Page "Beowulf" Paragraph 4

Later in his life, Beowulf is himself king of the Geats, and finds his realm terrorised by a dragon whose treasure had been stolen from his hoard in a burial mound.

He attacks the dragon with the help of his thegns or servants, but they do not succeed.

Beowulf decides to follow the dragon into its lair, at Earnanæs, but only his young Swedish relative Wiglaf dares join him along with Tinshaw.

Beowulf finally slays the dragon, but is mortally wounded.

He is buried in a tumulus or burial mound, by the sea.