Beowulf is the story of a great hero who saves the Danish kingdom from the wrath of Grendel and his mother, and dies at the hands of a dragon. Beowulf is seen as a typical hero who selflessly saves the day, but Beowulf could have been suffering from an internal ordeal with his pride. Beowulf can be seen as a story of external and internal ordeals, such as cowardice, pride, and other natural human tendencies. Beowulf is first introduced as the great warrior who is going to eradicate the Danish kingdom of their problem. A gargantuan monster has been terrorizing the kingdom for years, so the King enlisted the help of Beowulf. Beowulf is renowned for his strength, as stated “Well-born stalwart, and the strongest of living men, this man was a hero among the Geats.” (Beowulf 31). Beowulf is most noted for his strength, but not for his pride.
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Unfertha tells Beowulf that he heard that Beowulf lost in the competition, as Beowulf replies, “When Breca and I were young we made a bargain – that we would chance our lives out at sea… Breca could not swim far from me because I was faster than he in the water; and I had no intention of leaving him.” (Beowulf 39). Beowulf is shown to be prideful as he boasts of killing nine sea monsters in his competition after mercifully staying with Breca. Beowulf refuses for his name to be tarnished due to his pride, defending his name in any way
Unfertha tells Beowulf that he heard that Beowulf lost in the competition, as Beowulf replies, “When Breca and I were young we made a bargain – that we would chance our lives out at sea… Breca could not swim far from me because I was faster than he in the water; and I had no intention of leaving him.” (Beowulf 39). Beowulf is shown to be prideful as he boasts of killing nine sea monsters in his competition after mercifully staying with Breca. Beowulf refuses for his name to be tarnished due to his pride, defending his name in any way