Near the end of his life as a king, Beowulf found that his citizens were being terrorized by a dragon. Although he was old and grizzled, the king took it on in battle. He showed tremendous courage even when knowing the odds were not in his favor. Previously, during his time in Denmark, Beowulf killed Grendel’s mother with the sword made for a giant. This showed his superhuman strength because as an ordinary human being Beowulf was able to handle and control the giant’s sword.
After Beowulf got back from the Danes from killing Grendel’s mom, he became the king of the Geats. “Defending the folk against many a tribe with a spear point and word in the surges of battle till not one was hostile “neath heaven’s expanse.” Beowulf put ever dedication into his people and put them first before anything else. Many years passed and Beowulf began to grow old yet his fighting spirit never aged. He was easily one of the most kindest and generous kings the land of the Geats had ever seen. One day a man came to Beowulf’s throne to show him that he had found a golden goblet from a hidden hoard guarded by a dragon.
When Beowulf is fighting the dragon: “The captain of evil discovered himself/ in a handgrip harder than anything/he had ever encountered in any man/on the face of the earth” (Heaney 749-751). With the fight with Grendel’s mother it is described like: “warming to this fight/with Grendel’s mother, gripped her shoulder/and laid about him in a battle frenzy” (Heaney 1537-1539). The fight with the dragon is described as: “the king of Geats/raised his hand and struck hard/at the enameled scales, but scarcely cut through” (Heaney 2575-2577). The approach is when the Geats throw a big feast for Beowulf for defeating Grendel in his honor. But they cannot get too comfortable because they learn there is a new enemy which is the mother.
The Dragon had soon burn down Beowulf’s throne-hall to the ground and Beowulf began to plot his revenge. Beowulf had ask his iron smith to make him a mighty shield one that he hopes will stand up against the breath of flame. Beowulf could of use and army to help him kill the dragon but "He is too proud to assemble a huge army for the fight, and, remembering how he defeated Grendel single-handedly in his youth, feels no fear of the dragon." This was Beowulf pride taking control over him even though he is now and
Other times he boasts about his accomplishment or his challenging adventures that he has accomplished, ““They have seen my strength for themselves, Have watched me rise from the darkness of war, Dripping with my enemies blood. I drove five great giants into chains, chased all of that race from the earth. I swam in the blackness of night, hunting monsters out of the ocean, and killing them one by one; death was my errand and the fate they had earned.” (246-254). This is an attribute that really shows how Beowulf s so powerful and determined. Beowulf, being the first and the greatest hero of them all, he definitely sets high standards for a superhero demonstrating his super strength, his bravery and selflessness, and last but not least his boasting.
For Beowulf, the news of Grendel is hard to ignore, so he comes to Heorot to kill Grendel. Foster, an expert on all things literature says, “... Someone tells our protagonist, our hero, who need not look very heroic, to go somewhere and do something” (Foster 3). As soon as Beowulf hears about the thirty men that Grendel killed and the abandoned mead hall, he makes it his mission to kill the evil monster. This fight between Beowulf and Grendel is a hand to hand battle, showing the pure,brute strength of Beowulf.
Even though Beowulf was not his young self anymore, he did not lose his bravery. Beowulf said, “I have never known fear, as a youth, I fought in endless battles. I am old, now, but I will fight again, seek fame still, if the dragon hiding in his tower dares to face me” (623-629). This quote shows that Beowulf is very brave and will never give up a fight. Only wearing his armor and carrying his great sword Naegling, he calls the dragon for a challenge of battle.
There is a dragon that plagues his people because of stolen treasure, now Beowulf has to defend his people. He goes to the dragon and begins to fight, the dragon starts to overcome Beowulf’s strength, but with the help of Wiglaf, Beowulf defeats the monster, in the process, Beowulf receives fatal wounds and dies a hero. The character Beowulf has endured for so long because he is such a courageous, kind hearted, and loyal warrior. Beowulf, a courageous and determined hero, defeats many monstrous creatures. Beowulf killed many monsters including, Grendel, Grendel’s mother, the dragon, and all the creatures he encounters with on his way to Grendel’s mother’s
Every battle Beowulf fought, he fought as if it was his last and that is what truly makes him the great warrior he is. It 's easy to flee a battle, but it 's hard to stay knowing death is a definitive factor. Beowulf shows that he is willing to die for his glory and to protect the Danes in every battle he faces. Against Grendel, Grendels mother, and the dragon. During his battle with
Even after his own men abandoned him during battle, Beowulf, aware of his losing battle, continues to fight on as though nothing can possibly stop him: “And for the first time in his life that famous prince fought with fate against him, with glory denied him. He knew it, but he raised his sword and struck the dragon’s scaly hide” (Close Reader, line