Beowulf In 50 Years Wiser

Beowulf, 50 Years Wiser Beowulf is the epic hero of the Anglo-Saxon poem of the same name. He showed outstanding courage on the battlefield. He has slain many monsters in his time. He killed both Grendel and Grendel’s mother. After those two battles, 50 winters have passed and Beowulf has aged. Beowulf now has to battle a fierce, fire breathing dragon. In this battle however, Beowulf seems to be a different man. I believe that Beowulf has become and wiser, smarter man in this battle than in his battles with Grendel and Grendel’s mother. When Beowulf hears of this dragon, he assembles a group of his finest soldiers to accompany him on this quest. As that approached the dragon’s den, Beowulf took into accounting, the lives of his soldiers.
Beowulf, in his fight with Grendel, used only his bare hands. In his battle with Grendel’s mother, Beowulf did bring a sword, but was ultimately useless. However, in his battle with the dragon, Beowulf had prepared a little more. As he walks into the dragon’s den, Beowulf “... drew himself up beside his shield” (“from Beowulf” ln. 688). In this final fight, Beowulf brings with him a shield. He knew that this monster was not something he could kill with just his bare hands or just a sword by itself. Beowulf sees the danger level of a fire-breathing dragon and comes to the battle prepared. These two acts of wisdom and intelligence were not the last. Beowulf eventually perishes after the battle with the dragon. It is because of the help of a single soldier, Wiglaf, that the dragon was defeated. It is before the great king perishes that he shows what I believe makes a smart and wise
He has Wiglaf help him into the dragon’s hoard of gold and priceless jewels. As Beowulf realizes that he does not have much time left, he looks over to Wiglaf and “... unclasps\the collar of gold from his neck and gave it to the young thane…” (“from Beowulf” ln. 817-819). Beowulf sees the warrior and king inside this one fighter and decides that he is the only one who could take his place as king. Beowulf perishes in the den of the dragon. Beowulf may have started out as a showboating, pride driven, warrior who only fought for the recognition, but in the end, he became a king who cared about his people and knew what was best for them.
In conclusion, I believe in the 50 years between the battles with Grendel and Grendel’s and the dragon, Beowulf has become a smarter, wiser man. Beowulf was no longer a man whose only concern was showing off, he became a man who properly prepared for battle, who took into consideration the lives of his people and who choose the next great leader of his tribe. Beowulf not only changed as a fighter, but also as a