What happens in chapter 12 of Beowulf?

Grendel continues to insist that Beowulf is insane, and that his victory is only an accident and no proof of the truth of his words. Grendel is amazed when Beowulf manages to rip his arm off at the shoulder. Suddenly realizing that he will die, Grendel stumbles out of the hall and into the darkness of the night.

What is the purpose of the Finnsburg episode in Beowulf?

The Finnsburg episode relates loosely to Beowulf’s central narrative. Although it isn’t relevant to the main plot, it invokes the idea of vengeance as a component of honor. The story also highlights a tension in the heroic code by presenting the point of view of the Danish princess Hildeburh.

Why does the dragon wake up in Beowulf?

The defeat of his people had left the treasures to deteriorate. The dragon chanced upon the hoard and has been guarding it for the past three hundred years. Waking up to find the goblet stolen, the dragon bursts forth from the barrow to hunt the thief, scorching the earth as it travels.

What did Beowulf have to do to fight Grendel’s mom?

Although his sword, Hrunting, loaned to him by Unferth, fails to penetrate the mother’s hide, Beowulf discovers a giant magic sword in the cave and is able to kill the mother with it. The sword melts to its hilt after Beowulf uses it to decapitate the corpse of Grendel, which lies nearby.

How does Beowulf trick Grendel?

Grendel is a monster who killed people for their blood. Beowulf pretended to sleep so he could trick Grendel and kill him so no one else would die.

What kills Beowulf?

the dragon
Sensing his own death approaching, Beowulf goes to fight the dragon. With the aid of Wiglaf, he succeeds in killing the beast, but at a heavy cost. The dragon bites Beowulf in the neck, and its fiery venom kills him moments after their encounter.

Who becomes king after Beowulf dies?

At Beowulf’s command, Wiglaf gathers treasure from the dragon’s lair and piles it where Beowulf can see it. The dying Beowulf tells Wiglaf to “watch his people’s needs” (by which he means that Wiglaf is to become the next king.)

What creature is Grendel’s mother?

Grendel’s mother was an ‘aglæc-wif’, ‘a female warrior’ […] there is no more reason to introduce the idea of monstrosity or of misery here than there is in line 1519 where she is called merewif, defined simply as ‘water-woman’, ‘woman of the mere’.

How does Beowulf defeat her?

At last, he notices a sword hanging on the wall, an enormous weapon forged for giants. Beowulf seizes the huge sword and swings it in a powerful arc. The blade slices cleanly through the Grendel’s mother’s neck, and she falls dead to the floor, gushing with blood. The hero is exultant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kER2oIvDCw