Battle Symbolism in Beowulf The authors of Beowulf often use events and things to symbolize the stages of someone's life. Symbolism is the practice of representing things using symbols or attributing meaning to objects, events, or relationships. In the anonymous epic, Beowulf, Beowulf battles Grendel, the ocean monsters, and Grendel's mother. Beowulf's battles with these three evils symbolize the youth and adulthood of Beowulf's life. The battle with Grendel represents the youth of Beowulf's life. The typical young man is very courageous and strives for fame. Beowulf shows how the battle with Grendel is a representation of the youth of Beowulf's life by going to Hrothgar and asking him if he can fight Grendel for him and his people. Beowulf displays this characteristic when he says: Grant me, then, lord and protector of this noble place, but one request! I have come so far, O refuge of warriors and beloved friend of your people, that this favor you should not refuse me. May I, alone and with the help of my men, be able to eliminate all evil from this Hell. (Beowulf page #). Another typical characteristic of a young man is that he does not want to be deceived. They also don't want people to think badly of them. Beowulf shows this when he hears that Grendel does not use any weapons to fight and then Beowulf says that he will not use any weapons because he wants Higlac to consider himself worthy of him. Beowulf shows this characteristic when he says: I have also heard that the monster's contempt for men is so great that he needs no weapons and fears none. I will do it now. My lord Higlac might think less of me if I let my sword go where my feet feared, if I hid behind a broad linden shield: only my hands will fight for me, will fight for life against the monster (Beowulf page #). The typical young man likes to brag about what he has done. Beowulf displays this third trait when he boasts to Hrothgar about how he swam there and killed all the monsters in the ocean. This is seen when Beowulf says, "I swam in the darkness of the night, chasing monsters out of the ocean and slaying them one by one; death was my mission and the fate they had earned" (Beowulf page #).