Journal 2210-2910

Lines 2345-2347 "Yet the prince...against the sky-plague."

The suggestion here is that pride is not good, or excessive pride, though it is a large part of this society. I do not, however, believe that this is Beowulf's tragic flaw. As is proven later, he does not die because he's told his men to step aside, he dies because they were too afraid and ran away. This also connects to the theme of a good king, as he dies to defend his country against the dragon though he knows this will be his last act.

Lines 2417-2424 "The veteran king...would spin free from his body."
Foreshadow of the inevitable, that Beowulf is going to die in this battle. He knows that he is going to die.

Lines 2525-2527 "what occurs on the wall...I am resolved."

At this point I believe Beowulf knows he is going to die, and he accepts this. He is still making his last boast to his men because he does not want to show them this acceptance of death for fear of appearing weak or cowardly. Perhaps he tells them to stay back in the battle because he knows that it is his fate to die from the dragon and is doing his final act as a good king by not wanting his warriors to die as well. Or perhaps he's being a horrible king, but a great warrior, by wanting all the glory of this final and greatest battle for himself. This, I believe, is Beowulf's tragic flaw. Not pride, but something like it. While he is a good king, he's such a great warrior and that lifestyle is so much a part of him that it prevents him from doing what a king should do: step aside and let his warriors handle the threat.

Lines 2596-2599 "No help or backing...safety of the wood."

It would appear that Beowulf's men have run away because they are afraid, and to this i say WHAT THE HELL? This shows the theme of what a good warrior is supposed to act like, and the fact that they DID NOT AT ALL. Apparently it's all good and well and easy to pledge your allegiance to your lord while everything is nice and happy and peaceful in the mead-hall, but then the second things get tough they run away like little boys. These warriors are worth nothing, least of all the time, effort, money, and praise that the great warrior and king Beowulf has given them.

Line 2603 "a well-regarded Shylfing warrior"

It is extremely ironic that the only warrior to stay behind and help Beowulf at his time of deepest need is described as a Swede, whom the Geats have had many feuds and wars with over the years.

Line 2618 "He ignored the blood-feud..."
Onela doesn't simply ignore it, he in fact rewards it. He gives Weohstan the dead man's armor for his deed. Onela does not want vengeance for this death, even though the fallen warrior was a member of his family, he is just happy that there is less competition for the throne.

Lines 2729-2731 "Now is the time when...Have fathered an heir."
Why didn't Beowulf father an heir? This strikes me as odd because the thing that kings seemed almost completely concerned with was having a son to carry on their legacy. Is he gay? I'm not completely sure, but it is weird that he's never gotten married or had a kid. Why is this?