... time Beowulf is an old man. He decides that he! must avenge his people and fight the dragon. Although Beowulf is fatally wounded himself, he still manages to deliver the final blow that kills the dragon. Grendel is also seen as a superhuman monster. Grendel has no knowledge of weapons, so he ... , too, depends on his extraordinary strength to destroy his enemies. The dragon is also seen as a super-powerful adversary. As in most pagan stories, the dragon is a much-used enemy of the hero of the story. The dragon in Beowulf spits fire with such intense heat that it melts Beowulf's shield ......

• Word Count: 1145
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... than a day (Burlin 120). Finally, Beowulf kills Grendel's mother, and her blood melts his sword (Bloom 16). Thus far, Beowulf has killed two man-like monsters. Beowulf's last battle with a dragon is the final substantial fantastic element in this epic poem. W.P. Ker, a nineteenth-century critic, asserts the dragons are commonly fit for fables and contain more of a fantastic nature than Grendel ... and kindred significance. Triumph over the lesser and more nearly human is cancelled by defeat before the older and more elemental" (Nicholson 86). When Beowulf has failed to kill the dragon, ...

• Word Count: 1070
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... a hidden passage unknown to men, but someone managed to enter by it and interfere"(80, line 2213-2215). The man steals a large decorated cup from the cave, thereby awakening the dragon. The dragon takes his revenge by killing people in Beowulf's kingdom. "His own home burned to a cinder, the throne-room of the Geats"(82, line 2325-2327). Thus, the king must ... defend the people of Heorot again. In the end, Beowulf loses his life but only after the dragon is slain. "Beowulf discovered deadly poison suppurating inside him, surges of nausea-(90,line 2713-2715). This final combat proves to...

• Word Count: 924
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... he achieves many things throughout his life. His courage is exhibited when he is so willingly ready to fight any creature that puts harm on other people including a fire-breathing dragon. Beowulf proves his sense of duty by traveling to Geatland to help rid his people of a threatening monster. Throughout the story Beowulf defeats three monsters: Grendel, Grendel's mother, and a fire ... -breathing dragon. Grendel is portrayed as the kin of the biblical Cain and, thus, was banished along with the rave of monsters which came from Cain. Grendel's mother is a much deeper evil ... . She seeks...

• Word Count: 1162
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... . Beowulf gives up his weapons to fate and God to decide if he shall be the victor over Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon. Some might say that he is not upholding his standard when he fights the dragon, but he explains that "I"d use no sword, no weapon, if this beast / could be killed without it When he comes to me / I mean ... of us wins" (42). In the end his goal for upholding the heroic code proves to be the end as his last battle with the dragon fatally wounds him, but not before he and Wiglaf slay the dragon. Another point, showing loyalty to his people and the people that h...

• Word Count: 613
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... his foes. Ultimately, Beowulf's main strength is his physical stature, but his discerning actions complement him as he ends up victorious in his battles against Grendel, Grendel Dam, and the dragon. A large portion of the poem is centered on a monster named Grendel, who terrorizes the great Danish mead hall of Herot. After Grendel had feasted on the Danes for twelve long ... , the reader truly gets to see the competitive fire in his heart. Even as an elderly man, Beowulf risks his life for his people, by going against a fierce fire-breathing dragon. However, Beowulf knows this dragon is ...

• Word Count: 795
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... revenge for the death of her son. Beowulf finally defeats Grendel's mother. In the third battle Beowulf has to fight a dragon that has wreaked havoc on the Geats society due to a servant that had stolen a golden goblet from his home. The dragon was defeated with the help of a young kinsman, Wiglaf, but not before biting Beowulf in the neck and eventually destroying ... wanted for killing Grendel, which was treasure but that in fact he gave all his treasure to the soldiers that did not even come to help him when fighting the dragon. This shows that he was not greedy in taking all the tre...

• Word Count: 1101
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... revenge for the death of her son. Beowulf finally defeats Grendel's mother. In the third battle Beowulf has to fight a dragon that has wreaked havoc on the Geats society due to a servant that had stolen a golden goblet from his home. The dragon was defeated with the help of a young kinsman, Wiglaf, but not before biting Beowulf in the neck and eventually destroying ... wanted for killing Grendel, which was treasure but that in fact he gave all his treasure to the soldiers that did not even come to help him when fighting the dragon. This shows that he was not greedy in taking all the tre...

• Word Count: 1101
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... , it is Beowulf's society that is corrupted by one person. This time it was the Geats society, which was condemned by a fellow Geat who awakened the dragon by stealing a "gem-studded goblet" (80). The dragon woke up and immediately started to cause immense disorder and chaos in the Geats" civilization. Once again, to destroy the evil, there has to be someone who ... it was Wiglaf , "A son of Weohstan's, a well-regarded Shylfing warrior related to Aelfhere" (87-88). A Shylfing, another name for a Swede, which was Wiglaf, is the one who helps destroy the dragon. The story goes on to show t...

• Word Count: 1092
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... historical events that occurred between the Danes and it's neighboring countries in the time of Beowulf. In addition, Heaney adds in mythological aspects, such as the creature Grendel and the dragon. Along with mythical creatures, there are many supernatural elements. Beowulf has superhuman strength and has many weird abilities. He is able to hold is breath for a long time, and fight ... larger and stronger then him also displays his supernatural abilities. Beowulf also includes the many battles that are characteristic of an epic. He fights Grendel, Grendel's mother, and then the dragon...

