The topic of my essay will explain how Beowulf becomes both a tragic hero and a proud fool. Beowulf becomes a world-renowned hero, but like many, his self-pride leads him to a horrible downfall, ultimately ending his life in tragedy. In the same way he becomes a proud fool by letting his ego overpower his rationale and as a result he makes a foolish decision that abandons the Geats forever. One instance that shows us …showed first 75 words of 388 total…

…showed last 75 words of 388 total…death. Near the end of the poem we learn of the tragic fate of the Geats: “Thus the brave messenger told of and foretold/ harrowing times; and he was not far wrong./ Those events were fated.” (Line 1990-1992) Beowulf, who saves all of Hrothgar’s people by defeating Grendel and Grendel’s mother, in a way, abandon’s his own people by trying to defeat the dragon. His death marks the fall of the Geats.