The dragon (Beowulf) in 1953 that the dragon's "ultimate significance in the poem" remains a "mystery". Seamus Heaney suggests that Beowulf's attitude towards fighting the dragon reflects his "chthonic wisdom refined in the crucible of experience", that is there is already a "beyond-the-grave aspect" to his resoluteness. As Beowulf dies from his fight with the dragon, despite defeating it, James Parker of "The Atlantic" writes that "There is no transcendence in "Beowulf", and no redemption [...] kill the dragon—but the dragon will get you anyway". Joan Acocella states in "The New Yorker" that "unlike Grendel and his mother, [the dragon] is less a
Maxims (Old English poems) well. The reference in "Maxims I" of "A king has to procure a queen with payment, with goblets and with rings". and in "Maxims II" the gnome "The king belongs in his hall, sharing out rings". are evidence of this. In addition, both poems contain themes that coincide with the most famous Old English poem "Beowulf". "Maxims I" refers to Cain just as "Beowulf" does and contains maxims for the wife of a hero returning home from his exploits which is similar to Beowulf returning home from his adventures. Like "Beowulf", "Maxims II" refers to a dragon. "The dragon belongs