Why does Beowulf fear the Dragon?
Why does Beowulf fear the dragon? Beowulf doesn’t fear the dragon because he is so proud of himself and believes God is on his side. He wants to fight the dragon alone because he wants to prove that he is still a tough and honorable man. Who becomes king after Beowulf dies? Wiglaf. What were Beowulf’s last words?
Why is Beowulf fighting with the Dragon?
So, when King Beowulf hears of the dragon’s attacks on his kingdom he goes to make war upon the dragon. He is driven by his desire for fame (fighting the most fearsome monster in the world will earn him undying renown in songs and tales). He knows that he will lose the fight, but does battle anyway, as that is what the code of the hero demands.
What role does the Dragon play in Beowulf?
The dragon is a mighty and glamorous opponent, an appropriate match for Beowulf. The dragon is so well suited to bring about Beowulf’s downfall, in fact, that some readers have seen it as a symbolic representation of death itself: the unique, personal end that awaits every person. Hrothgar prepares us to view the dragon in this way when he warns Beowulf that for every warrior an unbeatable foe lies in wait, even if it is only old age.
Why does Beowulf fight with Dragon?
Why Did Beowulf Fight The Dragon? Beowulf fights the dragon because, as king, he feels that it is his responsibility to protect his people. Although he doesn’t need to take on the dragon himself, he does so out of a sense of duty. Beowulf is also motivated by a desire for glory.Apr 2, 2021.
What does dragon symbolize Beowulf?
The dragon fight, near the end of the poem, is foreshadowed in earlier scenes. The fight with the dragon symbolizes Beowulf's stand against evil and destruction, and, as the hero, he knows that failure will bring destruction to his people after many years of peace.
What does the dragon in Grendel symbolize?
Dragon on Our Backs Gardner is using the dragon as shorthand for the misery of existence—the kind of misery that can lead to the depressing philosophies (and appalling social manners) he ends up sharing with Grendel. In this sense, the dragon is not only a huge, frightening freak of nature: he's also a state of mind.
What could the dragon symbolize explain?
The dragon is a symbol of evil, in both the chivalric and Christian traditions. In the Orient, it symbolizes supernatural power, wisdom, strength, and hidden knowledge. In most traditions, it is the embodiment of chaos and untamed nature.
What does the dragon symbolize as Beowulf's final foe?
Keeping those details in mind, explain what the dragon might symbolize as Beowulf's final foe. The dragon is described as a serpent being coiled and scaly. He can symbolize the devil, Satan, or evil itself.
What does Grendel learn from the dragon?
Finally, the dragon reveals that the world Grendel knows is no more than a small ripple in the stream of Time, a gathering of dust that will fade away completely when enough years pass. All of man's monuments, systems, and inventions will eventually fade from the world entirely.
Why was Beowulf son a dragon?
He is also known as the Golden Man and is the son of Beowulf and Grendel's Mother. He first takes the form of a man colored in gold, then takes the appearance of a dragon that bears his father's appearance. Beowulf succeeds in killing the beast, and when it dies, it transforms into a young golden-skinned boy.
Is the dragon in Beowulf evil?
The Dragon. Dragons appear throughout medieval folklore. They represent evil that is challenged by heroes and for the most part they are the stories. In Beowulf, the dragon is portrayed as an evil creature that dislikes mankind especially those who dare intrude on its hoard or steal from it.
What do the monsters symbolize in Beowulf?
In keeping with this idea, the monsters that Beowulf must fight in this Old English poem shape the poem's plot and seem to represent an inhuman or alien presence in society that must be exorcised for the society's safety. They are all outsiders, existing beyond the boundaries of human realms.
Why did the dragon fight Beowulf?
The Dragon was in possession of a great treasure which he found buried in a cave. One day a man tried to take a cup away from the Dragon in order to free himself from the crime of killing his brother. Beowulf decided to fight the Dragon even though he was old.
What is the dragon's name in Beowulf?
dracaIn Beowulf the 'draca' [dragon] is also described as a 'wyrm' [serpent].
How does the dragon wound Beowulf?
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.
Was Grendel a dragon?
Grendel is a character in the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf (700–1000). He is one of the poem's three antagonists (along with his mother and the dragon), all aligned in opposition against the protagonist Beowulf.
