for his wealth in Old Norse sources . Ongentheow's barrow has not been excavated . </P>

When was the beowulf manuscript written when does it take place