The fight between Beowulf and the dragon takes place towards the end of the poem. Beowulf’s men run away: Describe how the dragon discovered the riches? As a payment to the king of the Danes he decided to fight the Dragon.The Dragon was in possession of a great treasure which he found buried in a cave. 1) Why does Beowulf want to fight Grendel? dragon? 9. What does he call it? 8. a. Home Beowulf Q & A Why does Beowulf feel that he mu... Beowulf Why does Beowulf feel that he must fight the dragon?. Why does … Why does beowulf believe he must fight the dragon? Describe this hall. Why does Beowulf decide to fight the dragon alone? What happens to the warriors who promised to support Beowulf in battle? However, it is only one interpretation of what the Geats did with the dragon's treasure. His mood was darkened and then he decided to fight the dragon alone. People from all over come to Herot and follow Grendel's great footprints to the _____. Hrothgar is protected by God. 10. Who remains with him to the end? His sword fails him. The 17th act of the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf includes Beowulf's fight with a dragon, the third monster he encounters in the epic.On his return from Heorot, where he killed Grendel and Grendel's mother, Beowulf becomes king of the Geats and rules wisely for fifty years until a slave awakens and angers a dragon by stealing a jewelled cup from its lair. dragon? He announces that he will, “win this gold ; war otherwise shall take your king, terrible life’s bane.” What do Beowulf’s men do as he is taking on the dragon? He knows this is his last battle and wants to go out in the most honorable way possible and he claims no man can do what he can do, only he could defeat this creature 23. He called the hall Herot. He tells them that he wishes he could fight the dragon hand-to-hand, the way he fought Grendel when he was young, instead of using his sword. What does Beowulf do when he realizes he is losing his battle with the dragon? Under the ancient Northern European warrior code, a warrior should seek out the most challenging opponents he can find, in order to enhance his own reputation. Fifty years have passed and Beowulf was eighty. Similarly, why does Beowulf decide to fight Grendel unarmed? Why is Beowulf’s death a turning point for the Geats? Beside this, how does Beowulf fight Grendel? Is this foolhardy? Beowulf goes to fight the dragon to protect and free his people from living in fear of it. His shield begins to melt and he strikes the dragon with his sword/dagger. Hunting, and came across the tower: How does Beowulf think has brought on the wrath of the dragon? Hrothgar, or both. On top of this, however, was the belief that God would act to aid or hinder people in accord with His own plan. Where are his followers as he is losing the battle? Why does Beowulf describe himself by recounting his heritage? And now the youth was to enter the line of battle with his lord, his first time to be tested as a fighter. Twelve winters: Why does Grendel attack Hrothgar? Wiglaf … What does Beowulf do with Grendel's arm? What happens to the warriors who promised to support Beowulf in battle? What does he do? Describe the water. Why does Beowulf want to fight the dragon alone? in the poem Beowulf is often shown exhibiting characteristics of the ideal Anglo-Saxon hero or following the Anglo-Saxon heroic code . lake where he lives. Why does Beowulf feel that he must justify his use or armor during battle with the . Beowulf wants to fight Grendel in order to win treasure and, more importantly, fame (which he calls a warrior’s “best bulwark” [l.1389]). What is it that Beowulf asks of Wiglaf after he is wounded? b. Edgetho or Ecgtheow-Beowulf’s father; He was once befriended and offered shelter by Hrothgar. What happens to Beowulf's shield while fighting the dragon? Is Beowulf being foolhardy or noble in deciding to fight alone? Before leaving them, Beowulf says a few words to his followers. Who remains with him to the end? At this time Beowulf was around seventy years old, but instead of sending one of his powerful, hand-picked warriors to defeat the dragon, he decides to go fight it himself. Wiglaf stays because he remembers all of the things Beowulf had done for them. At this point there are several circumstances which Beowulf must consider primarily his age and his role as the king. He is loyal to him. Why? What does Wiglaf do? If Beowulf dies, why won’t Hrothgar have to follow the Germanic custom of providing an expensive funeral for him? boiling, bloody, steaming, murky. The dragon is greater than Grendel. Beowulf, however, decides to fight the dragon that threatens his people. 7. He believes he owes the good life he has enjoyed to Beowulf. Wiglaf went back to help beowulf slay the dragon, while the others were cowering in fear. Beowulf attacks the dragon because the dragon attacks the Geats. This proves Beowulf is brave because he decided to fight the dragon alone although he is old and may not have as good of a chance as the other warriors.… The dragon’s appearance, and in the foreshadowing of the future. 