Beowulf: A hero that grew with fame and died with honor

Essay by lelamarielaHigh School, 12th grade February 2006

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It takes a lot of courage to enter the powerful lair of a dragon. This supernatural being has being terrorizing the Geats society, which is why a great hero with a lot of experience is needed to exterminate it. Beowulf, and admired hero, battled the dragon and at the same time his destiny. He is the mighty king of the Geats, in the British Literature poem "Beowulf". Beowulf is an epic hero who reflects the values and heroic ideals of the Geats and the society of the Danes.

After fifty years of having a battle with Grendel, Beowulf has another challenge, a giant and powerful dragon is attacking his kingdom. Beowulf was the strongest man in the land, he had the strength to kill a monster with his bare hands. In the past years this hero was loyal to the king of Danes, Hrogthgar, by following the foot steps of his father by defending the kingdom of the Danes.

This man was courageous enough to enter this cave, he was also brave enough to battle sea creatures in the open water. In addition, he killed a man-eating monster, like the she-wolf and her son Grendel. These aree all characteristics of an epic hero: loyalty, strength, courage and there is boasting that we see in a swimming with Brecca.

A thief took Beowulf and his fellowers to the cave of the dragon. Beowulf speaks of victory, of having experienced battle with other difficult to kill monsters, without any weapon. Because with his fate and victory, Beowulf thinks of enjoying the treasure of the dragon. "When he comes to me I mean to stand, not run form his shouting flames, stan till fate decides which of us wins." (Beowulf, lines 674-677) Here is shown that Beowulf enters with courage, saying that no coward would hve walked there. After feeling the hotness and the presence of the dragon in the cave, he made a loud and clear balte cry, and is seen he is willing to fight. For him, no coward could have walked there. He stood with his shield at his side and mail shirt on his breast. There was smoke blocking the passage. A dark, gloomy, hot entrance to the lair of the dragon. The dragon threw fire on his shield. The hero could feel the armor melting, starting to burn his ouw skin. Metal was so hot now that he could feel it cold instead in his arms. He lost his armor and after trying to surprise the dragon with an ancient sword, it broke. One shynny and sharp blade rupture in two pieces. There was nothing else to do. This hero was no wounded, like a poor man sick on the streets. "Unwilling to leave this world, to exchange it for a dwelling in some distant place." (Beowulf, lines 735-739) Beowulf struggles to stay alive, he thinks of the fighting with the dragon and his battle with his present death.

All Beowulf wanted was to die fighting, fame and success was his desire. For him, an honored death was better than to live and loose a battle. That is why now, even when he is dying, with help of Wiglaf, a loyal, brave, and noble commrade, he kills the dragon. "Fate has swept out race away, taken warriors in their strenght and led them to the death that was waiting. And now I follow them." (Beowulf, lines 822-824) Here Beowulf dies after killing the dragon, just like he aspired. For him he is dying a hero and that is why a tomb with all of the treasure of the dragon would be built for him. For him, life was done; so he follows other heroes of his family by dying.

Afterward Beowulf succeeds at killing the dragon. This was all for his persistence and determination to die a hero, with fame. Even when it was not easy, he neger gave up and was able to get a follower's help and defeat this supernatural creature. A seen in the end, it was Beowulf's destiny to die a hero, just like his ancestors. As if his fate was to save his people from this horrible monster, while dying a hero. Would you risk your life for honor, fame, to die heroically or would you run fron the dragon and live tormented?