ther than sheer power. Grendel’s mother uses swords, and Beowulf uses chain mail and a helmet to protect himself. Beowulf “swung his sword, his ring-marked blade, straight at her head; then iron sang its fierce song, sang Beowulf’s strength” (1543). Battling Grendel’s mother required much more protection than fighting her son, due to her immense strength and power. Even the sharpest and most deadly of Beowulf’s weapons failed to penetrate the hide of her neck. The means of warfare used by The Dragon and Beowulf in their confrontation are swords, shields, armor and fire. Only the iron shield of Beowulf prevented him from early defeat by The Dragon as “flames beat at the iron shield” and then “it began to melt” (2570). The sword of the noble Wiglaf eventually killed off the venomous dragon, preventing it from further harming Beowulf. This sword did not rescue Beowulf, for he had suffered fatal blows, yet it inflicted revenge on The Dragon who dared to mortally wound the greatest warrior of the Geats. Resulting from each one of Beowulf’s battles was at least one death, but the difference of these deaths lies in the three different elements of warfare: sheer strength, swords, and fire. Through each battle fought, Beowulf’s attitude changes. Prior to the battle with Grendel, Beowulf declares, “Grendel is no braver, no stronger than I am! I could kill him with my sword; I shall not easy as it would be.” (677). Beowulf asserts his position as the greatest fighter of the land. He believes no man or beast retains the ability to challenge his supremacy. Upon escaping Grendel’s mother with his life, Beowulf’s attitude of his dominance changes. When reporting to Hrothgar after his fight, Beowulf admits, “My life was almost lost, fighting for it, struggling under water: I’d have been dead at once, and the fight finished, the sh...
