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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 …

…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.