Comparing Beowulf and Froto Baggins

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In literature it is common for authors to borrow elements of a different story and make it their own. In “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”, Tolkein follows the hero’s journey and uses many concepts found in the poem, Beowulf. Beowulf is an ancient English story of the king of the Geats, Beowulf. Beowulf is a superhuman King that’s fights magical creatures in hope of being remembered. In “Lord of the Rings”, A young hobbit, Frodo, is given the great responsibility of protecting an evil ring until it can be destroyed. Because Tolkein was a Beowulf scholar, elements of Beowulf are depicted in “Lord of the Rings”. Both protagonists, Frodo and Beowulf, are similar by how they receive their call to adventure, their strength, and their motives. Beowulf and Frodo can be compared by these three aspects however, they have contrasting details for each.

Frodo and Beowulf are similar because in each story there is a distinct moment where each receives their Call to adventure. Beowulf’s call to adventure can be depicted in this quote: “In his far-off home Beowulf… heard how Grendel filled nights with horror/ and quickly commanded a boat… Straight to that distant Danish shore.” (Beowulf 109-124). As you can see Beowulf hears of how Grendel is terrorizing Herot, so he gathers his men and sails to Herot. On the other hand, Frodo receives his call to adventure in a much different way. When Gandalph becomes aware that the ring that Bilbo, Frodo’s elder, left behind is the evil ring of Sauron, he comes to this conclusion: Fate has brought the ring to Bilbo, and now fate has left the ring with Frodo. When Gandalph tells Frodo of the rings power and that ...

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...the good of other people.

Beowulf and “Lord of the Rings” are two very similar stories because of how the hero is portrayed in each. In Beowulf, the hero is strong and has to overcome great physical force. However in “Lord of the Rings” Frodo is a feeble hobbit that has to overcome great interior force. When comparing both heroes it is easy to notice reoccurring characteristics such as them both having chain mail and a magical sword. Beowulf and Frodo are similar by how they receive their call to adventure, their strength, and their motives. Although similar in many ways, each hero still has a unique presence that can’t be changed.

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