What a bittersweet ending to such a fantastic story. To see Beowulf at his best, slaying Grendel and his mother, becoming world-renown, and then for him to make an attempted comeback in old age, and fall in his final hour-maybe that is better than him dying in his sleep on a heap of gold.
My concern, or curiosity rather, is what happened to the people after Beowulf was gone. They were safe from the dragon, but who knows what other fears or other forces lurked on the horizon. Perhaps there would rise up contending forces within their own country. With such a 'gracious' 'fair-minded' king gone, what would become of the people who loved him? Beowulf's departure should remind all of us when the time comes for us to step up to the plate, and rise to the challenge. I think it's a great opportunity for a sequel.
P.S. I commented on Ms. Hyatt's post
I agree that the ending was kind of sudden with no real wrap up. I do like, however, that Beowulf died being Beowulf. He was purely a warrior king and would not have been able to die in his sleep on a heap of gold. If Beowulf had survived the dragon he would have searched and searched until he died in battle, and this i think is very fitting.
ReplyDeleteYou know what they say when one enemy is defeated another is there to take its place. Definitely agree with you though.
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