Part 2 (Read the part 1 before this)
Grendel's mother seizes Aeschere and takes him away with her. Beowulf follows her track. Beowulf enters this horrible place and his companions wait for him on the shore. For long he sinks through the flood and when he reaches the bottom, Grendel's mother drags him into a cave where sea monsters swarm at him from behind. No weapon harms Grendel's mother - merewif. She crushes him down and takes a small sword and attacks him but Beowulf's armor that he was wearing, saves him. Suddenly his eyes catches the sight of a magic sword, made by the giants long ago, too heavy for warriers to hold. He holds the weapon, struggling, and then brings down a crashing blow upon monster's neck. Merewif falls and the fight is won.
There are a lot of treasures in the cave but Beowulf doesn't take them. He looks at the body of Grendel lying there, dead from the wounds received in the previous fight. Beowulf takes the sword and strikes off Grendel's head. As the sword touches the poisonous blood of Grendel, it melts. He takes the head and goes back like a hero.
Only his faithful bands were waiting there at the shore. All other people of Danes had left after they saw blood in the ocean, thinking that Beowulf had lost. All of them were mourning in Heorot. There Beowulf returned with Grendel's head with his followers.
In the last part of the poem, there is one more fight. Beowulf has turned old now and has reigned for almost fifty years. He has overcome many enemies. There is a fire dragon, keeping watch over an enormous treasure hidden among the mountains. One day a wanderer takes a cup from the precious treasure while the dragon sleeps. Angered at this, blenches forth fire and smoke and enters the nearest village leaving a trail of death and terror behind.
Once more, Beowulf comes to save people from his terror. As he enters dragon's cave, he feels that it is time for his death. There is flash of illumination that comes to him. Beowulf fights the dragon in which Beowulf gets wrapped in fire and smoke and is helped by Wiglaf- one of his companions. The dragon is slain but the fire enters Beowulf's lungs. Wiglaf removes this battered armor. Beowulf sends Wiglaf in the cave of the dragon which is filled with rare treasures. Wiglaf doesn't care much for it and thinks about the dying Beowulf. He fills his hand with rare treasures and puts them at Beowulf's feet. Beowulf thanks the lord that by death he has gained more riches for people.
Wiglaf had sent a messenger to his people but when they come they find Beowulf dead and a huge dragon head beside him. All people mourn selflessly without caring for the jewels.
Comments