The path to glory is an age-old quest that always seems to always repeat itself. Though at times this path is dangerous and comes with a hefty price, the outcome is always well worth it. The ongoing challenges and obstacles the hero goes through will define him as him as a person as he continues his quest. In the epic of Beowulf a great warrior, with a reputation to dominate anything that is in his way, decides to help the King Hrothgar with his problem. While doing the King’s favor he encounters several worthy foes that could kill any lesser man. These adversaries include a man-devouring demon, a vindictive mother, and a ferocious dragon. An array of horrid beasts cross Beowulf’s past on his road to glory, overcoming them will prove a great
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The next day the horrified king tells Beowulf about the appalling event that took place the night before, and urges him to destroy that she-wolf once and for all. Beowulf accepts his request and ventures to the lake where Grendel’s mother is known to coincide. Beowulf dove deep into the water and swam to the bottom until he reached her home. At once she spotted him and subdued Beowulf with her claws, dragging him to a battle hall for a proper fight. Beowulf unsheathed his sword and struck the demon with all he had, but to no avail. The sword could not pierce her; no human-made blade was strong enough to impale her tough skin. So he had to resort to the fingers that brought him fame, the same ones he used to kill Grendel. He grabbed her by the shoulder and threw her against the ground. He was ready to leap onto her, but at once she sprung up and clawed at him until she had him down and held him helplessly. The speaker describes what the she-wolf did next, “… She drew a dagger, brown with dried blood, and prepared to avenge her only son. But he was stretched on his back, and her stabbing blade was blunted by the woven mail shirt he wore on his chest.” The mail shirt he wore was the only thing keeping him alive, and with his luck he was unharmed and able to fight once again. On the wall he spotted, hanging on the wall, a sword.
The next day the horrified king tells Beowulf about the appalling event that took place the night before, and urges him to destroy that she-wolf once and for all. Beowulf accepts his request and ventures to the lake where Grendel’s mother is known to coincide. Beowulf dove deep into the water and swam to the bottom until he reached her home. At once she spotted him and subdued Beowulf with her claws, dragging him to a battle hall for a proper fight. Beowulf unsheathed his sword and struck the demon with all he had, but to no avail. The sword could not pierce her; no human-made blade was strong enough to impale her tough skin. So he had to resort to the fingers that brought him fame, the same ones he used to kill Grendel. He grabbed her by the shoulder and threw her against the ground. He was ready to leap onto her, but at once she sprung up and clawed at him until she had him down and held him helplessly. The speaker describes what the she-wolf did next, “… She drew a dagger, brown with dried blood, and prepared to avenge her only son. But he was stretched on his back, and her stabbing blade was blunted by the woven mail shirt he wore on his chest.” The mail shirt he wore was the only thing keeping him alive, and with his luck he was unharmed and able to fight once again. On the wall he spotted, hanging on the wall, a sword.