Comparing Beowulf's Acts Of Heroism

The purpose of this paper is to compare Beowulf's acts of heroism in Beowulf and Grendel's acts of violence in Grendel in order to show their roles in society. The topic and seeing it this way helps in understanding heroism in the two works. Beowulf performs multiple acts of heroism throughout the poem, defeating Grendel, The Dragon and Grendel's mother. The motion that triggered the final battle between Beowulf and Grendel was when the monster reached out for Beowulf, who was ready for him. Beowulf seized Grendel's vicious claw and holds on to it “with a grip like that of 30 men.” After some struggle Beowulf rips the beast's arm from its socket, Grendel is in such agony that he finally rips from Beowulf's grasp and runs away, leaving a bloody trail and his arm behind. …show more content…
He goes in and begins fighting the dragon, and his armor isn't as helpful as he would have liked. He stabs the dragon, but his sword doesn't go deep enough. He tries to behead the dragon and his sword fails and breaks against it. At this point, all the thanes have fled, but one, Wiglaf, is "trusty and true" and feels guilty, so he returns to aid Beowulf, whose throat was bitten by the venomous dragon after his sword fails. Wiglaf stabs the dragon somewhere below its neck, and this weakens it and reduces the amount of fire the dragon is blowing out, and the dying Beowulf pulls out the dagger he wears on his person and finishes the dragon off. Wiglaf, at Beowulf's request, shows Beowulf his spoils (the dragon's treasure), and Beowulf leaves Wiglaf his treasure and then dies, and one can assume that Wiglaf becomes king of the