Digital Portfolio Assignment 9/9

5. Why does Beowulf have to die at the end of the epic? How would the epic be different if it ended with Beowulf alive, triumphant, and still king of the Geats?

The poem is a constant reminder that eventually, all men will die.  Beowulf was aware of his eventual fate and he acknowledges he is getting older and weaker.  Tolkien’s article also reveals why Beowulf must meet his death, Beowulf’s “author is still concerned primarily with man on earth, rehandling in a new perspective an ancient theme: that man, each man and all men, and all their works shall die” (P.9 Par. 4). This concept of inevitable death is constant throughout the poem. If the protagonist does not die the story loses credibility due to its lack of consistency. 

The theme of death is constant throughout the poem.  Beowulf must realize that his death is imminent.  All of Beowulf’s feats will not grant him immortality and I believe Beowulf was aware of this.  In Beowulf’s final battle he is faced with two challenges.  Beowulf’s foe would be the most difficult he has encountered and his aging which reflects his battle with time. With this evidence I am convinced that Beowulf wanted to be remembered as a hero king who died battling a dragon and not as a hero king who died battling pneumonia. 

If Beowulf would have survived then the Geats would not have to deal with the consequences of his death.   Beowulf relieves the gold and the dragon is slayed, but the Geats are vulnerable to attack. The Geats were comforted by knowing that Beowulf could defend their tribe against man or beast. Wiglaf offered some sobering words to the Geats, “Now war is looming over our nation, so it will be known to Franks and Frisians, far and wide that the king is gone.” (Ln.2911-13). Beowulf’s followers relied on him for protection, security, and hope. Beowulf’s death foreshadowed war for the Geats.  Their tribe would not be protected by this hero and without Beowulf an attack against the Geats seemed inevitable.

If Beowulf had survived his battle with the dragon I wonder how he would have handled the disloyal actions of his men.  Wiglaf disappointedly spoke to the Geat warriors that “tail-turned” and “battle-dodged”. Wiglaf stressed that all the gifts, helmets, armor and mail that Beowulf showered them with was a waste because of their disloyal actions against Beowulf.  If Beowulf would have survived I wonder how he would have handled the Geat warriors that abandoned him.