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What Caused Beowulf's Downfall

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Throughout the epic poem, Beowulf, the main character Beowulf encounters fierce monsters and has to battle them for the betterment and safety of his loyal people. Each of these monsters have distinct characteristics from one another. They also have different home environments that Beowulf has to adapt to. Beowulf starts off as a young Geatish warrior from the beginning but throughout the poem he ages thus causing his downfall. Because of Beowulf's declination, the monsters increase in difficulty. In the first battle, Beowulf does not face any difficulty fighting Grendel. Beowulf goes to fight Grendel to help the people of Herot, but more importantly to gain glory for himself. Grendel is described as a devious monster, “ Who haunted …show more content…

After Beowulf killed Grendel, his mother is seeking for her revenge. She kidnaps one of the Scyldings and brings her back to her lair. As a result, Grendel’s mom forces Beowulf to come to her. The problem with this battle is there will be another monster he faces on his way to the lair where: “They live in secret places, windy/ Cliffs, wolf-dens,where water pours/ From the rocks” (Beowulf 20. 1358-1310). This is hard for Beowulf because he already just fought a battle and has to go fight this one basically by himself again. He also chooses to use weapons in this battle. When Beowulf arrives at the lair and “for hours he sank through the waves” (Beowulf 22. 1495). This is a difficult task for Beowulf because he has to adapt to the water and swims for hours just to get to his prey. Even though Beowulf decides to use weapons it still doesn’t make it a quick battle. For example, “Discovered that no sword could slice her evil/ Skin, that Hrunting could not hurt her, was useless” (Beowulf 22. 1523-1524). The sword that Wiglaf gave Beowulf didn't work so he had to take matters into his own hands and found one off the wall to kill her. This also shows the strength of Grendel’s mother. He can’t just beat her with his bare …show more content…

Beowulf has been king for about fifty years and has been encountered with a lot of stress. Beowulf has some doubt in this battle claiming, “I’ve never known fear; as a youth I fought/ In endless battles. I am old, now/ But I will fight again, seek fame still” (Beowulf 35. 2511-2513). This shows Beowulf is still going to fight but is less confident. He knows he is isn’t the great fighter he used to be. He is declining and just simply old. Beowulf also decides to use weapons and armor again. For instance he states, “I feel no shame, with shield and sword/ And armor, against this monster” (Beowulf 35 2523-2524). Beowulf at this point has accepted his fate and has no problem uses anything he can to defeat this monster. He can’t use nothing because it would just be suicide for the old king. In the last final moments of the dragon, it fell, their courage had killed it, two noble/ Cousins had joined in the dragon’s death” (Beowulf 37 2706-2707). Beowulf gets poisoned by the dragon and needs help for the first time. Wiglaf comes in to help aid Beowulf. In the other battles Beowulf did everything by himself but this time he struggled defeating this

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