This paper describes how the small stories incorporated within Beowulf act as a sort of foretelling to what may happen later on in the poem.

The Foretelling That Fools
There are many digressions in Beowulf that are truly
notable enough to be discussed. Not only are these
digressions a form of character development but also serve
as a foreshadowing toward other events that happen later in
the text. Several of the digressions link Beowulf to many
historical figures. These digressions help the reader to
prepare for what may come. The tale of Sigemund and the
dragon greatly reflects Beowulf's character and also gives
a preview to Beowulf's fate.
The tales that foreshadow many of the events in
Beowulf are commonly tol…