News Article
Grendel's Mother
Beowulf’s battle with Grendel’s mother begins with his journey into her underwater cave. Upon traversing through the cavern, Beowulf is welcomed to the savage clutch of Grendel’s mother’s claws and subsequently brought into a battle-hall that is characterized by a high-arching roof and filled with brilliant light surrounding them. Beowulf attempts to use his sword but comes up in vain, as “no sword could slice her evil skin.” Grendel’s mother manages to bite holes into Beowulf’s helmet, which had experienced many wars yet came through untouched. With glory in his mind, Beowulf continues battle fighting hand-to-hand with the fierce beast. Grendel’s mother outmatches Beowulf and pins him down, nearing him close to death with her bloodstained dagger, yet “her stabbing blade was blunted by the woven mail shirt he wore on his chest." With the fate of God on his side, Beowulf nearly escapes death and proceeds to grab a sword hanging on the wall, slicing the beast in the neck, killing her. Filled with rage, Beowulf notices Grendel’s body struggling for life and decapitates it, taking home a war trophy.
Beowulf's Final Battle
As a result of Beowulf’s kingdom being attacked, he challenges a vicious dragon to fight. He arrived at the home of the dragon, armed with a shield and sword along with eleven men and the loyal Wiglaf, and is greeted by flames spewed from the dragon. Beowulf battles the dragon and is put against flames that bombarded his shield, which “began to melt, and for the first time in his life that famous prince fought with fate against him” (Page 43 lines 720-725). His weapons fail him as he strikes the dragon’s tough scales and his men run away in fear. Wiglaf addresses the soldiers and reminds them of all the heroic deeds Beowulf has done for their kingdom. After this speech, Wiglaf and the soldiers return to Beowulf’s side, only to see him struggling for life after the dragon bit him. With Beowulf verging death, he is given treasures, praises God for them and proceeds to tell his men of his wishes he has upon death. He tells of his desire to be remembered by many by erecting a tower in his honor. With Beowulf dead, the greats of Geat praise his heroic deeds and he is sent to heaven.