The Theme of Bravery in Today's Literature

664 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Bravery shown in beowulf

Chivalry, honor, bravery, and loyalty are virtues that play a major role in people’s lives. They played an even larger role in the lives of people back in medieval times. Bravery has been expressed not only in medieval times, but it has been expressed in today’s movies and literature as well. It belongs only to the truest of heart, and comes only from their self-confidence. Many battles were fought where brave heroes boldly went into the field of battle and returned victors. They fought against numbers larger than theirs, and did not even slow their hand. Bravery is defined as unwavering in the face of danger even with the odds against you. (Merriam-Webster) Many stories have told how the knights of medieval times have went into large battles against armies many times the size of theirs and they still came out as the victors. Perhaps one of the most famous of those stories is the Knights of the Roundtable. Bravery was the largest of the virtues exhibited by them. (Merriam-Webster) No matter the danger or the numbers that faced them, they charged into the field of battl...

Show More
Related

  • Chivalric Identity of Medieval Knighthood

    877 Words  | 2 Pages

    In White’s work chivalry can be seen as the substance that pulls knights away from the ugly violence they possess within themselves. In my essay, I will use this source as an Example to show the positive perspective of chivalry within an anti-war society. Archibald, Elizabeth “Malory’s Ideal of Fellowship.” Arthuriana 43.171 (1992): 311-328. Web.

    Read More

  • Courage In Tomorrow When The War Began

    839 Words  | 2 Pages

    In John Marsden’s Tomorrow When the War Began, the quote from David Seabury “Courage and convictions are powerful weapons against an enemy that depends upon only fists and guns”, is evident throughout the novel with the character’s various successes. Conviction (willpower) is very strong in the main characters, as the stakes are high with their entire town invaded leaving very few free. This conviction is also essential for courage, which as Ellie explains in the book, can only be found amidst fear. “I guess true courage is when you're really scared but you still do it” p.25. There are various frightening moments in this book, like when the ride on mower was used like a bomb or having to rescue Lee using heavy machinery. These are all moments the characters used their will to survive to propel them to do something that they were terrified to do. The characters also face daunting themes head on despite the previous stress. This is courage, found within conviction, and it has proved to be a good weapon against those with physical weapons.

    Read More

  • Osmosis Jones: A Journey of Heroism and Teamwork

    1205 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Hero's Journey is a theory created by Joseph Campbell and expresses the idea that most heroes are essentially the same person embodied in different ways. Lawrence C. Rubin describes the monomyth as, “The hero, or mythic protagonist, from birth to death is on a journey, replete with demons, both inner and outer, challenges both great and small, and a cast of characters, some enemies, others allies and companions” (265). The 2001 animation Osmosis Jones is no exception to this assumption. In the film, a white blood cell named Osmosis Jones goes on an epic adventure to save the life of Frank and prove himself to the people of his community. In the beginning of the movie, Osmosis starts off as an egotistical jerk who believes he can do everything on his own; however, as the film progresses, Osmosis realizes that sometimes two brains are better than one. Jones finds out the hard way that without a helping hand, there is little he can achieve alone. Osmosis’s journey through the monomyth develops the theme of teamwork because help from others proves to be essential to Osmosis’s triumph.

    Read More

  • Heroism In Beowulf

    606 Words  | 2 Pages

    Bravery today has changed from that of Anglo-Saxon times. In the poem, Beowulf uses his bare hands to defeat the evil, monstrous Grendel. He believes that it would be braver and mightier if he were to defeat Grendel without use of a weapon. “My lord Higlac/ Might thing less of me if I let my sword/ Go where my feet were afraid to, if I hid/ Behind some broad linen shield: my hands/ Alone shall fight for me, struggle for life/ Against the monster (15).” However, in modern times, bravery is associated and accompanied by weaponry.

    Read More

  • Chivalrous Code

    769 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many forms of chivalrous code can be found today, from The Cowboy’s Code to the Rules of Courtly Love. These codes are stated with the hope that people will try and follow them to some degree; yet only the perfect could adhere to them all. Considering the fact that such perfection is impossible, the authors merely set out a guideline for honorable behavior. In the context of medieval times, a knight was expected to have faith in his beliefs; for faith was considered to give hope against the despair that human failings create.

    Read More

  • An Analysis of the Epic Poem, Beowulf - Bravery in Beowulf

    499 Words  | 1 Pages

    Bravery is like a very trusted friend, it will never let you down. That statement holds true in the great epic of "Beowulf." "Beowulf" is the story of a great hero who comes to the aid of a troubled king. Beowulf hears that king Hrothgar is having trouble and immediately comes to help with no questions asked. he defeats the monster, Grendel, with his bare hands. Beowulf then defeats Grendel's mother along with a dragon until he is fatally injured. Bravery is a very admirable characteristic that few people possess.

    Read More

  • Chivalry and Feudalism in The Lord of the Rings

    2209 Words  | 5 Pages

    One must first understand the meaning of these medieval qualities, in order to then succeed in examining Tolkien’s use of them in The Lord of the Rings. Chivalry, to begin, is described by Maurice Keen, the author of the undisputed “last word” on the subject, as “a word that came to denote the code and culture of a martial estate which regarded war as its hereditary profession” (239); this is not, however, all that Keen be...

