Remember the fairy tales where the prince would save the princess or when the young lion went back to save the pride land? Even though the princess was trapped, she had a companion and the young lion always had help from his two closest friends. These characters are common in stories with heroes. The heroic story Beowulf has a hero in it whom always was accompanied by a friend, but that friend becomes something more, a savior. A modern film supports that the idea of a savior is not as important as a friend who always stood by the hero. Society sees a savior as a hero in a story, Wiglaf could be considered a savior in Beowulf through the story by his physical and mental characteristics and his motivation. Yet, this changes in a modern interpretation …show more content…
He inspired Beowulf to continue to fight like the strong king he is “[n]ow, be strong and brave, my noble / [k]ing, protecting life and fame / [t]ogether. My sword will fight at your side” (Beowulf 135). Not only did Wiglaf do everything Beowulf asked him to do, but he got up and fought for him because that is what his conscience told him to do. What this says about Wiglaf is that he was always noble to Beowulf, his feelings towards himself, and others. Both the textbook and the movie show Wiglaf as someone who takes responsibility for their actions. With the producer and writer doing this it shows characteristics of who he is. In the movie, Wiglaf was portrayed as a noble kinsman to Beowulf, but lets out a little sign of wanting to get to know Grendel's mother. Producers left the movie with the audience thinking that he may “betray” Beowulf. Keep in mind that this is after Beowulf passes away and Wiglaf finds him down by the shore. The movie could just be following the “Hollywood Guidelines” so that others would want them to create a second movie into the future of Wiglaf or just to get the viewers more attached to Wiglaf. Doing this scene shows that Grendel's mother is a beautiful creature unlike the reader hear about in the canots. Changing this scene changes people's view on Wiglaf and his trust put forward to Beowulf. The …show more content…
The movie and the textbook both show the relationship between Wiglaf and Beowulf, Wiglaf may of saved him from the dragon because he was a great king and everyone likes him. Yet, his motivation to do so was all in himself. Wiglaf saved Beowulf the best he could because that is what he thought was right, he thought that fighting for a king who fought for him long before then was a way to pay him back for his doings. “Beloved Beowulf, remember how you boasted, / [o]nce, that nothing in the world would ever / [d]estroy your fame: fight to keep it” (Beowulf 135). Others ran and Wiglaf stayed with him, beside him, ready for anything to happen and not thinking that he too, may die. In the modern interpretation Wiglaf went with Beowulf for comfort and found him after Beowulf fought the dragon, he did not have any motivation to help Beowulf or to try and save him. Beowulf told him to stay away and to let him handle it, this shows how much Beowulf respect he had for those who respected him, especially his closest friend. Wiglaf was always right next to Beowulf until the point in modern interpretations when he is told to stay. What this tells us about Wiglaf is that even though he did not fight with Beowulf or show any courage until he saw Grendel's mother, he was always noble to him. In the textbook he did what he had to do just because that is what he
The poet of Beowulf uses many literary devices to enhance respect and trust in the poem. The great heroic story of Beowulf gives many examples of the traits a great leader should have. At the end, those same traits were demonstrated by Wiglaf, who then became the king of the Geats. This proves that these traits were essential to the Anglo-Saxon culture; however, this also makes Beowulf contemporary. The poem has many themes that are still applicable today.
A hero not only needs to be physically outstanding, but he also needs to have integrity, moral values and needs to act without thinking in his own benefit. Beowulf has many characteristics of a hero but he also has some defects that make me think that he wouldn’t be considered a hero in today´s world. A hero concept evolves with a culture, Beowulf has many things that the Anglo-Saxons viewed as heroism but he misses many things that are important for a modern hero.
And only one of them Remained, stood there, miserable, remembering, As a good man must, what kinship should mean. His name was Wiglaf, he was Wexstan’s son And a good soldier; his family had been Swedish, Once. Watching Beowulf, he could see How his king was suffering, burning. Remembering Everything his lord and cousin had given him, Armor and gold and the great estates Wexstan’s family enjoyed, Wiglaf ’s Mind was made up; he raised his yellow Shield and drew his sword. . . . (691-705)
Wiglaf, in coming to Beowulf's aid in the fight against the dragon, typifies several important heroic virtues. The most obvious of these is the importance of the relationship between lord and thane. In trying to persuade the other thanes to assist Beowulf, Wiglaf says, "Now the day has come that our liege lord has need of the strength of good fighters. Let us go to him, help our war-chief while the grime terrible fire persists." (Chickering 61) In stating this, Wiglaf reminds the other thanes of the necessity of holding up their end of the bargain in the lord-thane relationship. Beowulf is a good lord, who protects his thanes and dispenses treasure to them, and it is their turn to support him in battle in his time of need.
In addition to mortality, their leadership customs serve as a difference in the characters these two heroes. Thought they were both prominent leaders, the method that Beowulf approached kingship significantly contrasted that of Gilgamesh. Beowulf was a loyal, caring king that always put the needs of his Geatish people before those more personal. In the text, Wiglaf, a member of Beowulf’s band of thanes,...
Beowulf's successor is Wiglaf. Wiglaf is the young warrior who sticks by Beowulf's side while he fights with the dragon. Wiglaf is very similar to Beowulf in that he is also courageous and is humble. He is very courageous and shows his courage when he tries to help Beowulf attack the dragon.
