After Grendel’s attack, Beowulf wanted to help defend Heorot from the monster. After the attack by Grendel’s mother, Beowulf decided to counter the attack in order to seek revenge or the death of Hrothgar's friend and adviser, Aeschere, as well as to prevent Grendel's mother from killing any more innocent people in Heorot. After the dragon’s attack, Beowulf wants revenge over the dragon's damage to his kingdom and his throne hall, in addition to protecting his kingdom from additional attacks by the dragon. In all cases, Beowulf responds to the attacks with a desire to protect other people, especially innocent people of the kingdoms. However, in some cases, such as in the attack by Grendel’s mother and the dragon, Beowulf has additional motivations to counteract, such as personal revenge regarding the death of a friend or damage to his property. Beowulf also makes different preparations for battle before each counterattack. Prior to fighting Grendel, Beowulf makes a point to take off all of his armor and use no weapons; he fights Grendel with his bare hands. Then, in preparing to fight Grendel’s mother, Beowulf puts on armor and carries weapons, including Hrunting, a sword loaned to him by Unferth. Finally, in preparation for his battle with the dragon, Beowulf commissions his blacksmith to make him a shield, wears a helmet, and carries a sword. Before each successive fight, Beowulf’s preparations include more and more levels of defense and weapons; he goes from no armor and his bare hands to specially preparing a shield and carrying a sword. Perhaps this shows an increasing internal lack of trust in his strength in his abilities as he ages. Finally, the conclusion of each battle varies. In the battle with Grendel, Beowulf wrestles the monster with his bare hands and is able to rip off his arm, causing a fatal wound; Grendel stumbles back into his swamp cave to die. In the battle with Grendel’s mother, they are evenly matched in strength and Hrunting does no damage to the monster, but Beowulf spots a huge sword made for giants in her cave, and he uses it to slice her neck. She is killed and Beowulf survives. Finally, in the fight with the dragon, Beowulf is initially unable to overpower the dragon and the dragon bites his neck. With Wiglaf's help, Beowulf is
After Grendel’s attack, Beowulf wanted to help defend Heorot from the monster. After the attack by Grendel’s mother, Beowulf decided to counter the attack in order to seek revenge or the death of Hrothgar's friend and adviser, Aeschere, as well as to prevent Grendel's mother from killing any more innocent people in Heorot. After the dragon’s attack, Beowulf wants revenge over the dragon's damage to his kingdom and his throne hall, in addition to protecting his kingdom from additional attacks by the dragon. In all cases, Beowulf responds to the attacks with a desire to protect other people, especially innocent people of the kingdoms. However, in some cases, such as in the attack by Grendel’s mother and the dragon, Beowulf has additional motivations to counteract, such as personal revenge regarding the death of a friend or damage to his property. Beowulf also makes different preparations for battle before each counterattack. Prior to fighting Grendel, Beowulf makes a point to take off all of his armor and use no weapons; he fights Grendel with his bare hands. Then, in preparing to fight Grendel’s mother, Beowulf puts on armor and carries weapons, including Hrunting, a sword loaned to him by Unferth. Finally, in preparation for his battle with the dragon, Beowulf commissions his blacksmith to make him a shield, wears a helmet, and carries a sword. Before each successive fight, Beowulf’s preparations include more and more levels of defense and weapons; he goes from no armor and his bare hands to specially preparing a shield and carrying a sword. Perhaps this shows an increasing internal lack of trust in his strength in his abilities as he ages. Finally, the conclusion of each battle varies. In the battle with Grendel, Beowulf wrestles the monster with his bare hands and is able to rip off his arm, causing a fatal wound; Grendel stumbles back into his swamp cave to die. In the battle with Grendel’s mother, they are evenly matched in strength and Hrunting does no damage to the monster, but Beowulf spots a huge sword made for giants in her cave, and he uses it to slice her neck. She is killed and Beowulf survives. Finally, in the fight with the dragon, Beowulf is initially unable to overpower the dragon and the dragon bites his neck. With Wiglaf's help, Beowulf is