The Theme of BeowulfInterpretations of Beowulf vary. In this essay, I hope to clearly state some of the commonly mentioned themes that run through the poem. "Many critics believe that Hrothgar's speech between c. 1700 and 1784 sums up the moral of the poem...". in him great arrogance grew and spread” (Shippey 38). Hrothgar's ominous words come back to haunt the hero more than once. Beowulf is a braggart; he is proud, and nothing seems to be able to change his fundamental pride arising from his all-powerful physical strength. Shortly before his own defeat against the fire dragon, our hero remembers having killed the great hero of the Hugas with his bare hands: since time has passed, in front of the armies, I have killed Daeghrefn, the champion of the Hugas. , with bare hands. He never brought his chest ornament back to the Frisian king: the standard-bearer fell in battle like a prince, in valour; no advantage killed him, my grip crushed his beating heart, the bone house of his life (2501-09). Yes, Beowulf was full of pride and self-confidence; this made him impetuous in his actions. Regarding the dragon, “its strength and fire seemed nothing at all to the strong old king” (2348-49); before facing the dragon, he remembered his bravery in battle against the Hetware and how he alone had escaped: Lines 2354-68: It was not the slightest hand-to-hand combat either..... . middle of paper... ...some points of view on this subject.BIBLIOGRAPHYChickering, Howell D.. Beowulf A bilingual edition. New York: Anchor Books, 1977. Kaske, R.E. “The guiding theme of Beowulf.” In Beowulf: The Donaldson Translation, edited by Joseph F. Tuso. New York, WWNorton and Co.: 1975Leyerle, John. “The contradictory demands of heroic strength and royal wisdom.” In Readings on Beowulf, edited by Stephen P. Thompson. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1998. Shippey, T.A. “The world of the poem”. In Beowulf – Modern Critical Interpretations, edited by Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987. Tolkien, JRR. “Beowulf: Monsters and Critics.” » In Beowulf – Modern Critical Interpretations, edited by Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987.