The author of Beowulf is unknown. The poem was written by an anonymous Anglo-Saxon poet, often referred to by scholars as the "Beowulf poet"
. It is believed to have been composed sometime between the 8th and early 11th century, with many scholars favoring an 8th-century date shortly after England's conversion to Christianity
. Beowulf likely originated from oral tradition before being transcribed, and some scholars argue it was the work of a single author, while others think it may have evolved from multiple contributors
. The poem was written in Old English and preserved in a single manuscript dating from around 1000 AD
. In summary, Beowulf was written by an anonymous Anglo-Saxon poet, known as the Beowulf poet, probably in the 8th century, but the exact identity of the author remains unknown