    Read More

  • Beowulf Comparison Essay

    1166 Words  | 3 Pages

    The characters in Beowulf and Ransom demonstrate of the most important characteristic of heroes; bravery, courage, kindness and compassion. Malouf suggests that true courage is formed away from the battlefield. in acts of kindness and compassion. Malouf depicts that there are greater acts of courage than those that can be gained through a battle, which are qualities of a hero. He also argues that takes more courage for kings and heroes to put aside their reputations and “take on the lighter bond of being simply a man”. Similarly, the character of Beowulf clearly exemplifies these traits. They both challenge the readers understanding of what it means to be heroic. The reader is constantly reminded of Beowulf’s heroic presence and strength as he is an ideal king and warrior.

    Read More

  • Beowulf and Modern United States

    598 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many people who read the poem Beowulf would probably find it hard to find similarities between the poem and life in modern America. How could one compare an ancient Anglo-Saxon culture with the sophisticated world that we are living in today? But, if we look closely, we may be able to pinpoint some parallel between the two societies. This essay will discuss the topics of warrior life, the “bad guy,” and social similarities. One might wonder how a warrior culture might be similar to our own? But if we consider American culture, we are actually still very war-like. We have a strong military system built to protect our country and the people that make it up. We are also known for going to the aid of other countries that aren’t able to defend themselves. This is very similar to the mentality of the warriors in Beowulf. Beowulf comes to the aid of Hrothgar’s falling kingdom.

    Read More

  • Beowulf: The Ideal Warrior

    754 Words  | 2 Pages

    To the Anglo-Saxons, a hero was both brave and mighty as well as audacious and arrogant. In Anglo Saxon society, warriors were assumed to be loyal to their leaders in battle, even if the battle appeared to be hopeless, because they earned great honor and riches from protecting their leader. These warriors were alleged to be just as fearless as their heroes, and always as loyal as a dove. In the epic poem Beowulf, created by Anglo-Saxon storytellers, the loyalty of Beowulf’s warriors varies depending on the levels of security they feel in fights; they are more loyal to their leader when they believe they can prevail, and their loyalty wanes when the predicted outcome of the battle appears unfavorable, contradicting the appetite for eternal

    Read More

  • A Comparison Of Sir Gawain And The Green Knight And Lanval

    1192 Words  | 3 Pages

    The tales of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Lanval offer their readers insight into a common knightly quandary. Gawain and Lanval are both faced with challenges that threaten their ability to protect, uphold, and affirm their very knightliness. The two knights repeatedly see several knightly traits--- each invaluable to the essence of a knight--- brought into conflict. While the knights are glorified in their respective texts, they are faced with impossible dilemmas; in each story, both reader and knight are confronted with the reality that knightly perfection is unattainable: concessions must be made--- bits and pieces of their honor must be sacrificed.

    Read More

  • Chivalry, by Maurice Keen: Book Review

    1040 Words  | 3 Pages

    When Maurice Keen set out to write a book on the components and development of chivalry, he did not know it would be “the last word on a seductive subject,” as stated by one Washington Post reviewer. Instead, Keen was merely satisfying a curiosity that derived from a childhood fascination of stories filled with “knights in shining armour.” This juvenile captivation was then transformed into a serious scholarly interest by Keen’s teachers, the product of which is a work based upon literary, artifactual, and academic evidence. Keen’s Chivalry strives to prove that chivalry existed not as a fantastical distraction, as erroneously portrayed by romances, but instead as an integral and functional feature of medieval politics, religion, and society. The thirteen chapters use an exposition format to quietly champion Keen’s opinion of chivalry as being an element of an essentially secular code of “honour” derived from military practices.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Beowulf And Martin Luther King

    729 Words  | 2 Pages

    Bravery is a heroic quality that everyone has and when put into action it can become deadly or even unstoppable. Martin Luther King pushed through the racism as if he had no fear of the consequences. Martin Luther King stood tall as Beowulf did when fighting Grendel for the Danes; people not his family but for those in need. They both fought having no fear of their death but the greatness they would achieve in the end. Beowulf and Martin Luther King were both men who fought for the people and not themselves. Martin Luther King was pushed to the edge when being jailed for protest, But through all he prevailed and overcame. Bravery

    Read More

  • Sir Gawain and the Green Knight; A Romance?

    1094 Words  | 3 Pages

    Closely associated to the romance tradition are two idealized standards of behavior, especially for knights: courage and chivalry. The protagonist within many medieval romances proved their worth by going on quests, as many a knights went in those times, thus returning with great tales of their travels and deeds. Many modern people think of chivalry as referring to a man's gallant treatment of women, and although that sense is derived from the medieval chivalric ideal, chivalry could be seen as more than that. Knights were expected to be brave, loyal, and honorable-sent to protect the weak, be noble to...

    Read More

  • Cultural Elements In Beowulf

    485 Words  | 1 Pages

    One of the praised mannerisms in the Anglo-Saxon Age was loyalty. Warriors are supposed to be loyal, but when Grendel attacks, “the only survivors were those who fled him”(37-38). The soldiers were awfully timorous of Grendel, that they fled the attack cite and turned the battle into every man for himself.

    Read More

More about The Theme of Bravery in Today's Literature

Open Document