Question

What does the word trap refer to in this excerpt from Beowulf?

‘O flower of warriors, beware of that trap.
Choose, dear Beowulf, the better part,
eternal rewards. Do not give way to pride.
For a brief while your strength is in bloom
but it fades quickly; and soon there will follow
illness or the sword to lay you low, or a sudden fire or surge of water
or jabbing blade or javelin from the air
or repellent age. Your piercing eye’
will dim and darken; and death will arrive,
dear warrior, to sweep you away.




death



accidents



old age



pride