Gabriel Arellano English Oct. 5, 2009 Per. 3 Beowulf and the Last Battle The reason of the last battle was something to do with a missing cup. A missing cup by which was stolen from a slave that belonged to the dragon. The dragon then sees that the cup is missing and goes out in a fury. Beowulf’s plan was to return it. In the opening scene of The Last Battle, comes a quote from Beowulf, “I’ve never known fear, as a youth I fought in endless battles. I am old, now, but I will fight again, seek fame still, if the dragon is hiding in his tower dares to face me.” What he means by this is that even though he’s old, he is still willing to take up the challenge of being a hero again, destroying the darkness once again if and only if the dragon will be willing to fight him. After his speech, he starts to say goodbye to his people. At first, he tells them that he will not use any weapons or armor because the dragon bears none but that because of the dragon’s fiery flame, he is not ashamed to use it. He also tells his people that he is proud of what he’s done and he is feeling very confident. As he is preparing for battle, the soldiers too want to fight beside him but however they are afraid and only one brave soldier, Wiglaf, comes along. As they arrive to the cave and head for the entrance, suddenly there came a loud roar and covering smoke. And thus, the battle had begun. The battle starts out as the dragon starts breathing out fire everywhere, burning all that is touched by it. Beowulf does all he can to shield himself from danger, fighting back whenever chance he gets. But no matter what, his companion was besides him, helping him effortlessly. As the dragon flies away and then turns back, the dragon soon swoops down towards Beowulf and Wiglaf, letting out another flame of its breath. Beowulf again shields himself but this time, the shield was melting. And as it was melting, Beowulf comes to a realization where he believes that his most trusted weapon had failed him.Wiglaf recalls a moment about being in the mead hall and just celebrating about how we should repay him “when the time came, kindness for kindness.” Beowulf as well as Wiglaf raises both of their swords, the dragon seeing their courage, and forcibly striked the dragon’s skin by which the dragon becomes in pain and starts breathing fire everywhere. Beowulf falls back, being in severe pain and suffering severe wounds. Before he dies, his dying wish was have the treasure be buried with the dragon instead of giving it to his people and instead have the people to build a tower monument for him. Beowulf becomes cremated and his dying wish becomes fulfilled.

Gabriel Arellano Ms. Lehrack English 26 September 2009 Battle Between Beowulf and Grendel Persuasive Essay The story opens with the introduction of a great hall being build called Herot created by the King. The King Hrothgar and the warriors as well as the women have always celebrated in the hall by singing, dancing and drinking. One night however, a creature named Grendel overhears their joyness and is immediately angered by their celebration fiasco. The reason for this is because Grendel can not experience happiness or even have the thoughts of happiness and because that the warriors were having fun, Grendel gets mad for that because he belongs to the darkness. Another reason was that the people have a god to rely while Grendel does not as he is actually hated by them. Grendel sneaks into the great hall, brutally kiiling the soldiers in their sleep and then fleeing away back home to his dark cave. Because of this, King Hrothgar and his people abandon Herot as they are helpless against Grendel. Beowulf decides to help out, after hearing such trouble at the great hall. Upon arrival, Beowulf and his men spend the night in Herot. There, they learn about the massacre that had occurred in Herot. They also learn about the creature itself. Because that Grendel has no weapons nor armor, Beowulf believes it should be fair that he applies the same by fighting him without any use of weapons and armor. After they fall asleep, Grendel once again enters inside the great hall and attacks, devouring one of Beowulf’s men. Beowulf and Grendel begin to fight each other. As they are fighting, the soldiers rush in to his aid, attacking the enemy with their swords but does not affect Grendel since he is immune to human weapons. Grendel, realizing that Beowulf was very strong, tries to run away but is wrestled down by Beowulf and he screams in pain when loud crashing noises caused by rattles and such. Gaining much more power and strength, Beowulf rips out Grendel’s arm from his socket and Grendel runs back towards home, bleeding to death.