In this final fight, Beowulf offers a glimpse of how his duty relates to his destiny. He believes that it is his duty to do what fate allows him to do. In lines 1470-1474 it says: “Sad was his spirit, restless and ready, and the march of destiny immeasurably near; The fate that would strike, seek the treasure of his soul, and separate the spirit and the flesh. Not for long was his life enclosed in the body!” Beowulf, like many other great epic heroes, believed that fate played a role in their lives. His understanding of this allowed him to accept what fate had to offer him and that it was his responsibility to do whatever fate would allow him to do. Part of what makes Beowulf so epic is that he was able to accomplish everything there was to do and died an epic hero's death, dying while defending his people, his duty. Even though it was his responsibility, he didn't have to do it; he could have escaped as others could have done. This is an important trait provided by Beowulf that sets him apart