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How do Beowulf and Wiglaf defeat the dragon?
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Beowulf
Beowulf preparing to cut off the head of the monster Grendel, illustration from Hero-Myths & Legends of the British Race, 1910.
In the Old English poem Beowulf, the aging king decides to confront a fire-breathing dragon that has been ravaging his land after its treasure was stolen. During the long and difficult battle, Beowulf’s retainers desert him, with the exception of his young kinsman, Wiglaf, who comes to his aid. Together, the two men succeed in killing the venomous creature.1
The victory comes at a high cost, as Beowulf is mortally wounded by a bite to the neck during the struggle. Before he dies, he names Wiglaf as his successor.1