Beowulf Opinion

In the beginning of the book, Beowolf is overly prideful in his manner of describing everything he had done so far. I personally don't take much of a like to characters acting as he did, even if he did save them. A main character such as Beowulf is strong, though if he were more humble the story would have been better. Even as an old man he still wanted more fame, which in fighting the dragon led to his death.

After what Grendel had done to the people of Herot I can say he got what he deserved, though I cannot say his mother deserved the same fate. Yes, she was a monster, but her son was killed and she was upset over like anyone or anything else would be.

Beowulf Quotes

"Thoughts were as quick as his greed or his claws: He slipped through the door and there in the silence snatched up thirty men, smashed them unknowingly in their beds, and ran out with their bodies..." - What Grendel did to the people of Herot.

"She welcomed him in her claws, clutched at him savagely but could not harm him, tried to work her fingers through the tight ring-woven mail on his breast, ut tore and scratched in vain." - How Grendel's mother reacted when she first saw Beowulf

"All of us swore to repay him, when the time came,kindness for kindness - with our lives if he needed them..." - Wiglaf

Beowulf Pictures

http://www.africabookcentre.com/acatalog/Beowulf.jpg






http://www.commersen.se/vikingar/bilder/sagor/beowulf/grendel.gif






http://www.georgetown.edu/faculty/irvinem/english016/beowulf/dragon.gif

Beowulf Summary

Grendel was a monster who traveled to Herot and killed 30 people. Hrothgar was the lord of the people of Herot. He was sad for a long time until Beowolf came along. Beowolf talked to Hrothgar boastfully about all he had already accomplished and offered to try and defeat the monster. Hrothgar had faith in Beowolf because of what he listed and because Beowolf was Edgetho's son. Beowolf ventured out to battle with Grendel. Grendel was indeed a fierce monster, though could not hurt Beowolf. Beowolf defeated Grendel with his hands and took back Grendel's arm as proof.

Grendel's mother saw out to avenge her son's death. She went to Herot and killed Hrothgar's friend. Beowolf would once again help the people of Herot. He went into the lair of Grendel's mother and she took him into some type of dome for them to fight in. He tried to defeat her, but had problems at first until he took her own sword and struck her in the neck.

A dragon came Terot and terrorized the people there. Beowolf would try to help the people again, but by this time he had grown quite old. He fought against the dragon, but his sword broke against the dragon's scales. People who had promised to help Beowolf when he needed it all fled away in fear. Only one person stayed to help him, Wiglaf. Wifglaf and Beowolf defeated the dragon, though Beowolf was wounded in the neck, which proved to be fatal. The dragon's treasure was buried with Beowolf. The Geats built a tower in Beowolf's honor and mourned the loss of their lord.