Page "Beowulf" Paragraph 13

A 1908 depiction of Beowulf fighting the dragon by J. R. Skelton. Beowulf returns home and eventually becomes king of his own people.

One day, fifty years after Beowulf's battle with Grendel's mother, a slave steals a golden cup from the lair of an unnamed dragon at Earnaness.

When the dragon sees that the cup has been stolen, it leaves its cave in a rage, burning everything in sight.

Beowulf and his warriors come to fight the dragon, but Beowulf tells his men that he will fight the dragon alone and that they should wait on the barrow.

Beowulf descends to do battle with the dragon but finds himself outmatched.

His men, upon seeing this display and fearing for their lives, creep back into the woods.

One of his men, however, Wiglaf, who finds great distress in seeing Beowulf's plight, comes to Beowulf's aid.

The two slay the dragon, but Beowulf is mortally wounded.