How Does Beowulf Relate To Each Other

How do the three battles in Beowulf even relate to each other? In Beowulf translated by Burton Raffel, the three battles just appear to all be simple obstacles in the form of enemies that pose an immediate threat. But when looking at things deeper, these enemies are not only just external obstacles but they are internal ones that change who Beowulf is throughout his life. Beowulf begins this poem as a cocky and arrogant warrior trying to fight for selfish reasons. At the end of the poem beowulf sacrifices his life for his people. In Beowulf, the three battles relate to each other by providing a personal transformation for Beowulf. Beowulf is mainly battling Grendel to prove his strength. In the beginning of the poem Beowulf claims that he owes Hrothgar a favor because he helped his father in the past. But at the feast when

In the last battle Beowulf fights the dragon because he is terrorizing his people. Instead of Beowulf being a young and brash warrior who wants to prove he is the best, he simply just wants to protect his people. Even when he is saying how he is going to use a sword, armor, and shield because of the enemy he is facing he shows maturity. “But his breath will be burning Hot, poison will pour from his tongue. I feel no shame, with shield and sword and armor against this monster” (Raffel 616-619) Young Beowulf wouldn’t have been wise enough to recognize that he has to use a sword and armor. Young Beowulf probably would have only done it to gain fame and not do it just to protect people. In his battle with Grendel, Beowulf wanted to get his arm to show off and prove his courage. In his battle with Grendel’s mother, Beowulf kills her for both selfish and selfless reasons. This battle contrast to both because Beowulf did it for the sole reason of protecting his people. The fact that Beowulf sacrifices his life just to protect others shows the transformation of Beowulf as a warrior, king, and