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What poetic devices are used in the poem to convey the action of the dragon's battle?
Encourage students to make their own discoveries about the intricacies of the language in this section. The following are some examples of possible points:
- The enjambment on ll. 2696-2698 reflects Wiglaf's choice to strike the dragon lower down; the words physically mirror the place the dragon is struck.
- Enjambment is also used to illustrate cutting the beast in half (ll. 2704-2705).
- Alliteration of B and F in line 2701 reflects the dragon's labored breathing as it dies.
- The line break between “Beowulf drew” and “his battle-sharp dagger” illustrates the effort and extra breath it...
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