Beowulf's Pride Essay

653 Words2 Pages

Beowulf is one of the oldest, most renown poems from between the 7th and 10th century. The author is unknown, however, in the 21st century students from all over still read and study this epic poem about a magnanimous man named, Beowulf. Beowulf is a man of unrivaled strength and courage. With great strength and courage in the 7th century comes great rewards and acknowledgments. But, with this famous stature at times comes intense pride and boastfulness. Beowulf exemplifies such pride all throughout his adventures as a great savior. As readers, we begin to ask ourselves whether or not this pride that Beowulf embodies is an asset to him or a tragic flaw. At times within the poem, Beowulf’s pride achieves him astonishing accomplishments, but, …show more content…

During his meeting, Beowulf himself exemplifies his pride and boastfulness to the king when he is asked to speak of his great accomplishments. Discussing why he had come to help, a small factor was when no one back home had tried to stop him. We learn this when Beowulf claims, “…every elder and experience councilman among my people supported my resolve… because all knew my awesome strength.” (415-418) Instantly, readers can characterize Beowulf as boastful and full of pride. Nowadays, if someone would self-praise themselves in such a manner, people would begin to overlook that person. But, in the period which this poem is written in, they are praised. With this, Beowulf grants himself access to the king and his acceptance. Unfortunately, after he would help the king with his threats, his fate brings him …show more content…

In this event, Beowulf could have saved himself. Nevertheless, his pride overcomes his ability to make a decision that would have left him unscathed. But, “…the prince of the rings was too proud to line up with a large army against the sky-plague. He had scant regard for the dragon as a threat…” (2345-2348) Instead of fighting with an army of men against the sky-plague (dragon), Beowulf wanted to make sure that all the glory would be his when he engages in battle with it autonomously; exclusive of any outside help. Hence, Beowulf wastes his life as a consequence for such an imprudent

Show More
Related

  • Honor And Integrity In Beowulf

    844 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Beowulf, the essence left behind by a true hero is extremely important. In epics such as this one, leaders tend to have the determination and boldness of a hero. On the other hand, the main character, Beowulf, does not display these certain traits. In this heroic poem, respect and trust come naturally. Honor and integrity are present throughout the poem.

    Read More

  • An Analysis of the Epic Poem, Beowulf - Beowulf and His Pride

    565 Words  | 2 Pages

    to land he managed to kill nine sea monsters with his bare hands and still

    Read More

  • Beowulf's Warrior Code

    893 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the anglo saxon society in which Beowulf took place, there was a warrior code which resulted in everyone trying to gain power over one another. Everyone lived by a heroic code that encouraged battles, feuds, and murders and rewarded the victor with treasure. By showing your insecurities or weaknesses in this age you will be taken advantage of. Beowulf understands the heroic code and uses his pride to get the upper hand on everyone else, Beowulf boasts himself as an invincible hero and goes in battle with out an ounce of fear. Beowulf’s justifies his excessive pride through his . Lastly, Beowulf’s pride made him a leader and led by example to defeat the dragon and ultimately sacrifice himself in the process. Beowulf’s desire for pride

    Read More

  • Pride In Beowulf's Pride Quotes

    216 Words  | 1 Pages

    Even from an early age, Beowulf took every opportunity he could to show off his strength and fearlessness. When he first introduces himself to King Hrothgar, a Danish warrior by the name Unferth recognizes Beowulf and brings up a story from his youth. He explains to the entire hall how Beowulf had challenged another young man, named Brecca, to a swimming match and lost. Unferth says to him, ¨both of you daring and young and proud… risking your lives for no reason? All older and wiser heads warned you not to, but no one could check such pride¨ (Raffel 23). It is clear that in this story, that Beowulf´s pride consumes him and fuels his reckless actions. He goes on to tell Unferth about how he had stayed behind to fight 9 monsters, while Brecca

    Read More

  • An Ego of Kingly Proportions

    1525 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Epic poem of Beowulf is a story of heroism, loyalty, ego, and fate. To be a great leader of men; a great king of the people, you must be respected and trusted. Loyalty is given to those who earn the respect and trust of their people. Beowulf was blessed with great physical strength, the pride and fearlessness of a warrior, and an equally strong command of the spoken word, which he used skillfully to his advantage. He gained the respect and trust of nearly everyone he came in contact with, largely because he possessed the characteristics of a true hero, but in the end it was his ego that sealed his fate. Although it could be said that Beowulf’s character was flawed by an enormous ego, fueled by thoughts of immortality, it is this very trait that made him an ideal hero and king.

