Beowulf, however, decides to fight the dragon that threatens his people. Beowulf is either braver or more powerful than Hrothgar, or both. Some may say he is foolhardy because he, an elderly warrior, can conquer a powerful adversary without help from his warriors.
Table of Contents
Is Beowulf being foolhardy or noble in deciding to fight the dragon alone?
Beowulf, however, decides to fight the dragon that threatens his people. Beowulf is either braver or more powerful than Hrothgar, or both. Some may say he is foolhardy because he, an elderly warrior, can conquer a powerful adversary without help from his warriors.
What does Beowulf do to Grendel’s corpse?
At last, he notices a sword hanging on the wall, an enormous weapon forged for giants. Beowulf seizes the huge sword and swings it in a powerful arc. The blade slices cleanly through the Grendel’s mother’s neck, and she falls dead to the floor, gushing with blood.
What stops Grendel’s mother’s blade from killing Beowulf?
Beowulf sees Grendel’s mother in a cave. He tries to hit her with his sword, Unferth’s Hrunting, but it fails to pierce her skin. So he throws the sword away and attacks the mother with his bare hands. She tries to kill him with a dagger, but Beowulf’s armor protects him this time.
What urges wiglaf to remain loyal despite the danger?
What urges Wiglaf to remain loyal despite the danger? Tells Wiglaf to use the treasure wisely.
What does Beowulf hang from the rafters of Heorot?
Grendel’s severed claw, arm, and shoulder are symbols and proof of Beowulf’s successful battle. It is, in part,to offer proof of success that it hangs from the rafters, but it is also a trophy of battle for Beowulf.
What does Grendel’s arm represent?
Grendel’s Arm To Beowulf and the people of Heorot, Grendel’s claw symbolizes the defeat of a monster that has threatened the kingdom for years. However, Grendel’s mother sees the arm as a symbol of sadness for the loss of her beloved son and as a symbol of how sickening the human beings are.
What about Beowulf’s method of killing Grendel’s mother is ironic?
What is ironic about the way Beowulf kills Grendel’s mother? Beowulf kills Grendel’s mother with her own sword. Although she was attempting to avenge the death of Grendel, she herself slain by Beowulf. Beowulf wants Grendel’s head as a trophy to replace the shoulder, arm, and claw stolen from Herot by Grendel’s mother.
Why did Beowulf hang Grendel’s arm from the ceiling after he beat him in battle?
Fatally wounded, Grendel slinks back to his swampy home to die. Back in the mead-hall, Beowulf holds up his gory trophy in triumph. He proudly hangs the arm high on the wall of Heorot as proof of his victory.
What happens to Beowulf immediately after he kills Grendel’s mother?
After he kills Grendel’s mother, Beowulf sees the body of Grendel nearby. He takes none of the numerous treasures lying all around the cave, save for two. Beowulf keeps the golden hilt of the sword that enabled him to defeat Grendel’s mother, and he cuts off Grendel’s head as a trophy.
What does Beowulf get for killing Grendel’s mother?
He kills her with a sword forged for a giant, then, finding Grendel’s corpse, decapitates it and brings the head as a prize to Hrothgar.
Who takes the arm down from the rafters?
The two wrestle furiously, and Grendel manages to escape only after having his arm torn out of its socket; he races off to the marsh to die. Beowulf hangs Grendel’s arm from the rafters.
Is Hrothgar good or evil?
Hrothgar can be seen as a symbol of good in this epic. He is a mentor and a father figure to young Beowulf. He seeks protection for his people.
What does Grendel’s mother do when she attacks?
Why does Grendel’s mother attack Herot? What does she take with her? Grendel’s mother attacks Herot because she wants revenge for the death of her son. When she leaves, she ends up taking his arm that is hanging.
What happens the night after Grendel’s defeat?
What does Grendel’s mother do the night after Grendel was murdered? She goes to Herot to avenge her son’s death. She kills Hrothgar’s closet friend, retrieves Grendel’s arm from the rafters where Beowulf had hung it, and returns to her lake. State several proofs that Beowulf must be a superhuman.
Does Beowulf cut off Grendel’s mother’s head?
Beowulf strikes Grendel’s mother with the sword slicing her in two and splitting her collarbones. After the attack, a light illuminates the cave, “just as from the sky heaven’s candle shines clear.” (Norton 47) Beowulf notices Grendel’s body and he instantaneously cuts off the monster’s head to present it to Hrothgar.
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.