Who Is The Dragon In Beowulf
Beowulf 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
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opinion, he made a decision to fight the dragon as a heroic man who had only the safety of his people in mind and he was of pure of heart and intended to save his people from certain destruction.
The story of Beowulf introduces us to the perfect hero and shows the reader a hero from youth to a heroic king, a man of courage and strength and in fact, he was the strongest man in the land. “In his far off home Beowulf, Higlacs – follower and the strongest of the Geats - greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in the world” Line 194-196 Page 11 He is one the strongest men in the era of true men. One must understand the ability of Beowulf and his character of strength and courage to see that in the end, he is a man of honor. “Their prince, who showed them the way to our shores, Is a mighty warrior, powerful and wise.” Line 369-371 Page 18 Even in his youth, Beowulf is regarded as powerful and wise. He leads as a powerful and wise warrior. He is unafraid to lead and fight and Beowulf is the perfect hero to sacrifice himself for his cause and in the end, he does just that.
In the end, it can be argued that Beowulf relies on his old motivations, fame and glory, but this time he takes, many men with him to slay the dragon and in the final scenes Beowulf is gearing up to fight the dragon, he is forced to rely on his old ways as a routine of battle preparation.
“I’ve never known fear; as a youth I fought, In endless battles. I am old, now, But I will fight again, seek fame still, If the dragon hiding in his tower dares To face me.” Line 2511-2515 Page 103 It is true that Beowulf considers the glory and the spoils to the victor are the goals, but he relies on his old youthful ways of preparing for a fight. Still, Beowulf, however he chooses to prepare, realizes he is older and perhaps not as ready to battle. “The noble prince would end his days on earth, soon. Would leave this brief life, but would take the dragon.” Line 2341-2342 Page 97 Although, he see the spoils of the battle, for Beowulf it is simply a mechanism to do battle. Beowulf is simply gearing up, posturing if you will, and using his old ways to conjure up the strength, that he knows his is lacking, to defeat the dragon. In the end, the hero’s life will come to end and to give his life, slaying the dragon, in an effort to protect his kingdom, pales in comparison to the riches of the dragon’s lair and is the most courageous and noble of
deeds.
Throughout the story, the wise and strong Beowulf conquers all who come before him with courage and strength, but as he begins his journey to his last battle, his heart is heavy, as he knows that this may be his last battle. “But Beowulf’s heart was heavy: His soul sensed how close fate had come, not fear but knowledge of his old age.” Line 2419- 2422 Page 100 As the king ready’s for battle, his true feeling come out. He is old and perhaps not up to the task of fighting the dragon. “I mean to stand, not run from his shooting Flames, stand till fate decides which of us wins.” Line 2525- 2527 Page 104 Even in his doubt, Beowulf stand strong and tall in front of possible death. This is conclusive of his true heart of courage and not of fame and glory as he realizes that the ultimate sacrifice might be close at hand. In fact, the ultimate sacrifice is what the hero realized at the end in his glorious death. In conclusion the hero of the poem, Beowulf, decision to slay the dragon, although arguably to cement his place in the epic hero hall of fame, was in this writers opinion to save the kingdom from certain doom. In his youth, Beowulf was absolutely out for fame and fortune, but as most successful people will tell you, a man wants to be remembered honorably in his death. In the case of Beowulf, he realized that he was older and the chances of him winning against the dragon were not odd on favorites like in his youth. Therefore, one can only assume he was willing to sacrifice his life for the good of the kingdom.
opinion, he made a decision to fight the dragon as a heroic man who had only the safety of his people in mind and he was of pure of heart and intended to save his people from certain destruction.
The story of Beowulf introduces us to the perfect hero and shows the reader a hero from youth to a heroic king, a man of courage and strength and in fact, he was the strongest man in the land. “In his far off home Beowulf, Higlacs – follower and the strongest of the Geats - greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in the world” Line 194-196 Page 11 He is one the strongest men in the era of true men. One must understand the ability of Beowulf and his character of strength and courage to see that in the end, he is a man of honor. “Their prince, who showed them the way to our shores, Is a mighty warrior, powerful and wise.” Line 369-371 Page 18 Even in his youth, Beowulf is regarded as powerful and wise. He leads as a powerful and wise warrior. He is unafraid to lead and fight and Beowulf is the perfect hero to sacrifice himself for his cause and in the end, he does just that.
In the end, it can be argued that Beowulf relies on his old motivations, fame and glory, but this time he takes, many men with him to slay the dragon and in the final scenes Beowulf is gearing up to fight the dragon, he is forced to rely on his old ways as a routine of battle preparation.
“I’ve never known fear; as a youth I fought, In endless battles. I am old, now, But I will fight again, seek fame still, If the dragon hiding in his tower dares To face me.” Line 2511-2515 Page 103 It is true that Beowulf considers the glory and the spoils to the victor are the goals, but he relies on his old youthful ways of preparing for a fight. Still, Beowulf, however he chooses to prepare, realizes he is older and perhaps not as ready to battle. “The noble prince would end his days on earth, soon. Would leave this brief life, but would take the dragon.” Line 2341-2342 Page 97 Although, he see the spoils of the battle, for Beowulf it is simply a mechanism to do battle. Beowulf is simply gearing up, posturing if you will, and using his old ways to conjure up the strength, that he knows his is lacking, to defeat the dragon. In the end, the hero’s life will come to end and to give his life, slaying the dragon, in an effort to protect his kingdom, pales in comparison to the riches of the dragon’s lair and is the most courageous and noble of
deeds.
Throughout the story, the wise and strong Beowulf conquers all who come before him with courage and strength, but as he begins his journey to his last battle, his heart is heavy, as he knows that this may be his last battle. “But Beowulf’s heart was heavy: His soul sensed how close fate had come, not fear but knowledge of his old age.” Line 2419- 2422 Page 100 As the king ready’s for battle, his true feeling come out. He is old and perhaps not up to the task of fighting the dragon. “I mean to stand, not run from his shooting Flames, stand till fate decides which of us wins.” Line 2525- 2527 Page 104 Even in his doubt, Beowulf stand strong and tall in front of possible death. This is conclusive of his true heart of courage and not of fame and glory as he realizes that the ultimate sacrifice might be close at hand. In fact, the ultimate sacrifice is what the hero realized at the end in his glorious death. In conclusion the hero of the poem, Beowulf, decision to slay the dragon, although arguably to cement his place in the epic hero hall of fame, was in this writers opinion to save the kingdom from certain doom. In his youth, Beowulf was absolutely out for fame and fortune, but as most successful people will tell you, a man wants to be remembered honorably in his death. In the case of Beowulf, he realized that he was older and the chances of him winning against the dragon were not odd on favorites like in his youth. Therefore, one can only assume he was willing to sacrifice his life for the good of the kingdom.