In this poem, King Hrothgar, the leader of the Danes, is bothered by the attacks of a demon called Grendel. Each night, Grendel the demon attacks the King’s rich mead-hall, Heorot. Grendel kills Danish soldiers and occasionally eats them. King Hrothgar was a grand warrior in his time, but at the moment he is an aged king and cannot seem to defend his people. Luckily, a youthful great warrior known as Beowulf tours Heorot Hall to provide a helping hand. Beowulf fights and kills Grendel. Hrothgar, Beowulf and their supporters throw a party to rejoice. Hrothgar, moreover, offers Beowulf a lot of treasures and presents to repay him for his daring trounce of Grendel. In this instance, the poet suggested that Christianity seems to be in tension. This is so because the poet portrays demonic superiority in Grendel. “Then came from the moor Neath, the misty slopes Grendel going, God’s anger he bore” (Seamus).
Beowulf involves Grendel’s mother in another battle. He slays her, although her noxious demon blood thaws the blade. The Danish warriors give him up for dead; however, his own Geatish supporters, nevertheless, wait uncomplainingly. When everybody sees that he has endured this second dispute, there is even more celebrating. The values of the Danish warriors are in conflict in this instance. This is because they give up Beowulf for dead despite the fact that he helped to defeat Grendel.
“Then came the ninth hour; the ness forsook
The valiant Scyldings: he departed thence home,
The gold-friend of men. The strangers sat,
Sick in their mind, and stared on the sea”(Seamus).
Beowulf at last encounters his match. His match is a dragon; awaken by a crook thieving a goblet. The dragon embarks on attacking the Geats, slaughtering people and burning villages. Beowulf recruits a faction of eleven reliable warriors, in addition to the thief, who is acquainted with the dragon’s lair. They go to the barrow for the last fight with the dragon. When the warriors see the dragon, they flee in terror except one man, Wiglaf, who stays put. Beowulf is able to overcome the monster, with help and encouragement from Wiglaf, however, he is gravely injured in the course. In this instance, the value of the warriors seems to be in conflict yet again. This is because they flee instead of remaining at Beowulf’s side.