(Solved): Read carefully stanzas 34 through 43 (pages 93-103 of our textbook, lines 2391-3182, the end of the ...

Read carefully stanzas 34 through 43 (pages 93-103 of our textbook, lines 2391-3182, the end of the poem), and think about the last great episode that happens to Beowulf. Pay special attention to how old he is by the end of the poem, and what becomes of him. Has Beowulf changed or evolved at all, or learned anything? How is Beowulf's fate foreshadowed? Does it recall anything else from the poem? Finally, consider this question: read carefully Wiglaf's speech at the moment of Beowulf's demise, and the speech of the messenger who announces Beowulf's death to the Geatish lords (lines 2862-3027, from the middle of stanza 39 through the middle of 41, pages 98-101 in our book). Does Wiglaf's assertion that "Death is better / for any earl than a life of dishonor!" (2890-2891) seem to be confirmed or contradicted by the story told by the messenger (2911-3027)? How do these two passages (Wiglaf's speech and the speech of the messenger) work together to help build a theme for the entire poem?