The Beginning of an End Beowulf’s, the ancient Anglo-Saxon poem of a heroic warrior-turned-king, nature lies in the equilibrium of beginnings and endings, the greatest, mightiest warriors and kings, who once achieved all life’s glory, fall, non-immune to the fate that eventually takes every being. The poem traces the conquests of Beowulf, while intertwining stories of ancient kings and their people, with a consistent balance of the rise and fall. In the beginning, Shild, “an abandoned child,” builds himself out of nothing and “change[s] his own fate,” where he “[l]ive[s] to be rich and much honored,” as the king of the Danes. (Beowulf 7/8). Rising from an orphan to a self-made man, Shild would change his life to become a noble, beloved king.
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Beowulf, “greater / [a]nd stronger than anyone anywhere in the world,…ripped and tore…around [Grendel’s] claw,” tearing it off with only his two hands, leaving him for dead (195, 963). The mighty prince of the Geats bravely battles the savage beast alone, ripping off his arm using only his hands for strength, delivering death to the descendent of Cain. The prince’s victorious battle earned him a “glory…to great to forget…[reaching] to the ends of the earth” (1221, 1704). Beowulf, victor of countless battles, rose to achieve an everlasting glory after defeating the monstrous demon. Beowulf left Hrothgar after his battle, knowing that “age [would steal] his strength…as it steals from many men,” and “that perfect king” would soon die. The young hero left the old king, knowing his noble days were numbered, and soon he shall fall as all do in the end. Returning to Geatland, Beowulf eventually ruled as a glorious and wise ring-giver. Although the strongest king, as a boy he was scorned; / The Geats considered him worthless…[h]e held no claim on the king’s good will” but “[t]he world spun round, he was a warrior more famous” ( 2183/2184, 2186, 2188). Before rising through his victories to a noble king, Beowulf’s fate indicated no glory or victory, but would achieve greatness up until his final breath. After reigning victoriously for fifty winters, Geatland became terrorized by a
Beowulf, “greater / [a]nd stronger than anyone anywhere in the world,…ripped and tore…around [Grendel’s] claw,” tearing it off with only his two hands, leaving him for dead (195, 963). The mighty prince of the Geats bravely battles the savage beast alone, ripping off his arm using only his hands for strength, delivering death to the descendent of Cain. The prince’s victorious battle earned him a “glory…to great to forget…[reaching] to the ends of the earth” (1221, 1704). Beowulf, victor of countless battles, rose to achieve an everlasting glory after defeating the monstrous demon. Beowulf left Hrothgar after his battle, knowing that “age [would steal] his strength…as it steals from many men,” and “that perfect king” would soon die. The young hero left the old king, knowing his noble days were numbered, and soon he shall fall as all do in the end. Returning to Geatland, Beowulf eventually ruled as a glorious and wise ring-giver. Although the strongest king, as a boy he was scorned; / The Geats considered him worthless…[h]e held no claim on the king’s good will” but “[t]he world spun round, he was a warrior more famous” ( 2183/2184, 2186, 2188). Before rising through his victories to a noble king, Beowulf’s fate indicated no glory or victory, but would achieve greatness up until his final breath. After reigning victoriously for fifty winters, Geatland became terrorized by a