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Argument Essay: Beowulf, An Epic Example
Beowulf is a story packed with lots of action and adventure. What would you do if you were face to face with a fire breathing dragon? I strongly believe that Beowulf is an epic because of all of the examples of epic characteristics found in the story.
The epic if full of many examples of good vs evil. Good vs evil is a universal theme. Grendel was a monstrous creature that terrorized many people and tore apart many families and communities. He was an evil creature that had to be stopped.
Beowulf was the only man capable of defeating such a powerful monster, and so he followed through with his promise and defeated evil. Beowulf represented good.
Beowulf also defeated a mighty, fire breathing dragon. These
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The fire breathing dragon was just too much for the much older Beowulf at the end of the story. A warrior named Wiglaf saw that his leader had been injured and stayed to help Beowulf while all of the other warriors fled. Wiglaf valued honor and bravery and he stayed true to his leader. He did not run away when things escalated to a much higher danger, but he stayed to help
Beowulf until the end.
The action takes place in a vast setting, and covers a wide geographic area is another epic characteristic that is shown throughout Beowulf. Beowulf travels throughout many areas fighting many creatures that are murderous villains. Beowulf travels to Herot to defeat Grendel. After Grendel had been defeated, Beowulf travels to
Grendel’s mother’s lair deep in the bottom of the lake to battle and defeat this treacherous monster. The fire breathing dragon was located in Geatland up high in a . tower. The dragon was sadly Beowulf's last battle, but his memory still lingers.
As you can see, Beowulf was an epic because of all the epic characteristics covered throughout Beowulf. The universal theme of good vs evil was present in
Beowulf as well as heros representing cultural values of a race, nation, or
in the cave. In the cave Unferth begs Grendel to take his life but Grendel
but then, due to a storm, he lost his way. While Beowulf was trying to return
Beowulf is the strongest of the Geats and he is willing to defend his people from any monster that comes in his way. He is also determined to prove his strength by defeating Beowulf and his mother by using only his bare hands. He has also killed a large number of many more monsters.
Beowulf is “the strongest of the Geats -- greater / and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world” (ll.110-111). Even though he is famous for his massive strength, Beowulf has other attributes that are noticeable other than his strength. These attributes, arrogance, bravery, and a strong love for his people are what make Beowulf become such a powerful, epic hero. Beowulf is arrogant. He constantly brags about his supreme strength. The “strongest man alive” lets people know that he is the most powerful person around by saying, “no strength is a match for mine” (l.267). Beowulf does not think that he could ever be destroyed by anything. He obviously never questiones how his fighting ability would be when he was around seventy. Since Beowulf is convinced that God is watching over him, his ego makes him act as if he is invincible, because of the idea that he has a guardian angel. But, as Beowulf gets older, wiser, and fights in more battles he should realize that there was a possibility that he can die. Beowulf also boasts about his many battles, and is proud of himself for winning all of them. One of these triumphs is the battle in the water when he meets up with nine sea monsters which he killeds, and fights with a monster that is digging its jaws into Beowulf’s flesh. Beowulf proclaims that “ I fought that beast’s last battle, / left it floating in the sea” (ll.290-291). This epic tale reads that while Beowulf is in battle with Grendel’s mother, all he cares was about the fame he would get for defeating her. Unferth thinks that Beowulf was arrogant, by saying, “ You’re Beowulf, are you the same / Boastful fool who fought a swimming / Match with Brecca” (ll.239-241). Yes, Beowulf is a boastful fool that loves the attention that his strength gives him. A strong man and an arrogant one, Beowulf is also brave. Even after all of the horror stories that he hears about Grendel, he still fights the cursed beast without any hesitation. When he battles with Grendel, he does it without the things that everyone else would use--weapons. This shows that Beowulf is not scared of anything in the world. He also must be brave to fight a sea monster after swimming in the ocean for days. He went straight into battle exhausted, from the strenuous journey across the ocean.
Damrosch, David, and David L. Pike. “Beowulf.” The Longman Anthology of World Literature, Compact Edition. New York: Pearson, Longman, 2008. 929-970. Print.
Beowulf is a great tale but as a person, he isn’t that all that people make him out to be. In his older years his need for attention and glory ended up with the death of him. He fought the dragon alone and in return, ended up killing the dragon, but also sacrificed himself. Even as he died he asked for one thing, his people to build him a memorial near the sea so everyone could see the person that he was. His need for attention, lack of planning, and need for glory caused him to be just a prideful man, not a
Crossley-Holland, Kevin, trans. Beowulf The Fight at Finnsburh, edited by Heather O’Donoghue. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.
While fighting the Dragon Beowulf shows feats of strength and courage that define him as a hero. The classical hero displays a special quality that separates him from the rest of
Beowulf portrays the life a warrior turned king who demonstrates the qualities that not only the ideal king should have, but also the ideal warrior should exhibit. This allows the reader to notice how kings in the past were, and the power they possessed over the people of the area.
Towards the end of Beowulf’s epic hero cycle and life as king, he had to take on one last monster, the Dragon. He commuted back to Geatland with his men. As he begins to fight the Dragon, his sword failed him, and Beowulf was left with no weapons. Then ten of the eleven men he brought fled in fear and Beowulf was left with only Wiglaf. They took on the Dragon together and successfully killed him only after being badly wounded in the neck. Beowulf then collapsed and passed on. This finished his cycle as hero and as
of Beowulf is in vast scope covering great lands and far off places , and the
Grendel's mother, unknown to the Danes or Geats, is plotting to avenge the death of her son. After the celebrations are over in Heorot and everybody is asleep, Grendel's mother appears out of her dwelling place, the swamp.
Beowulf is a very brave hero, he has fought and killed many creatures before, but this battle was different. He knew this battle was of great importance to everyone, and that made him that much more nervous. This creature was fierce and had been tormenting their village for as long as they could remember, so her death would be a huge victory for Beowulf and it would be an even bigger relief for the villagers. All of the people in the village were cheering for Beowulf as he walked away headed off to the greatest battle of his life.
Beowulf is an interesting story in that it has a meaning that is firmly rooted in fantasy creatures based in mythical origins while providing insight into religious ideals and practices of the time. It also speaks of tradition and the struggle of man against things perceived as evil. In this tradition especially, Beowulf is an incredible allegory regarding the struggle of good and evil in the Christian tradition.
Beowulf is the single greatest story of Old English literature and one of the greatest epics of all time. Ironically, no one can lay claim to being the author of this amazing example of literature. The creator of this poem was said to be alive around 600 A.D. and the story was, since then, been passed down orally from generation to generation. When the first English monks heard the story, they took it upon themselves to write it down and add a bit of their own thoughts. Thus, a great epic and the beginning to English literature was born.