In Beowulf’s ceremonious war declarations against Grendel, he tells his people that in the case of his death over Grendel’s, there is “no need then to lament for long or layout [his] body” (450. Beowulf does not seem to care about his own mortality and focuses on elongating the mortality of the Geats and the Danes. In a speech at the mead hall, addressing Wealtheow, Beowulf proclaims that he “meant to perform to the uttermost what your people wanted or perish in the attempt [...] or meet my death here in the mead-hall” (634). In preparation of battle, Beowulf fearlessly looks ahead to all the possible outcomes of the upcoming battle and graciously accepts his
In Beowulf’s ceremonious war declarations against Grendel, he tells his people that in the case of his death over Grendel’s, there is “no need then to lament for long or layout [his] body” (450. Beowulf does not seem to care about his own mortality and focuses on elongating the mortality of the Geats and the Danes. In a speech at the mead hall, addressing Wealtheow, Beowulf proclaims that he “meant to perform to the uttermost what your people wanted or perish in the attempt [...] or meet my death here in the mead-hall” (634). In preparation of battle, Beowulf fearlessly looks ahead to all the possible outcomes of the upcoming battle and graciously accepts his