When Beowulf first appears in the poem, it is as an epic hero. He is described as the greatest and strongest of the Geats, and his strength (a quality of youth) is emphasized above all else. When he greets Hrothgar, he tells him that the wisest and cleverest of his people have said that Beowulf should come to the aid of the Danes and fight Grendel. They say this because they know his strength. It is notable that Beowulf attributes wisdom to others and only strength and daring to himself, listing his feats in battle and planning to add the glory of killing Grendel to the list.
Fifty years later, Beowulf's strength has waned, but he has had time to acquire wisdom. The attributes of a great hero and a good king may overlap, particularly in a society where the king must defend his people and lead them in battle, but they are not identical. Beowulf does not rush into battle with the dragon. When he addresses his warriors, he says that fighting the dragon will be quite different from fighting Grendel, as the dragon will attack with fire and (he presciently says) poison. He will need to be heavily armed and well-prepared. Beowulf's provision for the welfare of his people before his death shows he is a good king. However, he no longer has the youthful vigor of the hero who defeated Grendel.
The epic poem of Beowulf presents two separate periods in the hero's life—one when he is a young man at the height of his strength and vivacity, and one in his waning years of life, in which is he still strong, but much older and more mature. He faces off against Grendel and his mother when he is a young man, and then as an aging warrior, he tackles the great dragon with his troop of men.
I think the biggest difference between the young and old Beowulf is his attitude and comportment. The young Beowulf is a brazen young man who will charge headlong into danger and is filled with pride at what he can do, which is rightly deserved but nonetheless brash. The older Beowulf is much more mature and level-headed, caring about his troops and kingdom above himself. Instead of rushing into danger, he leaves instructions for his men and tells them not to follow him because he needs to leave protection and leadership in case he perishes.
The young Beowulf is far more interested in proving his physical prowess than his older self. Everything he does is about showing what a great warrior he is and making sure his name will go down in history. He wants to do great deeds.
In contrast, the older Beowulf is mellower and wiser, with greater responsibilities on his brow. He is more interested in the welfare of his people. His positive qualities have gone beyond mere brawn: now, he is also generous to his warriors and compassionate towards his people, who look to him for strength and protection.
And yet, in some ways, Beowulf might be as arrogant as an old man as he was in his youth. It has been suggested that his insistence on facing the dragon could be a way of showing off in addition to protecting his people since it is pointed out that with Beowulf's death, his people will be left vulnerable to outside attacks from rival tribes. Depending upon your level of cynicism, Beowulf's death is either heroic or reckless—or perhaps it is both.
There is a huge distinction when it comes to Beowulf’s youth and his older years. He is more thoughtful in his older years. For instance, when the dragon destroys his hall, Beowulf thinks deeply about his life and the people he has lost in battle. Beowulf is not as impulsive as he was when he was younger. The experiences that he went through have made him more cautious in his actions. As a youth, Beowulf would defy orders and fight monsters. He was energetic and had a lot of confidence. Nonetheless, Beowulf is more courageous as an older man because he fights the dragon despite being aware that he could die. Many of his people have died because of the dragon, and he does all he can to avenge their deaths.
In the poem, we're essentially presented with two Beowulfs, spanning some fifty years in all. The younger Beowulf is a brave warrior, strong and boastful, itching to prove his valor in a society where acts of manly courage are considered all-important. The older Beowulf is noticeably more mature, as we would expect. He still retains the bravery of youth, but now, he possesses an added dash of wisdom gleaned from his years on the throne. Now Beowulf has responsibilities that he previously didn't have. When he was a young man, he could afford to act recklessly, as he was looking to establish his reputation as a brave and fearless warrior. But as king, Beowulf needs to think of other people; he needs to think of the good of his kingdom.
For the most part, Beowulf is conscientious in discharging his kingly duties. Yet the young Beowulf hasn't disappeared completely; some of that old lust for personal glory still lives on, buried deep within his warrior's soul. Beowulf's fateful—and fatal—decision to fight the dragon could be seen as a sign of immaturity, a sign that he's prepared to risk the security of his people for one last shot at glory. Indeed, after Beowulf dies, his people are worried about what will happen to them, making the late Geatish king's decision to take on the dragon alone all the more reckless and irresponsible.
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