The Evolution of Beowulf Throughout the story of Beowulf the great hero accomplishes three great feats against three terrible monsters. On the surface of each battle readers can see that Beowulf portrays wlenco, however, if we look a little deeper into each conflict we can see positive character development within Beowulf himself. In this poem Beowulf clashes with Grendel, Grendel’s mother and the dragon that ravages his community; within each battle Beowulf has a subtle change in character that eventually leads him to become a great king. Before the author reaches Beowulf’s first conflict he writes Beowulf off as arrogant and bold. “-because all know of my awesome strength. They had seen me boltered in the blood of enemies when I battled
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“Thus Beowulf bore himself with valor; he was formidable in battle yet behaved with honor and took no advantage; never cut down a comrade who was drunk, kept his temper and, warrior that he was, watched and controlled his God-sent strength and his outstanding natural powers” (page 88, line 2177-2183). Beowulf is portrayed as being a great king who took care of and protected his people. A dragon, provoked by one of Beowulf’s slaves, attacks Beowulf’s community and burns it to the ground. Devastated Beowulf wants revenge for his people. At this point in his life Beowulf is in his elder years “he ruled it well for fifty winters, grew old and wise as warden of the land-“ (page 89, line 2208-2210). Just before fighting the dragon Beowulf acknowledges this by saying “now I am old, but as king of the people I shall pursue this for the glory of winning –“ (page 95, line …show more content…
Both Wiglaf and Beowulf defeat the dragon together. In Beowulf’s two previous clashes he dealt the Guthrie 4 deadly blow on his own that killed both Grendel and Grendel’s mother. This battle is different than his first two because he accepts help. Wiglaf is described “lunging at the enemy lower down so that the decorated sword sank into its belly and the flames grew weaker” (page 99, line 2699-2701) then Beowulf “drew a stabbing knife he carried on his belt, sharpened for battle. He stuck it deep in the dragon’s flank” (page 99, line 2703-2704). The dragon soon perishes and so does Beowulf. At the beginning of the poem we met a young arrogant Beowulf who, at the end of the poem, became a great king who perished for his people. Throughout the story of Beowulf we see Beowulf’s character progress within each battle from foolish to more wise. Beowulf goes from fighting Grendel with no armor or weapons to fighting Grendel’s mother with armor and various weapons and finally to the dragon whom he battles with armor, weapons, a shield and even some help from Wiglaf. The triumphs throughout his life progressed Beowulf to the wise king he eventually
“Thus Beowulf bore himself with valor; he was formidable in battle yet behaved with honor and took no advantage; never cut down a comrade who was drunk, kept his temper and, warrior that he was, watched and controlled his God-sent strength and his outstanding natural powers” (page 88, line 2177-2183). Beowulf is portrayed as being a great king who took care of and protected his people. A dragon, provoked by one of Beowulf’s slaves, attacks Beowulf’s community and burns it to the ground. Devastated Beowulf wants revenge for his people. At this point in his life Beowulf is in his elder years “he ruled it well for fifty winters, grew old and wise as warden of the land-“ (page 89, line 2208-2210). Just before fighting the dragon Beowulf acknowledges this by saying “now I am old, but as king of the people I shall pursue this for the glory of winning –“ (page 95, line …show more content…
Both Wiglaf and Beowulf defeat the dragon together. In Beowulf’s two previous clashes he dealt the Guthrie 4 deadly blow on his own that killed both Grendel and Grendel’s mother. This battle is different than his first two because he accepts help. Wiglaf is described “lunging at the enemy lower down so that the decorated sword sank into its belly and the flames grew weaker” (page 99, line 2699-2701) then Beowulf “drew a stabbing knife he carried on his belt, sharpened for battle. He stuck it deep in the dragon’s flank” (page 99, line 2703-2704). The dragon soon perishes and so does Beowulf. At the beginning of the poem we met a young arrogant Beowulf who, at the end of the poem, became a great king who perished for his people. Throughout the story of Beowulf we see Beowulf’s character progress within each battle from foolish to more wise. Beowulf goes from fighting Grendel with no armor or weapons to fighting Grendel’s mother with armor and various weapons and finally to the dragon whom he battles with armor, weapons, a shield and even some help from Wiglaf. The triumphs throughout his life progressed Beowulf to the wise king he eventually