I view the structure of this poem as having two parts, divided between Beowulf's youth and his old age. It is more appropriately divided this way, since there is a clear change in Beowulf's demeanor between these two ages. In his youth, he is strong and powerful, almost cocky about his own skills: "Grendel is no braver, no stronger/Than I am! I could kill him with my sword; I shall not, /Easy as it would be" (44 Raffel). In his old age, Beowulf is increasingly aware of his mortality: "The battle-brave king rested on the shore, /While his soldiers wished him well, urged him/On. But Beowulf's heart was heavy:/His soul sensed how close fate/Had come, felt something, not fear but knowledge/Of old age" (98).

In addition, we see a clear division between the antagonists in Beowulf's youth, versus the dragon he battles in old age...