The epic closes on a somber, elegiac note—a note of mourning. What words or images contribute to this tone?
It is no surprise that the poem Beowulf ends with an elegy to the hero's victories and wisdom. Beowulf proved to be the ideal Anglo-Saxon king holding the ideal Anglo Saxon traits: brave, generous, and wise. According to Burton Raffel's translation, the Geats "...have lost the best of kings, Beowulf-- He who held our enemies away Kept land and treasure intact, which saved Hrothgar and the Danes--he who lived All his long life bravely..."
Because of Beowulf's impressive reign, none of the dragon's treasures, the spoils of war that would usually belong to the victor, would go to any of the people, but rather be burned on Beowulf's funeral pyre.
Beowulf died as he lived: in honor and courage and glory. His epic example of heroic ideals earned him the praise: "...that no better king had ever Live, no prince so mild, no man So open to his people, so deserving of praise."
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