Preview

How Did Beowulf Fight

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
571 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
How Did Beowulf Fight
The story of Beowulf is a story of a man who fights great beasts and creatures. Beowulf is a great hero who comes to the aid of many who need him, one of his first encounters was with the demon Grendel. After fighting Grendel Beowulf then killed his mother after she retaliated. Years after these two fights Beowulf would then, at the age of 50, kill a dragon that was terrorising his citizens. Beowulf would secede in doing this but in doing so he would die as well.

The first battle that Beowulf fought was against the demonic beast Grendel. In this fight he helped out the Dans out of desire for renown and honor. He fights the demon with no armor and no weapon as to make the fight fair. When Grendel enters the mead hall, where the fight is taking place, he has his arm ripped off him and Grendel is not finished off he retreated to the swamps to die.
…show more content…
When Beowulf went to fight he was suited up took is best sword. He went to Grendel’s mother’s lair and fought her there. During the fight Beowulf loses his sword and is forced to use a weapon found in the lair, Another sword. Beowulf then cuts of the head of Grendel’s mom and win the fight. From this he take the hilt of the sword as a prize.

In Beowulf's third and final fight he faces a dragon. The dragon is terrorizing his land and his people. So Beowulf goes to fight this beast, he suits up and takes a shield for the fire. In the fight Beowulf does not go alone he takes several of his best men to go into the fight. During the fight Beowulf is left alone to fight the dragon, his men abandon him. Beowulf is injured, fatally, and does manage to give a fatal blow to the dragon with his dirk but only by the help of one of his men. In the end of the fight the dragon lays dead and Beowulf is buried with some of the treasure from the

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    uring the story of Beowulf, he is involved in three different battles. The first one is with Grendal, the second with Grendal’s mother, and the final one with the dragon. These battles show a lot about Beowulf and his men.…

    • 442 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Grendel enters Beowulf's land, determined to kill the people. With all of his effortless kills, he expected an easy victory. Grendel wouldn't fight King Hrothgar because he was said to have God on his side. Having said this, Grendel planned to fight, and kill Beowulf (prince) without and struggle. As Grendel proceeded to the meet hall, he saw all of the soldiers resting in one, laughing he decided to feast on one body and wait until the next day to attack fully. When he does prepare to fight Beowulf, he expected a fast and easy win. What he didn't expect was a harsh, and long battle. As Grendel and Beowulf fought, Grendel learned that Beowulf had the strongest hand on anyone he'd attacked yet. Beowulf pulled back at Grendel's claws with force,…

    • 233 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    At the time of the battle with the Dragon, Beowulf was old in age. His strength would be tested because he had not fought in over 50 years. Going into this special battle Beowulf knew what he was up against, “I am old, now, but I will fight again, seek fame still, if the dragon hiding in his tower dares to face me” (lines 626-628) By this it showed that Beowulf honor never left him and would always show. This battle stuck out. Like most battles, Beowulf fought with his famous sword and shield, but it soon ended when the dragon broke the sword and burned the shield with its hot flames. At this moment the battle began a dramatic shift because Beowulf was left with his hands. With the battle with Grendel and Grendel’s mother Beowulf could use his hands easily but yet this…

    • 790 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Some of the similarities throughout the battles are that in every battle Beowulf either does not use a weapon at one point or breaks his weapon on the beast. Against Grendel Beowulf rips it’s arm off with just his bare hands and strength. When he fought Grendel’s mother after he found out his sword was useless against the beast's hide he proceeded to try and punch it to death. Once this did not work he grabbed a giant sword and killed the beast who’s acid blood destroyed the swords blade. When he fought against the dragon Beowulf was fighting it and slashed the beast on the head, but it’s head was too hard for the blade and broke the sword. After the blade broke he proceeded to kill the dragon with a dagger. He also always went to help people whether he knew them or not such as helping the Dane’s with the fight against Grendel. Grendel’s mother was attacking people in the same village so to save them from the torment Beowulf went off to kill the beast to help the people. With the dragon Beowulf went off to protect his people and his kingdom from the dragon, but he did not necessarily do it just for himself. He went to help the people. His strength was always present in every battle. With Grendel Beowulf ripped his arm off with just his own strength. When he fought Grendel’s mother Beowulf was able to pick up a sword described as for giants made for great beings much larger than beowulf…

    • 1349 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Old English poem, Beowulf, is arguably the first writings that highlights the battle between man and dragon and portray a Scandinavian warrior who is destine to rule a kingdom. The age-old question of fighting for glory or fighting for riches is tested, as the story begins with a young warrior who battles his way to become king and in the end give his life for his kingdom. After a successful reign as king, the story leads the hero to a final battle with the fantastic dragon. The question, that has been put before the readers is one of motive for Beowulf’s battle of the dragon. It has been put upon us to decide if Beowulf was fighting the dragon for personal glory or for the protection and safety of his kingdom. In this writer’s…

    • 896 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Grendel was descendent of Cain, who heartlessly murdered innocent Danes because he felt shame for himself. When he heard of the Dane’s problem, Beowulf quickly left to go help the Danish. Although he did have backup, he started a battle with Grendel and chose to do this with no armor or weapons. Nevertheless, Beowulf would still be crowned the winner, as the arm of Grendel would symbolize his trophy. Beowulf would continue to attempt to kill Grendel’s bitter mother and a dragon, who thought the Geats had gone against him. The victory with the dragon would prove to be his last, as it took a lot out of him.…