22. Hrothgar offers a joyful feast in honor of Beowulf's arrival.. He called is Heorot and it became the hall of halls. To see the treasure before he dies . Why does Weiglaf decide to fight side by side with Beowulf? Beowulf thinks … hung it from the ceiling. What happens to his sword? When Grendel's mother appears, Beowulf throws her the golden horn, but she refuses to stop the attacks. Why does Beowulf announce that he is going to face the dragon alone? (l. 180-183) Grendel will eat him, nothing left 6. Who does Beowulf want to receive his weapons if he dies? b. They ran away. Literary Element p42. Is Beowulf being foolhardy or noble in deciding to fight alone? Reply Delete. Section 15 deals with a speech made by Wiglaf to his comrades. They run away. – Beowulf, Seamus Heaney (trans.) Cite examples of words supporting his purpose. Eventually the dragon found the treasure, and he has guarded it for three hundred years. What do Beowulf's followers do when they realize he's losing? He believes that this affair is not for the other men, it is meant for Beowulf alone due to his strength. Asked by joey g #335054 on 10/9/2013 12:03 PM Last updated by judy t #197809 on 10/9/2013 12:21 PM Answers 1 Add Yours. Why does Beowulf decide to fight the dragon alone? I haven't read Beowulf in a long time, so if this is for homework, forgive me. Why does Beowulf lose the battle? Beowulf’s motive in this fight is not to build his legacy, but to protect his kingdom as the king. Explain. What is the point of this speech? Why does Hrothgar decide to build a mighty hall? What does Grendel leave behind in Herot when he escapes? A slave stumbled into the dragon's lair and has stolen a cup from the dragon's treasure. Re-read Wiglaf's speech. By this time Beowulf has defeated Grendel and his mother, and has ruled the Geats for fifty years. He remembers swearing to repay Beowulf with his life if he needed to . When does Beowulf realize he's losing the battle with the dragon? Reply. Why does Beowulf feel that he must justify his use or armor during battle with the . I think, it was because it's his battle to fight. Why does Beowulf announce that he is going to face the dragon alone? What does he call it? The dragon attacks Beowulf's castle, threatening Wealtheow and Ursula. If Beowulf is killed, he wants his war-shirt (breast armor, mail) returned to King Hygelac. He came from a cave near the moors and he attacks the Geats because of a slave who took the golden cup. Fighting with Beowulf, Grendel discovers what it is like to "feud _____" Almighty God . Explain. He defeated Grendel and Grendel's Mother early in his life. Do you think Beowulf grows in stature as a hero? What happens to Beowulf's shield while fighting the dragon? The last member of the race has a particularly moving speech in which he realizes that life is fleeting, compared to the permanent wealth. This dragon was guarding the treasure, which was left by an ancient civilization. One of the aspects of this code of heroic behavior is the pursuit of “lof” and “dom” or renown and the deserved praise of ones peers. Brooke Benschoter August 29, 2012 at 6:56 PM. Beowulf does die during his battle with the dragon, but he is not shamed into the battle. Beowulf is either braver or more powerful than . L. 165-175; says God will decide how the fight will go, sounds like he is applying for job, drove 5 giants into chains, swam in darkness of night 5. Although the theft was a minimal one, this action means that the Dragon has failed in his duty of guarding the treasure. His spirit did not break and the ancestral blade would keep its edge, as the dragon discovered as soon as they came together in combat. Is this foolish? Before each major battle, there is reference made (sometimes by Beowulf himself) to accepting the outcome of the fight as being pre-ordained (whoever’s time it is to die will lose the fight). He had so many followers that they turned into an army so he decided to build a hall. After Hrothgar led the Danes to victory, he commemorated his victory by building a mighty mead hall. Hrothgar had many young followers after many victories of war. Beowulf and Wiglaf go to the cave once again, and Beowulf enters alone. 11. his arm. Replies. Beowulf states that he will fight Grendel without armor or sword, hand to claw, because the ogre does not use weapons. Replies. Wiglaf is a young warrior in the service of his king, Beowulf. Despite his age, Beowulf goes to great lengths to stop the dragon, slicing off his own arm in the process. Why does Beowulf decide to fight the dragon alone? Why does Beowulf want to fight the dragon alone? Literary Element p42 . Beowulf's last boast is that he won battles often in his youth and that even in his old age he is going to fight the dragon "for the glory of winning" (2514). How long does Grendel haunt Herot? He slept in peace until the slave stole the cup as a plea for mercy from his lord. Beowulf thinks that is his job as king, and always fought to better himself: What does Beowulf’s men do as he is taking on the dragon? Why does Hrothgar decide to build a mighty hall? He alone is brave enough to dive into the strange waters and continue the hunt for Grendel’s Mother. Why does Wiglaf go to Beowulfs aid? He demonstrates his loyalty and decides to stand by his lord Beowulf and help. He may hope that the wealth he has captured will guarantee his lasting fame. treasure. Beowulf was a great warrior in the land of the Danes and Geats. He was partially responsible for bringing that monstrosity into the world, being it's father and all, he wanted to deal with it on his own. 44. What happens to his sword? Describe what transpires in the mead hall to evoke the anger of the monster.