Dragon

Plot Importance
The dragon, sometimes referred to as Beowulf's Bane, is the third and final major antagonist in the poem Beowulf.

The dragon lived in a barrow near Beowulf's kingly mead-hall for approximately 300 years before "one man / made him boil with fury" (ll. 2280-81). A thief stole a cup from the dragon's hoard and, seeking vengeance, the dragon began to wreak havoc on the neighboring land, burning Beowulf's great hall in the process. Beowulf took twelve men - including the thief, who knew the location of the barrow - to take on the dragon. Beowulf and the dragon slew each other and part of the dragon's hoard was burned with Beowulf's body while the rest was buried along with the ashes of the same.