    • 1606 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Beowulf grabbed Grendel by the arm and ripped it off but Grendel got away. There was no way that Grendel was going to survive the damage. Word got to his mom that Beowulf killed her son so she wanted revenge on him. Beowulf went to the sea dove to the bottom of it to fight Grendel’s mom. Grendel’s mom gave Beowulf a really good fight that he almost lost. As Beowulf’s people watched the water the only thing that was coming up was blood. Then suddenly Beowulf would surface untouched. Beowulf had killed Grendel’s mother. This is the only part that may make people thing Beowulf is a bad…

    • 392 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Epic Poetry and Beowulf

    • 1069 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Beowulf is a very courageous character and recounts his acts of courage to every person who will listen. In the poem Beowulf tells of his previous courageous actions in destroying a tribe of giants, defeating sea monsters in the night and returning from battle covered in his enemies blood. Beowulf has come to King Hrothgar to fight an ogre. A monster that has brought misery and death to the Danes for many years. This ogre, Grendel, killed thirty of Hrothgar’s men and caused the great mead hall of Herot to be closed. Beowulf tells King Hrothgar “the monster’s scorn of men Is so great that he needs no weapons and fears none. Nor will I” (lines 262-264) Therefore Beowulf intends to fight the Grendel without his armor or his sword. Beowulf may be so courageous because he believes so strongly in fate shaping his successes in the past. Beowulf believes that if it is his fate to win against Grendel then he will win. If it is his fate to die…

    • 1069 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    It had been fifty years after Beowulf had defeated Grendel and his mother. Beowulf had returned home to his homeland and became king there and his rule was successful. There was a dragon that lived near by to Beowulf’s kingdom, which guarded old treasure. A thief stole a goblet from him and awakened him, and the dragon then went on a revengeful killing spree. “The dragon began to belch out flames/ and burn bright homesteads; there was a hot glow/ that scared everyone, for the vile sky-winger/ would leave nothing alive in his wake.” (l. 2312-2315) The dragon held onto this treasure, which is useless now, so long that he was able to know exactly what was gone and he must have had it back. The dragon represents greed and selfishness. The dragon began to slay people because of his missing goblet. When Beowulf heard about the dragon, he decided to do something about it immediately, as a good king should. During the battle between Beowulf and the dragon, both parties were fatally wounded. The dragon fought to the death to protect “his” treasure that he found, while Beowulf fought to protect “his” people. The dragon’s greed and selfishness had taken over his life and his lifestyle, which became the death of me. It can also be seen that Beowulf had allowed greed to overcome him, and that being the death of him also. He wanted the dragon’s treasure for his people, and his last wish was to see the treasure that he…

    • 950 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The first battle Beowulf is faced with is against Grendel. Grendel decides to attack because he is jealous and hates the joy and happiness he hears from the mead-hall; he decides to attack out of jealousy and annoyance. Beowulf decides to fight Grendel to not only gain glory for himself and to create himself a good reputation, but also to serve as assistance to the people of Herot. At the time of this battle, Beowulf was youthful and proud; he bragged on how he would be able to defeat Grendel and save the people. Beowulf chose to fight Grendel without any weapons in order to be on the same “playing field” as Grendel who was also weaponless. Beowulf asks the king to fight alone, with the help of his men only. He stays awake, awaiting the…

    • 571 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The battle between Grendel and Beowulf was an intense battle with a lot of action between the two as they are fighting in Heorot Hall. The battle was harder on the side of Beowulf since their swords were not able to break through Grendel’s thick and strong hide. After a…

    • 333 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Beowulf is a biography possibly written about a real or mythical individual, in which nothing is known of the exact date or author. In this biography, there is Beowulf a strong Geat warrior and hero. As a hero he is both portrayed as a savior-like figure in a pagan since, but as a warrior sent to do God's work in a Christian sense.…

    • 622 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The thief is chased into a dragon's den filled with gold. The thief takes some of the gold and gives it to the man he had stolen from. This act angers the dragon. The dragon then attacks Beowulf's people as it searches for the lost gold. When a soldier tells Beowulf how the thief discovered the dragon’s den and stole its gold, Beowulf decides that the problem can only be solved by killing the dragon. Beowulf calls it fate that he and this dragon should face each other. When Beowulf and some of his men confront the dragon, he attacks the creature only to be stalemated by the dragon's fiery breath. Seeing their fearless leader about to fall to the dragon, all but one of his men flea. This lone warrior then charges the dragon, giving Beowulf enough time to slay the dragon. Beowulf loses his own life in the…

    • 844 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Beowulf As An Epic Hero

    • 379 Words
    • 2 Pages

    He went and threw himself toward Grendel! He fought Grendel with his bare hands! “Prince of the Geats had killed Grendel, ended the grief, the sorrow, the suffering” (lines 404-405). This passage shows bravery let off by Beowulf. Even as Beowulf is nearing death, he fights off a dragon to show his bravery and protect his people.…

    • 379 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Foreshadowing In Beowulf

    • 838 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Before Beowulf goes to fight the dragon he gives a speech about how in his youth that he had killed monsters and men alike. When he’s done talking he takes all of his courageous men sand marches up to the lair that the dragon is sleeping in. When they get close enough to the lair the dragon comes out and all of Beowulf men run away from it. But only one tries to make them turn around and go back to fight. As he goes back he finds Beowulf fighting the dragon and losing a lot of blood. He then runs over and helps Beowulf to kill the beast. When they kill it Beowulf addresses Wiglaf with his last dying breaths, “You’re the last of all our far-flung family. Fate has swept our race away, taken warriors in their strength and led them to the death that is waiting. And now I follow them.” (P. 62 lines 835-838) When Beowulf dies he names Wiglaf as his heir to the throne and when he becomes king he exiles the men that ran away from the dragon. When all is said and done they cremate Beowulf and put the remains and ashes into the walls of a light house so that he can still give light to those who follow the…

    • 838 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays