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Geat Warrior In Beowulf

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Beowulf, an epic poem translated by Burton Raffel follows the heroic and adventurous Geat warrior appellated Beowulf. The poem primarily begins when Beowulf and a few Geatish warriors sail across the sea to the land of the Danes to fight the demon Grendel. This becomes his first heroic challenge. When he arrives, he is benevolently received by King Hrothgar, who accepts his offer of help against the monster. Upon his arrival, Beowulf states, “...death was my errand and the fate they had earned” (Lines 237-238). In this, we see Beowulf’s strong beliefs in what he considers this monster and all monsters deserve. When Grendel attacks Heorot Hall, Beowulf meets him in a hand-to-hand fight. “To protect their prince if they could. Their courage was great but all wasted” (Lines 366-367). The Geat warriors try and kill Grendel to protect Beowulf, but they come to learn that man’s weapons do not work on this creature. Instead Beowulf tears Grendel’s arm from his socket, critically wounding the monster who soon bleeds out and dies. In turn, King Hrothgar graciously thanks Beowulf and bestows …show more content…

After Hygelac and his men are killed in combat, Beowulf is embellished to become king of the Geats and succeeds to rule for fifty years. “Was there a warrior worthier to rule over men” (Line 420). Here Raffel foreshadows in the beginning of the poem that Beowulf will someday become king. He then hears of a veracious dragon, and suspects the he will die fighting it. Beowulf tracks the dragon to its lair and fights it with the help of Wiglaf. He kills the dragon, but undergoes a mortal wound to the neck during combat. He then asks Wiglaf to bring him some of the dragon’s treasure so he could see them before he dies. “Death will be softer,leaving life and this people I’ve ruled so long, if I look at this last of all prizes”. (Lines 972-974).Having gazed the treasure, and given his golden necklace to

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