Having already slain the monster Grendel, Beowulf has been called upon to fight Grendel's mother vengeful mother as well. Though he may seem blithely indifferent to death, there is always the danger that this may indeed be Beowulf's last battle. Beowulf may be blessed with superhuman skills, but he is still a human and thus mortal. And so there is no guarantee that he ill come back alive from his forthcoming showdown with Grendel's mother.

If Beowulf should die in battle, then his people, the Geats, will have lost their best warrior. Hence Beowulf's request to Hrothgar, king of the Danes, that he should take care of the Geats in the event of Beowulf's death. For good measure, he also asks Hrothgar to return his belongings and "great treasures" given to him on the previous day to his king, Hygelac. Should Beowulf perish, he also wishes that his sword, his "heirloom blade / full of swirling designs," be given to Unferth, who has lent him his own sword, Hrunting, to do battle with Grendel's mother.

Beowulf is confident of victory, but at the same time, he cannot take any chances. It's important for him that his affairs are in order before he girds himself up for his next monster-slaying challenge.