XXXVIII: Wiglaf Plunders the Dragon’s Den—Beowulf’s Death explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Mortality and Legacy

  Beowulf accepts his death, thanks God for the treasure, and commands a barrow to ensure his memory endures.

• Heroism and Valor

  Wiglaf's courageous plundering of the dragon's den and Beowulf's final acts of generosity and leadership exemplify heroic ideals.

• Fate and Divine Providence

  Beowulf acknowledges God's role in granting him the treasure and accepts his fate as Weird (fate) takes his kinsmen and himself.

Characters to notice

• Beowulf

  Mortally wounded, gives thanks for treasure, commands his barrow, and bestows his armor on Wiglaf before dying.

• Wiglaf

  Wihstan's son, plunders the dragon's den, retrieves treasure, and returns to Beowulf.

• Wihstan

  Mentioned as Wiglaf's father.

Key passages

• “Then heard I that Wihstan’s son very quickly, These words being uttered, heeded his liegelord Wounded and war-sick, went in his armor, His well-woven ring-mail, ’neath the roof of the barrow.”

  I then heard that Wiglaf, Wihstan's son, quickly obeyed his wounded lord and entered the barrow in his armor.

  Wiglaf's immediate response to Beowulf's command.

• “Wealth can easily, Gold on the sea-bottom, turn into vanity Each one of earthmen, arm him who pleaseth!”

  Earthly wealth can easily lead to vanity for anyone who possesses it.

  A moral reflection on the dangers of treasure.

• “Beowulf spake (the gold-gems he noticed), The old one in sorrow: “For the jewels I look on Thanks do I utter for all to the Ruler, Wielder of Worship, with words of devotion, The Lord everlasting, that He let me such treasures Gain for my people ere death overtook me.””

  Beowulf, seeing the treasure, gave thanks to God for allowing him to gain it for his people before his death.

  Beowulf's final gratitude and selflessness.

• “The battle-famed bid ye to build them a grave-hill, Bright when I’m burned, at the brim-current’s limit; As a memory-mark to the men I have governed, Aloft it shall tower on Whale’s-Ness uprising, That earls of the ocean hereafter may call it Beowulf’s barrow.”

  Command that a barrow be built for me on the headland, so that sailors will remember me as Beowulf's barrow.

  Beowulf's request for a lasting memorial.

• “Thou art latest left of the line of our kindred, Of Waegmunding people: Weird hath offcarried All of my kinsmen to the Creator’s glory, Earls in their vigor: I shall after them fare.”

  You are the last of our family; fate has taken all my kinsmen, and I will soon follow them.

  Beowulf acknowledges Wiglaf as his heir and accepts his own death.