As a payment to the king of the Danes he decided to fight the Dragon. … 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. His pride and warrior code would not let him chicken out of a battle.
Why does Beowulf have to fight the dragon at the end of the story?
In time, Hygelac is killed in a war against the Shyflings, and, after Hygelac’s son dies, Beowulf ascends to the throne of the Geats. … Sensing his own death approaching, Beowulf goes to fight the dragon. With the aid of Wiglaf, he succeeds in killing the beast, but at a heavy cost.
Why is Beowulf not scared of dragon?
Beowulf is not afraid of the dragon because he has the utmost confidence in his own strength.
Why does Wiglaf fight the dragon along with Beowulf?
Why does Wiglaf fight the dragon along with Beowulf? He didn’t want Beowulf to get all of the glory. … He respected Beowulf and knew his king needed help. He had a magical sword that could pierce dragon scales.
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 angered the dragon in Beowulf?
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.
Why does the dragon begin attacking Beowulf’s town?
There was a dragon tasked to protect the giant cave of treasure. The was a man who wanted to win his master ‘s favor so he stole some of the treasure to give to his master. This causes the dragon to go into rage and it starts attacking Beowulf ‘s people.
Who woke the dragon in Beowulf?
Hygelac dies in battle and his successor, Heardred, is killed. Beowulf rules the Geats for fifty years. Then, one day, a sleeping dragon is woken by someone who steals a goblet from his hoard of treasure. Da-dum!
Who helps Beowulf against the dragon?
CHARACTERS IN BEOWULF | |
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Beow | Son of Scyld. Had 4 sons & daughters. |
Wealhtheow | Queen. Hrothgar’s wife. |
Wiglaf | Helps old King Beowulf slay dragon. Wechstan’s son, relation of Beowulf. |
What happens during the fight with the dragon?
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.
What does Wiglaf fighting the dragon tell you about the importance of honor?
What does Wiglaf’s fighting the dragon tell you about the importance of honor in the Anglo-Saxon period? A warrior protects his king even at the risk of his own life.
When did Beowulf fight the dragon?
Starting around line 2200 of the great epic poem, this peace and prosperity comes to an abrupt end when a dragon emerges from the hole it’s been hiding in for hundreds of years. This is the last of the monsters that Beowulf must overcome as part of the epic hero cycle.
How is the dragon greedy in Beowulf?
The dragon is exceedingly greedy – marking a stark contrast to good kings, who create loyalty and love among their people and warriors through generosity. 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.
What does Beowulf say before fighting the dragon?
Now, Beowulf says, he shall fight once more: against the dragon. Beowulf recounts his deeds as a warrior, and then says he’ll fight the dragon. Even he seems to imply that fighting the dragon is the act of a warrior, not a king.
What causes the dragon in Beowulf to go on a rampage?
Why does the dragon wreak havoc upon Beowulf’s land and people? A thief stole a goblet from the dragon while it was asleep. The dragon noticed the goblet missing when it woke up and went on a rampage leading to Beowulf’s land.
What lines does Beowulf fight the dragon?
Lines 2596-2601: As the fire breathing dragon gets the upper hand against Beowulf, all but one of his hand-picked men prepared to stand by him, the brave Wiglaf. billowed and spewed. – Beowulf, Seamus Heaney (trans.) Lines 2575-2583: Beowulf attacks the dragon with his sword.
What happens when Beowulf strikes the dragon with his sword?
When Higlac (the king of the Geats) dies, Beowulf becomes king and rules for 50 years. … What happens when Beowulf strikes his enemy with his sword? He draws blood, but the sword cracks and breaks off before it goes deep enough into the dragon to cause any significant wound.
What preparations does Beowulf make to fight the dragon?
He is abandoned by all but one of his men, a young warrior named Wiglaf. Beowulf fights the dragon and kills him, but receives a mortal wound in the process. The dying Beowulf orders Wiglaf to gather up the dragon’s treasure and build him a great memorial mound so that he will not be forgotten. Then he dies.
How is Beowulf’s fight with the dragon similar to his two previous battles?
Like his two previous battles Beowulf fights for those who could not fight for themselves. While fighting the Dragon Beowulf shows feats of strength and courage that define him as a hero.
How many soldiers does Beowulf take with him to fight the dragon?
A | B |
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Who is Beowulf? | King of Geats, and strongest of the Geats |
How many men does Beowulf take with him? | 14 |
What is Beowulf’s one request? | Let him fight alone |
How does Beowulf intend to fight Grendel? | bare hands |
How was the dragon disturbed?
He saw the heap of gold and the coils of the sleeping dragon. … The man was afraid, but he wanted to please his master, so he reached out and stole a gold drinking cup. He would give it to his master as a present to soften his anger.
How did the dragon woke up in Beowulf?
A fugitive slave who accidentally stumbled into the dragon’s secret cave filled with treasure stole a cup to repay his master for a crime he committed. The dragon woke up found that he has been robbed and took vengeance on the nearby people.
What happened to those who held the dragon’s treasure in Beowulf?
Eventually they died off. They give the treasure back to the earth, so that no one else may enjoy them. How does the dragon react when he realizes his cup has been stolen?
Why did Beowulf’s warriors abandon him?
Why did Beowulf’s warriors desert him as he battled the dragon? They are fearful of dying and are afraid to stand with Beowulf. … Wiglaf denounces them for abandoning Beowulf saying, “We swore that these swords and armor were each for us all!”
Who forged the tremendous sword?
Where does Beowulf see a “tremendous sword” in the lair of Grendel’s mother? Who forged the tremendous sword that is in Grendel’s mother’s lair? Giants of olden time. How does Beowulf kill Grendel’s mother?
What does Beowulf’s followers do when they realize Beowulf is losing the fight?
What do Beowulf’s followers do when they realize he’s losing? What does Wiglaf do? They leave and run but Wiglaf stays to help.
What does a dragon signify?
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 is the dragon’s name in Beowulf?
In Beowulf the ‘draca’ [dragon] is also described as a ‘wyrm’ [serpent].
How did the dragon in Beowulf get his treasure?
The thief is the first character in Beowulf that is not a warrior or a king. The dragon is guarding a treasure hoard left by “the last survivor of a noble race,” who, before he died, locks his gold and jewels in a stone fortress.
Do you think Beowulf was brave in this battle with the dragon Why or why not?
Beowulf Hero Quotes
This quotation shows bravery because Beowulf knew the dragon was much more powerful than him, but he took it upon himself to fight the dragon alone and risk his life to protect the people. Beowulf defeated the dragon but also lost his life while fighting for his people.