The poem is the story of the Battle of Maldon which pitted the Anglo-Saxon defenders of England and the invading Viking marauders. The story is told from the point of view of the English who are seen as the "good guys". The English Lord Byrhtnoth is their leader and he is also courageous. He hears of the invasion and raises his troops to meet the Vikings at the shore.
The poem begins with the English dismounting in preparation for Battle. A Viking messenger offers him peace if he will consent to pay tribute but this angers him and vows to fight the heathen invaders in defense of the lands of his King, Ethelred. However he allows the invaders to enter the mainland which is a bad tactical decision; they have landed in England on a small island and it would have been much more effective to fight them penned onto the island and to defend the causeway between the island and the mainland.
Byrhtnoth dies valiantly defending his country and his King, urging his soldiers forward. Another soldier is less heroic; Godric, son of Odda, steals Byrhtnoth's horse and deserts the battlefield with his brothers. The sight of the horse fleeing in the distance has a demoralizing effect on the soldiers. They are in danger of defeat. However they are still determined, more so than ever, redoubling their effort and commitment to the battle. They are slaughtered by these "unpersonified sea wanderers" and as the poem ends Godric, son of Ethelgar, advances into the body of the Vikings and is killed.
