Beowulf boasts in instances when his qualities are questioned. His boasting is him making a promise to the people, not him bragging about what he’s done. Beowulf’s boasting makes his ego seem quite arrogant and proud yet his boasting allows the reader to understand Beowulf. When Beowulf accepts the challenge to fight Grendel he boasts himself to show the Geats that he could fight Grendel. “Through, my own hands, the fury of battle had finished off the sea-beast.” (Heaney 125) Beowulf is explaining how he himself killed the beast, without any help. To the reader, it seems as if Beowulf is reassuring to the Geats he can take care of the Grendel himself. When Grendel’s mother comes into play, Beowulf says, “I guarantee you: she will not get away”
