Beowulf is a poem. It’s called Beowulf because the main person is called Beowulf. It’s is the
oldest epic poem that is written in Anglo-Saxion old English.
The poem is made of alliterative long lines. It’s a bit difficult to read this poem,
because it’s written in an really old literary language, but it’s translated in
everyday English, Dutch and a lot more languages.
In the society in which the poem Beowulf takes place, war and kingship are normal
factors in daily life. Dragons and monsters are a constant threat to the
Danes and the Geats. Warriors are a necessity to this war-like society. Beowulf is a hero
and an example of a great warrior because he fights against monsters. Beowulf is brave
enough to fight a dragon, with his thane Wiglaf. Beowulf has no fear of the dragon,
because he has fought many enemies that were much more dangerous. No
one other than Beowulf is brave enough or strong enough volunteer to fight Grendel.
The main person Beowulf, who is a hero of the Geats, kills Grendel with his bare hands
and he kills Grendel's mother with a sword of a giant that he found in a cave. In total
he has fighted three battles. The first was killing Grendel, the sample. The second one was
Grendel’s mother and the third one he killed was a dragon. I will tell some more things about
the third fight:
Beowulf says farewell to his men and sets off wearing a mail-shirt and a helmet
to fight the dragon.
He shouts a challenge to his opponent, who emerges from the earth. Man and dragon fight
sheets of fire. Beowulf hacks with his sword against the dragon’s thick scales, but his
strength is clearly not what it once was. As the flames billow, Beowulf’s companions run in
terror. Only one, Wiglaf, feels enough loyalty to come to the aid of his king. Wiglaf
chides the other warriors, reminding them of their oaths of loyal service to
Beowulf. Now the time has come when their loyalty will be tested, Wiglaf declares, and he
goes by himself to assist his lord.
Beowulf strikes the dragon in the head with his great sword Naegling, but the sword
snaps and breaks. The dragon lands a bite on Beowulf’s neck, and blood
begins to flow. Wiglaf rushes to Beowulf’s aid, stabbing the dragon in the belly, and the
dragon scorches Wiglaf’s hand. In desperation Beowulf pulls a knife from his belt and stabs it
deep into the dragon’s flank. The blow is fatal, and the writhing serpent withers. But no
sooner has Beowulf triumphed than the wound on his neck begins
to burn and swell. He realizes that the dragon bite is venomous and that he is dying.