In the 2007 film based off the poem, the dragon is a shapeshifting Wyvern
Wyvern
A wyvern is a legendary bipedal dragon with a tail often ending in a diamond- or arrow-shaped tip. A sea-dwelling variant dubbed the sea-wyvern has a fishtail in place of a barbed dragon's tail.
Grendel
Grendel is a character in the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf, which is found in the Nowell Codex. This manuscript is so-called because its first known owner was the antiquary Laurence Nowell, whose name can be found written on the first leaf with the date 1563. Grendel is one of th…
Geats
The Geats, sometimes called Goths, were a North Germanic tribe who inhabited Götaland in modern southern Sweden during the Middle Ages. They are one of the progenitor groups of modern Swedes, along with Swedes and Gutes. The name of the Geats also lives on in the Swedish provinces of V…
Who is Beowulf's father?
Despite his noble lineage… read analysis of Beowulf The King of the Danes, the son of Healfdene, the brother of Heorogar and Halga, and the brother-in-law of Onela the Swede. He is also the father of young sons Hrethric, Hrothmund … read analysis of Hrothgar
What is the name of the Dragon in Beowulf?
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. Secondly, did Beowulf kill the dragon? Together, Beowulf and Wiglaf kill the dragon. But the bite in Beowulf's neck begins to burn and swell from the dragon's poison.
How does Beowulf kill the Dragon in the poem?
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. Beowulf is the oldest extant heroic poem in English and the first to present a dragon slayer.
Who are the main characters in Beowulf?
Principal Characters Beowulf - The protagonist of the epic, Beowulf is a Geatish hero who fights the monster Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and a fire-breathing dragon. Beowulf’s boasts and encounters reveal him to be the strongest, ablest warrior around. King Hrothgar - The king of the Danes.
Is Beowulf's son the dragon?
The Dragon appears as the secondary antagonist in the 2007 film adaptation of the same name. He is also known as the Golden Man and is the son of Beowulf and Grendel's Mother.
What is the dragon's name in Beowulf?
dracaIn Beowulf the 'draca' [dragon] is also described as a 'wyrm' [serpent].
Is Grendel the dragon in Beowulf?
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.
Is Grendel's mother the dragon in Beowulf?
Grendel's Mother is a character described in the early medieval Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf, where she is the second of three creatures who battled the titular hero - the first being her son Grendel and the third being the Dragon.
Who is Grendel's father in Beowulf?
While some of the film remains true to the original poem, other plot elements deviate from the original poem: four new characters (Grendel's father, the witch Selma, Father Brendan, and Grendel's son) are introduced, and several related plot points were developed specifically for the film.
Is Hrothgar Grendel's father?
There is also hints that Hrothgar might be Grendel's father, since Grendel refuses to fight Hrothgar in the beginning scene, and also because Hrothgar tells Beowulf that there is nothing to fear from Grendel's father. Needless to say, Grendel's mother seduces Beowulf, (and possibly sires another child, the Dragon-man).
Who kills the dragon in Beowulf?
WiglafBeowulf strikes the dragon in the head with his great sword Naegling, but the sword snaps and breaks. 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.
Where did the dragon come from in Beowulf?
That night, a nearby village is destroyed by the dragon, which leaves Unferth alive to deliver a message to King Beowulf: the dragon is Beowulf's son born to Grendel's mother. Removing the horn has voided the agreement between Beowulf and Grendel's mother, who has now sent their son, the dragon, to destroy his kingdom.
What is the difference between Grendel and the dragon?
Both are monsters. Both like to terrorize humans. Both obey the laws of their own natures: dragons sit on gold mounds; Grendel is exiled by primordial sin and goes around eating people.
What monster was Grendel's mother?
An illustration of Grendel's mother by J.R. Skelton from Stories of Beowulf (1908) described as a "water witch" trying to stab Beowulf.
Why is Grendel mother nameless?
Grendel's mother's lack of a name emphasizes her status as an outsider who defies categorization. Only an unnamed sword that preserves the story of the giants—other outcasts from the world of men—can kill her.
Is Grendel's mom part human?
Grendel's mother, like her son, is a mysterious humanoid creature.
What does the dragon represent 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.
What does the dragon's treasure symbolize in Beowulf?
The dragon's treasure-trove poignantly represents the vanity of human wishes as well as the mutability of time. The dragon's barrow holds wealth in abundance, yet the wealth is of no use to anyone.
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.
Who ultimately kills the dragon?
WiglafThe one warrior who does not desert Beowulf is Wiglaf; the two of them fight the dragon together. During the battle, the dragon's tusk pierces Beowulf's neck, mortally wounding him. Though he and Wiglaf do kill the dragon, Beowulf dies. He leaves his kingdom to Wiglaf.
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 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.
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.
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 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 ...
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.
Who is Beowulf's father?
