Beheading

As I was reading Beowulf, I noticed that after he killed Grendel's mother, he specifically sought out Grendel's body and took his head. Why would he do that? He already killed Grendel, so it's not like he had to finish the job. He didn't need proof because they had already celebrated Grendel's death and Beowulf's victory. If there was any doubt, then King Hrothgar wouldn't have set up the victory feast. So the only other thing that I could think of why Beowulf would seek it out, was if there was some type of symbolism behind the action.

Beheading was seen as a symbol of pride and victory. It was a trophy that he could hold up. So, when Beowulf sought out Grendel in the cave and cut his head off his dead body, it was Beowulf's absolute proof and his pride that he killed Grendel. It's not that anyone doubted him, but it brought him some closure, and it was a better trophy than the beast's arm.

Then what of Grendel's mother? Of course, it could also be seen as a trophy, but he didn't bring her head from out of the cave. Some have seen it as Beowulf cleaving off lust's head, since she was a female monster, and thus swearing off having children, which he never had.

We could also say something similar about the beheading of the dragon that ended up killing Beowulf. He beheaded the dragon, which dragons are likened to greed more often than not, and he never ended up taking the horde. Of course that's because he died, but his people, whom he represented and fought for and ruled over,  never even took it, instead let it stay buried within the mountain.