The composer uses the story of the hero Beowulf to show the error of ignoring the role of fate in life. Before Beowulf attempts to lure Grendel to his doom at Heorot, he delivers a glorious speech before Hrothgar's men in a fit of courage. He speaks of his strength and power. His last statement, “Gǽð á wyrd swá hió scel.” [“Go to destiny as it will. »] (455), uses words with weak connotations (e.g. gæð, scel) in association with wyrd and is normally translated as "Fate will unfold as it must!" » (Raffel 455). However, this is a misinterpretation. Beowulf's use of the weak words gæð and scel diminishes the power of the wyrd. Furthermore, a finalization of his boast of power and strength that puts his life in the hands not of himself, but of fate devalues ​​the courage he demonstrated in his boast. Rather, the poet used this phrase to show how Beowulf believes that fate is a fanciful power that he can defeat. Beowulf says this in an attempt to say that fate will do what it wants, but will not be a factor in the outcome. This phrase sets the stage for an elegiac Beowulf and a hero who ultimately dies because of his folly to defy