Beowulf's death is arguably the most important scene in this epic poem; however, his development up to that point is paramount. Each of his three battles was a crucial turning points in his life acting as rites of passage leading up to and foreshadowing his untimely demise. In the first battle he gained the people's admiration, in the second battle he gained their confidence, and in the final battle he passed from this world. The differences between these three battles are the effect they have on Beowulf’s growth and development as the increasingly important warrior on whom his people depend; thus creating an underlying theme that determination breeds success.
After Hrothgar's people have suffered under the blood lust of Grendel for 12 long …show more content…
Beowulf fought the dragon using a sword and shield. He brought his fellow Geats with him but ordered them to stay by and watch while he rid their land of the menace. After being scalded several times by the dragon's fiery breath and after breaking his sword in his vain attempts to wound the beast, it became evident that he was unable to defeat the dragon alone. It wasn’t until Wiglaf disobeyed his King’s orders and helped his king defeat the dragon “He [wiglaf] lunged at the enemy lower down…. His decorate sword sank into its belly” (2699-2700). This marked the end of the dragon when “[Beowulf] stuck it [a knife] deep into the dragon’s flank” (2704). This also marked the end of their King, Beowulf. The bounty the slain dragon protected became proof of the dragon’s death and was used in the King’s barrow as proof of his excellence and vallient death.
These battles were all important for different reasons aiding in the development of Beowulf as a primarily similarity between all these battle is Beowulf central role; establishing himself in the midst of all major battles. For the later two battles, the ones after the first, he fought alone; or at least intended to. This is because in the first battle not much was expected from him because no one believed he could do all he claimed he could do as expressed by Unferth when he stated: “you’ll be worsted; no one has ever / outlasted an entire night against Grendel”
After Hrothgar's people have suffered under the blood lust of Grendel for 12 long …show more content…
Beowulf fought the dragon using a sword and shield. He brought his fellow Geats with him but ordered them to stay by and watch while he rid their land of the menace. After being scalded several times by the dragon's fiery breath and after breaking his sword in his vain attempts to wound the beast, it became evident that he was unable to defeat the dragon alone. It wasn’t until Wiglaf disobeyed his King’s orders and helped his king defeat the dragon “He [wiglaf] lunged at the enemy lower down…. His decorate sword sank into its belly” (2699-2700). This marked the end of the dragon when “[Beowulf] stuck it [a knife] deep into the dragon’s flank” (2704). This also marked the end of their King, Beowulf. The bounty the slain dragon protected became proof of the dragon’s death and was used in the King’s barrow as proof of his excellence and vallient death.
These battles were all important for different reasons aiding in the development of Beowulf as a primarily similarity between all these battle is Beowulf central role; establishing himself in the midst of all major battles. For the later two battles, the ones after the first, he fought alone; or at least intended to. This is because in the first battle not much was expected from him because no one believed he could do all he claimed he could do as expressed by Unferth when he stated: “you’ll be worsted; no one has ever / outlasted an entire night against Grendel”