Of all the meticulously written and detailed, albeit drawn out and winding, sections of the epic poem Beowulf, the impact of the final scene, Beowulf’s death, changed my outlook on the story. The reader might expect the story to take a positive turn at the conclusion, with Beowulf slaying the dragon and returning victorious. However, the opposite occurs – the text says, “the treasure [hidden in the dragon’s lair] had been won, bought and paid for by Beowulf’s death. Both had reached the end of the road through the life they had been lent.” The notion that freedom from their oppressors cost them the life of Beowulf harkens back to Isaiah 53:5, which says Jesus “...was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment
