Battle Symbolism in BeowulfBeowulf authors often use events and things to symbolize stages of someone's life. Symbolism is the practice of representing things through symbols or assigning meaning to objects, events, or relationships. In the anonymous epic Beowulf, Beowulf fights Grendel, the monsters of the ocean, and Grendel's mother. Beowulf's battles against these three evils symbolize the youth and adulthood of Beowulf's life. The battle with Grendel represents the youth of Beowulf's life. The typical youth is very courageous and fights for glory. Beowulf shows how the battle with Grendel is a representation of the youth of Beowulf's life by going to Hrothgar and asking him if he can fight Grendel for him and his people. Beowulf shows this trait when he says, “Grant me then, lord and protector of this noble place, one request!” I have come so far, O refuge of warriors and beloved friend of your people, that you should not refuse me this favor. So that I, alone and with the help of my men, can purge all evil from this hell. (Beowulf page no.). Another trait that a typical young person possesses is that he does not want to be cheated on. They also don't want people to have a bad opinion of them. Beowulf shows this when he learns that Grendel does not use any weapons to fight and so Beowulf says that he will not use any weapons because he wants Higlac to think that he is worthy of him. Beowulf shows this trait when he says: “I have also heard that the monster's contempt for men is so great that he needs no weapon and fears none. Now I will. My lord Higlac would perhaps have less esteem for me if I let my sword go where my feet feared, if I hid behind a broad lime shield: my hands alone will fight for me, will fight for life against the monster (Beowulf page #).The typical youth likes to brag about what he has done. Beowulf shows this third trait when he brags to Hrothgar about how he swam to the end and killed all the monsters in the ocean. This is seen when Beowulf says, “I swam in the darkness of the night, chasing the monsters out of the ocean and killing them one by one; death was my mission and the fate they had deserved” (page Beowulf). #).