Beowulf, Part 14 summary

What happens

1. Warriors gather near the hall and inspect the monster’s tracks; the account describes its death in bloody waters.
2. Returning riders race their horses and praise Beowulf without speaking against Hrothgar.
3. A bard recounts Sigemund’s solitary victory over a dragon and contrasts heroic fame with Heremod’s failure.
4. Hrothgar approaches with his queen and attendants, gives thanks for the defeat, and accepts Beowulf as a son.
5. Beowulf says God permits the monster’s escape, but its hand and arm remain behind.
6. Unferth falls silent before Beowulf’s achievement, and the text declares that swords cannot harm the monster.

In this part

What to notice

The abandoned limbs provide physical evidence of Beowulf’s success even though he cannot prevent the monster’s escape.

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