The Anglo-Saxons were very fatalistic, believing that the Wyrd, or destiny, inevitably guided their lives. Trying to circumvent fate as Beowulf's thanes did by fleeing the dragon was considered the ultimate form of cowardice and led to a life of shame. Beowulf repeatedly shows that he fully surrenders to fate, even if it leads to his death. In his first boast before fighting Grendel, he insists that he will not be mourned if he fails, saying that "fate always takes its course" (455). Although he is confident of winning the battle, he understands that it is ultimately beyond his control, and that does not scare him. His refusal to use weapons indicates the same attitude, and this is repeated at the end of the poem when he decides not to "move a foot" (2524) in response to the dragon's attacks so that the outcome " reveals itself as destiny, / overseer of men, decides” (2526-27). Once again, Beowulf recognizes that he may not win the battle, but rather than fleeing the fight or attempting to tip the scales in his favor, he allows the fight to unfold as he sees fit. This may seem ridiculous to the modern reader, but the Anglo-Saxons would have considered it the height of