What does the dragon in Beowulf symbolize?

What does the dragon in Beowulf symbolize?

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 is the dragon called in Beowulf?

draca
In Beowulf the ‘draca’ [dragon] is also described as a ‘wyrm’ [serpent].

Why does the dragon burn Beowulf’s Hall?

The dragon burns the land and buildings, including Beowulf’s own mead-hall. As a monster that represents the opposite of a generous king and therefore is a destroyer rather than creator of society, it should come as no surprise that the dragon would burn Beowulf’s mead-hall.

Who was a fire-breathing creature in the epic Beowulf ‘?

After Beowulf’s death, the dragon, which measured at 25 alens (50 feet long), was dumped unceremoniously into the sea. Its treasure is buried with Beowulf on Wiglaf’s orders, and Wiglaf, who is Beowulf’s heir, ascends the throne thereafter. The Dragon is the first example of a fire-breathing dragon in literature.

What does the dragon and its destruction symbolize in Beowulf?

Because Beowulf’s encounter with the dragon ends in mutual destruction, the dragon may also be interpreted as a symbolic representation of the inevitable encounter with death itself.

What does the dragon burn down in Beowulf?

When the angry dragon mercilessly burns the Geats’ homes and lands, Beowulf decides to fight and kill the monster personally. He and his thanes climb to the dragon’s lair where, upon seeing the beast, the thanes flee in terror, leaving only Wiglaf to battle at Beowulf’s side.

Who is the dragon in Grendel?

Gardner is using the dragon as shorthand for the misery of existence—the kind of misery that can lead to the depressing philosophies (and appalling social manners) he ends up sharing with Grendel. In this sense, the dragon is not only a huge, frightening freak of nature: he’s also a state of mind.

Who ultimately kills the dragon?

Wiglaf
The dragon battle is structured in thirds: the preparation for the battle, the events prior to the battle, and the battle itself. Wiglaf kills the dragon halfway through the scene, Beowulf’s death occurs “after two-thirds” of the scene, and the dragon attacks Beowulf three times.

Was Grendel a dragon?

Of course, he’s a “real” dragon, too: Grendel’s so scared of him that he pees himself when he sees him. But the dragon also represents the darker (darkest?) side of Grendel’s mind.

Who steals from the dragon in Beowulf?

It informs us that Hygelac died, and so did his son Heardred. Beowulf became the leader and ruled well for fifty years, until an angry dragon interrupted his rein. 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.

What did they do with the dragon’s body in Beowulf?

With seven of the greatest Geatish thanes, Wiglaf returns to the dragon’s bier to collect the treasure that Beowulf bought with his life. They hurl the dragon’s body into the water. The pyre is built high and decked with armor, according to Beowulf’s wishes.

Who steals gold from the dragon 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.

What happens to the dragon’s treasure in Beowulf?

about the dragon that Beowulf combats is that it or he is the guardian of a particular treasure. This treasure is particular in being a token and force of death rather than a good of life. function; he denies it life by consigning it to death with himself.

What happens to the dragon in Beowulf?

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.

Was the dragon in Beowulf evil?

The Dragon. Dragons appear throughout medieval folklore. They represent evil that is challenged by heroes and for the most part they are the stories. In Beowulf, the dragon is portrayed as an evil creature that dislikes mankind especially those who dare intrude on its hoard or steal from it.