Beowulf: Code of Honor After fighting and winning many battles, Beowulf's life enters a new phase when he finally becomes king of his homeland, Geatland. Even in old age, his code of honor still forces him to fight against an evil, fiery dragon. For fifty years he has governed his kingdom well. While Beowulf rules, the dragon “…kept guard over a treasure, a steep cairn of stone” (Norton 55). Below it lies a path hidden from the sight of men. For centuries no one had disturbed the dragon's kingdom until one day, when a thief broke into the treasure, he got his hands on a gold-studded cup, which infuriated the dragon. “The fire dragon had destroyed the stronghold of the people, the land by the sea, the heart of the land” (Norton 57). Beowulf is an epic poem written in the late 10th century, in the kingdom of the West Saxons. The two main characters are Beowulf, a young man; and Grendel, a furious dragon. The world of Beowulf is a very violent society with wars as a dominant part of daily life. Dragons and monsters are a constant threat to the Danes and the Geats. Warriors are a necessity for this warlike society. Beowulf is a hero as well as a great and honorable warrior. After fighting and winning many battles, Beowulf's life enters a new phase when he finally becomes king of his homeland, Geatland. Even in old age, his code of honor still forces him to fight against an evil, fiery dragon. For fifty years he has governed his kingdom well. While Beowulf rules, the dragon “…kept guard over a treasure, a steep cairn of stone” (Norton 55). Below it lies a path hidden from the sight of men. For centuries no one had disturbed the dragon's kingdom until one day, when a thief broke into the treasure, he got his hands on a gold-studded cup, which infuriated the dragon. “The fire dragon had destroyed the stronghold of the people, the land by the sea, the heart of the land” (Norton 57). Beowulf prepares to fight a dragon with his master, Wiglaf. Beowulf is not afraid of the dragon, because he has fought many much more ferocious enemies. An example of Beowulf's great battles is the fight with Grendel. No one except Beowulf is brave enough or strong enough to volunteer to fight Grendel.