The epic poem, Beowulf, is one of the oldest European epics in existence. When Beowulf was written, the writer incorporated many of the ideals of the Anglo-Saxons. Some of these ideals included loyalty, bravery, selflessness, and justice and were demonstrated in the hero. Both the characters Beowulf and Grendel represent aspects of both good and evil, Christianity and Paganism, and what occurs when they collide with one another. A characteristic of an epic poem is the concern over struggles that humans face, which is presented in a serious manner. The hero often embodies the religious, national, and cultural values of his homeland and abroad. The premise of the story is quite simple: the Danes were in distress because of the great monster Grendel, so Beowulf, a native of the Geats, sails to engage in battle with Grendel and become victorious in saving the seemingly faithless Danes. Throughout the epic, there are many instances where examples of the thirteen epic conventions are used in the writing of Beowulf and in describing both the ideals of the Anglo-Saxons and the underlying challenges with mortal problems, such as good versus evil.
Beowulf: The Epic Hero
Throughout time, society has come in contact with individuals who are praised due to their bravery, loyalty, strength and a tendency to go beyond the limit. One may call this individual a hero, and if asked to give some examples of heroism, one may pick the classical literary hero Beowulf. According to Roger B. Rolling, Beowulf is classified as a Type I hero who, “if superior in degree to other men but not to his natural environment, … is a leader. He has authority, passions, and powers of expression far greater than ours but is subject both to social criticism and to the order of nature” (434). Beowulf’s heroism is exemplified first when he kills Grendel, then when he kills Grendel’s mother, and finally when he kills the Dragon.
Many have heard of the classic tale of Beowulf, the heroic slayer of monsters and dragons. Nevertheless, few have read the story of how he ventured from his own land to help a neighboring tribe battle a “. . . God-cursed brute. . .” (Lawall 1182) and his mother, a “. . . a monstrous hell-bride, . .” (1208). After single-handedly ridding Heorot, the neighboring kingdom, of two such evil creatures, he travels back to his own homeland to retell his deeds to his king (1219). Many years and feuds later, the kingdom was inherited by Beowulf, who grew old ruling his tribe with wisdom (1227). But, after he thinks that he has become invincible in his strength and ability to fight any wrong, a dragon wakens and wrecks havoc on the land (1230). With eleven young warriors at his back, Beowulf kills the fearsome dragon, although he is also slain in the process (1237, 1238).
Beowulf is an epic poem that describes the heroics of a man with superhuman strength and bravery to go with it. It all starts with Beowulf’s journeying across the sea to defeat an enemy that has wrecked havoc in the land of Herot for twelve long years. It ultimately ends with Beowulf defeating a dragon that is causing damage to his own land and people. However, along with the defeat of the dragon, Beowulf’s final deed ends with his death. Long after his death, Beowulf was known as one of the greatest warriors and kings that succeeded in three epic battles: by risking his life, showing his supernatural strength and power, and showing great leadership and courage.
King Hrothgar of Denmark, built a great mead-hall, called Heorot, where his warriors can gather to drink, receive gifts from their lord, and listen to stories sung by the scops, or bards. But the jubilant noise from Heorot angers Grendel, a horrible demon who lives in the swamplands of Hrothgar’s kingdom. Grendel terrorizes the Danes every night, killing them and defeating their efforts to fight back. The Danes suffer many years of fear, danger, and death at the hands of Grendel. Beowulf, a man which strong like bear, and sharp like wolf. “There was a feud one time, begun by your father……I shipped a treasure-trove to the Wulfings and Ecgtheow acknowledged me with oaths of allegiance.” (L. 459-72). This digression appeared to the ve...
Chivalry is Yet, Not Dead
In some select stories of old/middle english, we can see that people have been fascinated by ideals of heroism, chivalry, and what we now refer to as romance for a very long time. I will argue in this document, that our fascination with such imaginary laws has never ceased, and in some ways is even more fantastic. Every further mention of romance will refer to all of these ideas, the way it did when the term was introduced into english. If all things are to be considered this short essay would turn into a book.
The poem begins with a brief genealogy of the Danes. Scyld Shefing was the first great king of the Danes, known for his ability to conquer enemies. Scyld becomes the great-grandfather of Hrothgar, the king of the Danes during the events of Beowulf. Hrothgar, like his ancestors before him, is a good king, and he wishes to celebrate his reign by building a grand hall called Heorot. Once the hall is finished, Hrothgar holds a large feast. The revelry attracts the attentions of the monster Grendel, who decides to attack during the night. In the morning, Hrothgar and his thanes discover the bloodshed and mourn the lost warriors. This begins Grendel's assault upon the Danes.
Beowulf, the hero of the epic poem, is not an ordinary man; he is the epitome of a true hero. With the strength of thirty men in one arm, the courage to fight monsters, and the knowledge to respect and consider others' feelings, Beowulf defines the word "hero." As a thane of the Geats' king Hygelac, and later as king of the Geats, Beowulf uses his courage and wisdom to help him win many battles and competitions against humans and monsters.
Beowulf is the largest existence among the fighters in the territory of the Geats and in the beginning of poem Beowulf embarks across the sea to the territory of the Danes to rid their land of a monstrous creäture names Grendel. Grendel arises in the reader's mind as a creäture with a type of putrid-breath, in the darkness, a terror of impact with hard-boned and immeasurably sturdy humanoid build (Heaney, Beowulf).
Beowulf’s Three Fights
In the epic poem Beowulf, the character Beowulf is seen to have three battles. The first battle is against Grendel, the second is against Grendel’s mum, and the final battle is against the dragon. In each of these battles Beowulf is portrayed as a great hero (well he should be since it’s a characteristic of an epic poem to glorify the hero) and is always seen to be brave and fearless.