• Word Count: 1128
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... will obtain a well accomplished victory ,and over the course of time will rule for fifty years as king in his homeland. Soon after a dragon will begin to torment the countryside, and Beowulf the glorious warrior will face the dragon. Though he lived by the motto "if weapons were useless, he'd use the strength in his hands "(Raffel 71) and he relied on ... that "except in the life of a hero the whole word is meaningless. The hero sees beyond values that are possible " (Gardner Chapter6). A relationship is also created between Grendel and the dragon to expand the aspect of nihilism, which...

• Word Count: 1139
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... night. "Then when darkness had dropped, Grendel went up to Herot."" (lines 30-31) Similarly, Grendel's mother lives deep under the watery depths, where hardly any light reaches. Finally, the dragon lives in a tower under rocky cliffs. The light and dark contrasts of the setting further support the overall theme of good versus evil. Contrast is also used to develop the ... determined to slay the beast that threatens his kingdom. However, now that he is a wiser, but older man, he chooses to use a sword and shield in his battle against the dragon. When his sword and shield fail him, the ol...

• Word Count: 711
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... to be the biggest and best warrior to ever live. As Beowulf lies dying from injuries following a fight against a fire-breathing dragon, he explains to Wiglaf how he wants his funeral to be carried out. During Beowulf's fight with the dragon, Wiglaf is the only one who remains true to his part of the comitatus, the sacred relationship between a king and his ... / on the site of his pyre"(3096b-3097a). Before Beowulf dies he gives Wiglaf his helmet and armor, to honor Wiglaf for the courage he displayed in the fighting the dragon. Beowulf's people honor him with his funeral. According to B...

• Word Count: 1146
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... disaster like strength, determination, and courage. The epic poem describes the roots of a Scandinavian culture hero, in this case Beowulf, in destroying the monster Grendel, Grendel's mother, and a fire breathing dragon. In this order Beowulf is shown not only as a glorious hero but also as a savior of the people. "They said that of all the kings upon the earth he was ... gracious and fair-minded, kindest to his people and keenest to win fame" (lines 3180-3183). The only thing that bothered me was when they were about to fight the dragon Beowulf was left alone, he shouldn't be alone, h...

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... Beowulf's life imply that the battle against evil is unending. Symbolically the three battles are fought with evil: one with Grendel, one with Grendel's mother, and the third with the dragon. Grendel is decidedly evil because he "was spawned in that slime, conceived by a pair of those monsters born of Cain, murderous creatures banished by God," (20-23). Thus his mother ... is also of the same origin. The dragon as well is a great evil, whose breath "[was] burning hot, poison [poured] from his tongue," (672-673). The three battles are fought at different times of Beowulf's life, to symbo...

• Word Count: 719
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... , but fears nothing. After Beowulf serves his people as King of the Geats for fifty years, he goes to battle one last time to fight a horrible dragon. Although Beowulf is old and tired, he defeats the dragon in order to protect his people. Even in death, he wishes to secure the safety of the Geats, building a lighthouse to help the people find ... ...

• Word Count: 473
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... lives of many others and his kingdom were more important than his own. He proved this gesture by giving his life to defeat the dragon that was threatening his kingdom. He knew before his encounter with the dragon that he would ultimately lose his life in the battle. Nevertheless, he accepted the circumstances and faced his own death with dignity that shines ... ...

• Word Count: 436
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... on there feet and horses to get them around. Beowulf had to overcome Grendel's killing of Hrothgar's men by fending Grendel with his brute strength but dies by a fire breathing dragon. Spiderman on the other hand defeats his enemy by killing him with some sort of weapon. And he does it to save New York. Beowulf was an old epic poem ... ...

• Word Count: 345
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

... poet also mentions Grendel being the guardian of sins. The existence of Satan is also implied several times when it says, " pressing the Foe (L. 1189)." The other evil character, the dragon, is seen as a symbol of the power of Satan. In his battle with Beowulf, there is the need of a Savior. Beowulf then sacrifices his life for the people of his ... ...

• Word Count: 672
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... his bare hands. Already a proclaimed hero, Beowulf is showered with honor and respect. However, this feat was not his most honorable. Later in the poem, Beowulf and a fellow companion slay a dragon that has been attacking his hometown. Sadly, Beowulf dies after being fatally wounded. Even while dying, Beowulf thinks of only his people; he served them honorably. Unlike "Beowulf," which is ... ...

• Word Count: 936
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... way to get fame was through heroism, or sacrificing one's like for the greater good of the people. If that meant going off and fighting a creature of half wolf, half dragon, and half human it was done. In "Beowulf", Beowulf showed tremendous heroism by going to fight Grendel. In Grendel poor Unferth tried to gain fame through executing Grendel, but only ... ...

• Word Count: 768
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... during these pre-medieval times. In our time courage is often seen as foolish or ostentatious, while during Beowulf's time it was seen as admirable and praiseworthy. Slaying the great dragon was not only Beowulf's last act of courage, but also Wiglaf's first. Beowulf eventually died from a wound suffered in this battle and had a tower constructed in his memory. Many other ... ...

• Word Count: 601
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... king, he seems to lean towards a Christian credo, as when he thanks the "everlasting Lord of all/ to the King of Glory" (2794-2795) for letting him view the slain Dragon's treasure before he dies. Nevertheless, the aged Beowulf reverts to a pre-Christian mindset when he proclaims "what occurs on the wall/ between the two of us will turn out as ... ...

• Word Count: 913
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School