What does the dragon symbolize in Beowulf?
The dragon in Beowulf symbolizes the forces of darkness, destruction, and avarice which constantly threaten to overwhelm the world. Download PDF.
What does the dragon represent in the book?
The dragon is worse than Grendel, who was something between man and beast. It represents darkness, destruction, and avarice. Since it kills Beowulf, it also represents the victory of these forces, a victory which Wiglaf predicts will soon be complete because the Geats will not survive for long without Beowulf.
Where does Beowulf go to kill Grendel?
When he is a young man in search of glory, Beowulf travels to Daneland to kill Grendel as the champion of King Hrothgar. He succeeds magnificently, killing not only Grendel but also his mother, and he returns to Geatland in triumph. Fifty years later, Beowulf is a king himself when a dragon attacks the Geats.
Is Beowulf a king?
Fifty years later, Beowulf is a king himself when a dragon attacks the Geats. Unlike Hrothgar, he cannot call upon a young hero to defend his people, and has to fight the dragon himself. Even worse, the Geats have deteriorated from the heroic warriors who traveled to Daneland with Beowulf.
What does Beowulf say to the dragon?
Now, Beowulf says, he shall fight once more: against the dragon . (full context) Since the dragon breathes fire Beowulf decides to use his sword, shield, and armor. He orders his followers... (full context) Beowulf enters the barrow and shouts to wake the dragon. It attacks, breathing flame.
What is the dragon character?
Dragon Character Analysis. Dragon. A fire-breathing dragon who discovered a lost tribe's treasure and moved into the barrow housing the gold. The dragon is exceedingly greedy – marking a stark contrast to good kings, who create loyalty and love among their people and warriors through generosity.
What happens after the dragon steals from the horde?
After a thief steals from the dragon's horde, the dragon goes on a rampage and terrorizes the Geats. Beowulf, the king of the Geats, fights the dragon. Beowulf ultimately kills the dragon, but at the cost of his own life. The threat posed by the dragon therefore represents a kind of tension in the question of what makes a good king.
What is the dragon's secret passage?
The dragon guards an underground barrow full of treasure, which is accessible only by a secret passage.... (full context) The dragon discovered the treasure sometime later, and guarded it in peace for the three hundred years.... (full context) Facing the Dragon (Lines 2324–2710) ...who killed Hygelac in battle.
Why does Beowulf's dragon act like the dragon of Old English proverbial lore?
Raymond Wilson Chambers, in his Beowulf: An Introduction to the Study of the Poem with a Discussion of the Stories of Offa and Finn, says that Beowulf ' s dragon acts like "the typical dragon of Old English proverbial lore" because he guards treasure. W.
Why did Beowulf cut the dragon in the belly?
He cuts the dragon in the belly to reduce the flames, and Beowulf deals the fatal blow. In his death-speech, Beowulf nominates Wiglaf as his heir and asks for a monument to be built for him on the shoreline.
What is the dragon fight in The Hobbit?
The Beowulf dragon was adapted for Middle-earth in J. R. R. Tolkien 's The Hobbit (1937), one of the forerunners of modern high fantasy . The dragon fight, occurring at the end of the poem, is foreshadowed in earlier scenes.
What happens when the dragon burns the Geats' homes?
When the angry dragon mercilessly burns the Geats' homes and lands, Beowulf decides to fight and kill the monster personally. He and his thanes climb to the dragon's lair where, upon seeing the beast, the thanes flee in terror, leaving only Wiglaf to battle at Beowulf's side.
What is the 17th act of Beowulf?
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 ...
Why did Beowulf leave the dragon's lair?
Beowulf tells his men to stay outside, that this fight is his alone, but the dragon proves too strong and mortally wounds Beowulf. Meanwhile, his kinsman Wiglaf scolds the other members of the troop for not going in to help, before coming to Beowulf's aid.
How many times does the dragon attack Beowulf?
Wiglaf kills the dragon halfway through the scene, Beowulf's death occurs "after two-thirds" of the scene, and the dragon attacks Beowulf three times.
Beowulf and the Dragon
Beowulf is generally considered to be the oldest surviving work of English literature. The only surviving manuscript of the poem was written between 700 and 1000 CE, but it is possible that the story itself was passed down orally for much longer.
