Beowulf Part 4/4: The Last Word The Fight with the Dragon The lesson of King Heremod, ‘battle-­‐minded.’ The meaning of the Lament of the Last Survivor. (consider the emphasis in OE verse on fellowship & transience). The fight with the dragon and the proper place of pride. What is the tone at the closing of the poem? How, in the end, are we to view the hero? The last word on Beowulf: lofgeornost (line 3182). Some Passages for close consideration: 2211–12 (sic Grendel), 1687–1784 (Heremod), 2242–2270 (Lament of Last Survivor), 2271–93 (Dragon life), 2345–55 (Beowulf’s resolve), 2490–2509 (fighting bravely), 2516-­‐37 (fighting alone), 2580-­‐91 (sword-­‐fail), 2596-­‐2601 (cowardice), 2626–2660 (Wiglaf’s speech), 2695–2700 (dragon-­‐slaying), 3137–55 (funeral pyre), 3182 (the last word). © Patrick McBrine