In lines 2065-2069 this was suspected good faith of Heatho-Bards, and telling that they had truth and trust inside the alliance with the Danes. There was the figth with Beowulf and Grendel and then Beowulf and Grendels mother as well. “For the eldest, Herebeald , and unexpected deathbed was laid out , through a brothers doing when haethcyn bent his horn-tipped bow and loosed the arrow that destroyed Herebealds life” (lines2435-2439). This was the dwelling of a twisted brother who didn’t mind taking his own flesh and bloods life away. His age and wisdom was worthless. Beowulf had spoken a formal boast about how he risked his life as an wean and how he would rather not use weapons if there is another way around it. “This fight is not yours, nor is it up to any man except me to measure his strengths against a monster or to prove his worth” lines (2532-35). This was the speech he feed to everyone “the first time when Beowulf fought and fate denied him glory in the battle” (lines 2573-75). The only one that stood by his side was Wiglaf, and he felt enough loyalty to come to the aid of his king. Beowulf then hit the dragon in the head and the sword breaks and that mad the dragon upset. The dragon bit Beowulf neck and blood was everywhere and Wiglaf came into play. Then the dragon tried to burn Beowulf wolf to a crisp but it was a “almost”
When Grendel first walk into the hall he lets an innocent soldier get eaten alive and acts like nothing happens. In the end he killed Grendel but didn’t make sure that everything else as safe. He just assumed that the job in Herot was done and zoned out. If he had kept his guard up he could have stopped Grendel’s Mom from killing Hrothgar's best friend. Beowulf didn’t plan and in return, failed in completely protecting Herot. He might have killed Grendel, but his mother still killed more innocent people.
Beowulf is the exact image of a perfect hero. He is unimaginably strong, selfless, determined and courageous. Victor Frankenstein may be much less of a hero, but a hero nonetheless. Heroism is often seen as someone who is strong, brave, selfless and determined. It is someone who would risk their own life for the benefit of others. It is someone who is physically strong and mentally capable of enduring extreme pain and hardship. Heroism can ultimately be defined as someone who puts others ahead of themselves.
While engaging the Dragon in combat, Beowulf runs into complications with it and realizes that his sword can do no damage. Beowulf finds himself in defeat for the first time. However, Wiglaf, one of Beowulf’s kinsmen, comes to his aid and together with the combination of courage and strength delivers a deathblow to the Dragon. Although Beowulf is mortally wounded and is about to die, he passes the throne to Wiglaf and gives thanks to God for the treasure they receive from the Dragon’s hoard. This ends Beowulf’s third and final heroic battle in this case with the
Most of us have heard of modern day heroes such as Spiderman, Superman, and the Hulk. Each is a hero to many children. Heroes are introduced to people early on in life usually as fictional characters, but as children grow older their perceptions of heroes alter. The characteristics of a hero are usually based around the ideas of a society or culture. In the epic Beowulf, the main character is thought of as a hero. Beowulf, a pagan warrior and the main character of the epic, shows certain characteristics such as bravery, loyalty, and generosity, which portray him as a hero. It is interesting how modern day heroes show the much of the same qualities as Beowulf.
This recognition that Beowulf receives proves his place as the quintessential hero in Anglo-Saxon society. The unknown author recognizes Beowulf as a warrior who “behaved with honor and took no advantage” (149). This quality is important to Beowulf’s image as a hero. The author also days that Beowulf “bore himself with valor” and names Beowulf “Heroic Beowulf” when describing the hero (135, 149). The author’s recognition of Beowulf as having these qualities and as being heroic shows that Beowulf was regarded as a hero during the authors’ own time. This is also confirmed by the several times people in the epic recognize Beowulf’s heroic qualities. Wiglaf, who was with Beowulf during the final battle, is one of the people to recognize Beowulf’s glory-seeking heroics, saying that Beowulf is “a man unequalled in the quest for glory” (179). This statement speaks much of Beowulf’s willingness to search for and his success in finding glory. Beowulf is also recognized by a thane of Hrothgar’s court during his earlier days. This thane recognizes Beowulf’s heroics and begins “rehearsing Beowulf’s triumphs and feats” by comparing him to Sigmund, an old Anglo-Saxon hero (59). The recognition Beowulf receives from the characters in the epic shows that Beowulf was impressive and heroic to Anglo-Saxons who told his
...fight the dragon. Beowulf understood that the key to being a great leader was selflessness, which is also why he chose Wiglaf, son of Wexstan, to be his successor. In Beowulf’s time of greatest need Wiglaf was the only selfless warrior that came to Beowulf’s aid. Even in death, Beowulf understood all the qualities of a great leader and saw them in Wiglaf.
A hero is someone who is admired for their courage and bravery, as well as their noble accomplishments. They are respected by almost everyone, due to their kindness and charitable mindset, that drives them to fight for the good of others. Beowulf is the perfect representation of a hero, based on multiple characteristics that he displays throughout the novel. Along with his characteristics, Beowulf also takes on many “hero like” challenges and tasks. In the novel, Beowulf is praised and admired throughout the kingdom for his bravery, humility, and selflessness.
In the movie, this version of Beowulf does what the other Beowulf would have never done for a monster he just finished slaying. He builds a memorial in honor of Grendel. This shows Beowulf's remorse for killing him. An emotion the Beowulf from the epic didn't seem to have. Beowulf also shows mercy on Grendel's son when Beowulf decides not to kill him. This mercy is something that was not present at all in the epic's portrayal of Beowulf. If a deed would bring glory to the name of Beowulf, then he wouldn't hesitate to do it.