    Read More

  • Beowulf's Glory

    899 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout the epic Beowulf attempts to introduce himself as someone worthy of glory by boasting of his skills and deeds. These boasts show Beowulf’s glory seeking tendencies. One of these boasts

    Read More

  • Diction In Beowulf

    499 Words  | 1 Pages

    The epic poem, Beowulf, coming from the years of 600 to 700 AD has been translated in many different styles. In these excerpts by Burton Raffel and Lucien Dean Pearson, provides a clear understanding of this epic poem. Reading the two different translations, Raffel tends to provide the reader with a better understanding of the evil nature of Grendel and the heroic characteristics of Beowulf.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Beowulf By Seamus Heaney

    792 Words  | 2 Pages

    Everyone feared his abilities and wouldn’t dare attack him. Then a dragon was woken from its slumber and attacked part of Beowulf’s land. “Yet the prince if rings was too proud to line up with a large army against the sky-plague.” (159: 2345-2347). Beowulf could have taken all of his warriors to fight, but he was too smug. He had to be the one to fight it, or die trying. Beowulf had a need for glorious battle and impossible tasks. He brought few warriors with him to kill the murderous creature. When they reached the dragon, Beowulf made the decision to go in alone because he was too proud, and full of himself to ask for help. When the time came that he needed his warriors, they all ran except one. Beowulf was such a great warrior that no one else in his army had any skill at battle. They had no courage or experience because of Beowulf’s need to go in alone. Beowulf met his match against the dragon, and perished. The need for all the glory and fame drove Beowulf right to his death. It wasn’t the actual threat that killed Beowulf, but the careless decisions that were the real

    Read More

  • Heroism and Leadership: Beowulf

    1397 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Beowulf.” Trans. Suzanne Akbari. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. 3rd ed. Vol. B. New York: W.W. Norton, 2012. 112-82. Print.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Pride In Beowulf

    1337 Words  | 3 Pages

    Pride manifests itself into many different forms and will sometimes overshadow a person 's good judgement, in turn affecting their actions. It is truly the cause for the rise and fall of men for centuries and thus has become one of the greatest concepts to be addressed in British literature. Throughout the literary works studied this semester, some form of pride has always presented itself as a major theme.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Pride In Beowulf

    160 Words  | 1 Pages

    Beowulf wants to fight Grendel, a monster wreaking havoc, and is boasting that he is more powerful and courageous.

    Read More

  • Epic of Beowulf Essay - Beowulf as Tragic Hero

    1434 Words  | 3 Pages

    Beowulf was a highly skilled and great fighter, but because of his over-confidence in himself the fire-breathing dragon kills him. Beowulf’s excessive pride is evident from the very beginning of the epic. He is almost always boasting about himself to one person or the other. In the first part of the epic, when Beowulf first travels to Hrothgar’s kingdom to rid him of Grendel, he talks about the mighty deeds he has done in his life. “Hail, Hrothgar, health ever keep you! I am Hyglelac’s thane and kinsman; mighty deeds I have done in my youth…they saw themselves how I came from combat bloodied by enemies where I crushed down five, killed a tribe of giants, and on the waves at night slew water-beasts; no easy task, but I dove out trouble from Geatland-they asked for it, the enemies I killed.”(Beowulf p73) One can easily picture him standing proud and tall in front of a multitude of fellow warriors, proclaiming all the deeds he has accomplished in his lifetime.

    Read More

  • What Is The Theme Of Pride In Beowulf

    1177 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the middle-ages pride is one of the seven deadly sins. Pride is believed to destroy the life of grace and charity within a person. In the stories Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Wife of Bath, Beowulf, and Lanval, we experience the downfalls that come with pride and how it stains their lives forever.

    Read More

  • Explaining the Three Stages in "The Hero's Journey"

    1745 Words  | 4 Pages

    Beowulf is an epic poem telling the story of Beowulf, a legendary Geatish hero who later becomes king in the aforementioned epic poem. While the story in and of itself is quite interesting, for the purpose of this paper it is important to look at the character more so then his deeds, or rather why he did what he did.

    Read More

  • Beowulf Theme Essay

    426 Words  | 1 Pages

    The most important theme in Beowulf is identity, in the sense of who our epic hero, Beowulf, is and how he is also portrayed. As the main character, Beowulf exemplifies valiant qualities throughout this epic poem through instances such as his encounters with Grendel, Grendel’s mom and the dragon. Although Beowulf may have been blessed with valor-like qualities from birth, how others viewed him and his reputation played a vital role in molding him into the identity in which we regard as a hero. His reputation as this unstoppable warrior grows each obstacle he faces and conquers, and creates this prideful being, which is his potential downfall. His demise is apparent with his battle with the dragon, which is important because it reminds us that Beowulf isn’t as mighty as

    Read More

More about Beowulf's Pride Essay

Open Document