The hero of Beowulf, Beowulf is a Geatish warrior loyal to his king, Hygelac. Beowulf's father was the warrior Ecgtheow, and his mother is a sister of Hygelac. Despite his noble lineage… read analysis of Beowulf
Who is Unferth in Beowulf?
Unferth. A Dane, the son of Ecglaf, and a follower of Hrothgar. Unferth is presented as contrast to Beowulf, providing a glimpse of a poor warrior in contrast to Beowulf's good warrior. Unferth… read analysis of Unferth.
What is Grendel in Beowulf?
Grendel. A man-eating monster descended from the Biblical Cain. Grendel is described as a "walker in darkness," who is "wearing God's anger" and "lacking in joy" because he has inherited the curse the Biblical Cain… read analysis of Grendel. Get the entire Beowulf LitChart as a printable PDF.
What is a dragon in the book Dragon?
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… read analysis of Dragon.
Who was Cain's brother?
Cain. The Old Testament of the Bible, in the Book of Genesis, tells the story of how Cain killed his brother Abel. Cain was marked by God, so others would know him and cast him out of society. The giants, Grendel and Grendel's Mother, are descended from Cain.
Who is Wiglaf in Beowulf?
Wiglaf. The son of Weohstan the Scylfing, and a relative of Beowulf, as well as his most loyal warrior. In the battle against the dragon, he proves to be the only Geatish warrior with… read analysis of Wiglaf.
Who is the king of the Danes?
Hrothgar. The King of the Danes, the son of Healfdene, the brother of Heorogar and Halga, and the brother-in-law of Onela the Swede. He is also the father of young sons Hrethric, Hrothmund … read analysis of Hrothgar.
What does the dragon do in Beowulf?
Like Beowulf, the dragon uses its strength to accrue a huge mound of treasure, but in the end all the treasure does is bring about its death. The treasure also brings about Beowulf’s death.
What does the dragon symbolize in Beowulf?
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. However, the dragon also symbolizes the specific fate that lies in wait for the Geats, and for pagan society generally.
What does the treasure bring about in Beowulf?
The treasure also brings about Beowulf’s death. Possibly the poem’s Christian narrator sees greed for treasure as a kind of spiritual death, suffered by pagans who value treasure over Heaven. The dragon hoards his treasure in a “barrow,” that is, a grave. Previous section Grendel’s Mother.
What does the dragon burn in Beowulf?
The dragon burns the land and buildings, including Beowulf's own mead-hall. As a monster that represents the opposite of a generous king and therefore is a destroyer rather than creator of society, it should come as no surprise that the dragon would burn Beowulf's mead-hall. Active Themes.
What is the theme of the dragon in the book The Dragon?
Active Themes. The dragon guards an underground barrow full of treasure, which is accessible only by a secret passage. One day a slave, fleeing a beating, finds his way to the passage and sees the dragon. Despite his terror the man steals a cup from the treasure.
What is the dragon's opposite?
The dragon is the opposite of a good king, hoarding treasure instead of rewarding loyalty and building a society. The narrator explains that this particular barrow was the treasure of a lost tribe. Long ago the last living man of the tribe placed his peoples' treasure in the barrow, since it was of no use to him.
What is the theme of the dragon's discovery of the treasure?
Active Themes. The dragon discovered the treasure sometime later, and guarded it in peace for the three hundred years. But when the dragon wakes and notices the slave's footprints and the missing cup, it is filled with fury and bursts into the air to hunt for the man who stole the cup.
Is Grendel Beowulf's son?
Heardred Despite Beowulf's support, the young king, son of Hygelac and Hygd, is killed in a feud. Beowulf then becomes king of the Geats. Grendel A descendant of the biblical Cain, the enormous ogre despises mankind's joy. He menaces Hrothgar and the Danes for 12 years before facing Beowulf in battle.
Who was Grendel's father?
Halfdane - The father of Hrothgar, Heorogar, Halga, and an unnamed daughter who married a king of the Swedes, Halfdane succeeded Beow as ruler of the Danes.
What does the dragon symbolize?
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.
Who is Beowulf's son?
His oldest son, Hygelac, follows him as king. Hygelac is king of the Geats during Beowulf's time, and Beowulf's uncle. He is the oldest son of Hrethel. Hygelac married Hygd, and they have a son named Heardred, who becomes king of Geatland on Hygelac's death.
What does the dragon symbolize in Grendel?
Dragons in stories like Beowulf or The Saga of the Volsung (or Grendel, for that matter) are not a cause for reverence and celebration. That's a hint: dragons usually symbolize greed, violence, murder, and other scary things that are hard to keep under control.
Does the dragon in Beowulf have a name?
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.
What does the dragon symbolize in China?
They traditionally symbolize potent and auspicious powers, particularly control over water, rainfall, typhoons, and floods. The dragon is also a symbol of power, strength, and good luck for people who are worthy of it in East Asian culture.
Overview
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 …
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 Beow…
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 t…
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.
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 …
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 no…
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.