Beowulf Fighting the Dragon
The section of the poem that describes Beowulf fighting the dragon is the final action scene in the story. When the dragon starts destroying his lands, Beowulf wonders if God is punishing him, but ultimately realizes that the dragon is merely angry about the theft.
What is the Result of Beowulf's Battle with the Dragon?
The battle's most immediate result is that the dragon finally dies. Shortly thereafter, Beowulf also dies in Wiglaf's arms. Before he dies, he bequeaths his kingdom to Wiglaf, having no son of his own. With the dragon dead, the Geats are able to make use of its vast treasure hoard.
Overview
The final 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. When the angry dragon mercilessly burns the Geats' homes and lands, Beowulf decides to fight and kill the monster pe…
Story
After his battles against Grendel's mother and Grendel, Beowulf returns home and becomes king of the Geats. Fifty years pass with Beowulf in charge, when a local dragon is angered when a slave enters its lair and takes a cup from its treasure. The creature attacks the neighboring towns in revenge. Beowulf and a troop of men leave to find the dragon's lair. Beowulf tells his men to stay outside, that this fight is his alone, but the dragon proves too strong and mortally wounds Beowulf. Meanwhile, his kinsman Wiglaf scolds the other members of the troop for not goin…
Background
Beowulf is the oldest extant heroic poem in English and the first to present a dragon slayer. The legend of the dragon-slayer already existed in Norse sagas such as the tale of Sigurd and Fafnir, and the Beowulf poet incorporates motifs and themes common to dragon-lore in the poem. Beowulf is the earliest surviving piece of Anglo-Saxon literature to feature a dragon, and it is possible that the poet had access to similar stories from Germanic legend. Secular Germanic li…
Characterization
The Beowulf dragon is the earliest example in literature of the typical European dragon and first incidence of a fire-breathing dragon. The Beowulf dragon is described with Old English terms such as draca (dragon), and wyrm (reptile, or serpent), and as a creature with a venomous bite. Also, the Beowulf poet created a dragon with specific traits: a nocturnal, treasure-hoarding, inquisitive, vengeful, fire-breathing creature.
The fire is likely symbolic of the hellfire of the devil, reminiscent of the monster in the Book of Job. In the Septuagint
Importance
The third act of the poem differs from the first two. In Beowulf's two earlier battles, Grendel and Grendel's mother are characterized as descendants of Cain: "[Grendel] had long lived in the land of monsters / since the creator cast them out / as the kindred of Cain" and seem to be humanoid: in the poet's rendition they can be seen as giants, trolls, or monsters. The dragon, therefore, is a stark contrast to the other two antagonists. Moreover, the dragon is more overtl…
Critical reception
In 1918, William Witherle Lawrence argued in his article "The Dragon and His Lair in Beowulf" that the fight between Beowulf and the dragon tends to receive less critical attention than other portions of the poem, commenting that "Grendel and his dam have, as it were, become more beloved of the commentators". Conversely, Kemp Malone writes in "The Kenning in Beowulf" that Beowulf's fight with the dragon receives much critical attention, but that commentators fail to note that "the dragon was no fighter. Not that it refused to fight when challenged, but that i…
Legacy
In From Homer to Harry Potter: A Handbook on Myth and Fantasy, Matthew Dickerson and David O'Hara argue that the Beowulf poet added the figure of the dragon to "the pot...that is ladled out of by most modern fantasy writers"; they argued that both numerous works with villainous dragons, as well as literature with benign dragons like the My Father's Dragon books and the Pern series by Anne McCaffrey, were influenced by Beowulf's dragon. Dickerson and O'Hara further elaborated that through its dragon, Beowulf turned the "notion of having a monstrous evil (an…
Sources
• Alexander, Michael (2003) [1973]. Beowulf: a verse translation. London: Penguin. ISBN 978-0-14-044931-0.
• Clark, George (2003) [1998]. "The Hero and the Theme". In Bjork, Robert E.; Niles, John D. (eds.). A Beowulf Handbook. University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 978-0-8032-6150-1.
• Crossley-Holland, Kevin (1999). O'Donohue, Heather (ed.). Beowulf: The fight at Finnsburh. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-283320-4.