Beowulf’s Strength and Bravery

Although the epic poem Beowulf, is centered around Beowulf’s physical fights with Grendel and Grendel’s mother. It is also centered on Beowulf’s ability to be a good king. Throughout his life, Beowulf’s strength decreases as his bravery increases. This made his life more admirable in the end of the poem. He changed from being hidden behind his men to standing against a dragon with only one other man.

In his fight with Grendel, Beowulf has his whole crew of Geats with him in the mead hall. This gave Grendel a lot of distraction before he attacked Beowulf. Beowulf also took off all of his armour and hid it with his weapons so that he may fight Grendel without any protection. “When it comes to fighting, I count myself as dangerous and day as Grendel.” (Beowulf, 39) This is a very brave and smart act and it is what will win him the fight, but he still used his men as a sort of shield. Grendel kills one of Beowulf’s men, then pursued Beowulf himself. When fighting Grendel, Beowulf showed his amazing strength by ripping off Grendel’s arm. Grendel skulked off into the night to die. “Grendel was driven under the fen-banks, fatally hurt.” (Beowulf, 55). When morning arrives Beowulf is showered with gifts for his victory.

Later on, Grendel’s mother, Ma Grendel, attacked the mead hall that Grendel had wrecked havoc on before. She does this, in the poem, to show the reader that she is less like a woman, but more like a man. She tried to get revenge on her son’s attacker. When Beowulf set off to defeat Ma Drendel he brought his men again. They find her den, but run into a conflict. The den can only be reached by swimming through a swamp of water that is defended by many sea monsters. Beowulf goes alone showing more bravery. He rece...

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...dangerous reek and went underarm to this lord.” (Beowulf, 179). Beowulf then took his dagger and threw it at the dragon’s flank, a fatal cut, and killed the dragon. “They had killed the enemy.” (Beowulf, 183). Beowulf then began to die and Wiglaf, by Beowulf’s order, brought Beowulf a portion of the treasure to see before he died. Right before he died, Beowulf showed great kinsmanship by announcing Wiglaf king.

In conclusion, Beowulf was a great king. In the end, his strength failed him and lost him his life. His bravery was his biggest weapon. It is worth boasting about for generations. While he died before the body of a deceased dragon, he also gained admirability. Admirability for standing almost alone against a dragon who had impeccable scales.

Works Cited

Heaney, Seamus. Beowulf: A New Verse Translation. New York: Farrar,

Straus, and Giroux, 2000. Print.