Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow, is a Geat and like no other warrior ever seen before. He is the strongest man alive. He has the strength of thirty men in his arm alone. When Beowulf was only a boy, he had battles with his friends and swam for miles with his sword in his hand and armor on the rest of his body. When he battles Grendel's mother, it is said that Beowulf is underwater for nearly half a day. Aside from being a great warrior, he is also very smart and modest about his strength. When Beowulf arrives in Heorot, he is confronted with opposition. The king, Hrothgar allows Beowulf to fight because has known Beowulf's father, Ecgtheow, and Hrothgar saved him from a feud. Unferth, who is jealous of Beowulf, tells a story about Beowulf losing a contest with his friend, Breca. It turns out that they were at sea for five days and that Beowulf had to battle a monster underwater. After explaining the situation, Beowulf says this great line: "Fate often saves an undoomed man when his courage is good" (Norton 34). Beowulf battles his enemies with pride and tells Hrothgar that he will "fulfill the will of your people or else fall in slaughter, fast in the foe's grasp. I shall achieve a deed of mainly courage or else have lived to see in his mead-hall my ending day" (Norton 35). Beowulf is saying that he would rather die in battle, then any other place. A great warrior would rather die in battle. According to Beowulf, it is always better to seek vengeance then suffer then to live in sorrow.
Beowulf saves the people of Heorot. He is greatly praised and he receives gifts and good advice form Hrothgar. Beowulf returns home to Hygelac and becomes king. In his old age, he battles a dragon; unfortunately, the dragon gets the best of him, and Beowulf falls to his death. The life of a great and praised warrior has finally ended.