The most effective way to achieve something in our world also happens to be the most difficult to do. The two most effective methods of achieving something is taking or winning. Taking a stand is the most courageous act a person can do because often times they are going against the common belief of the people around them. All great leaders have one thing in common and that is that they are brave enough to take a stand. Taking a stand is more important and has a bigger effect on the world than winning does. The positive implications that are caused from taking a stand aren’t always predictable and are a result of the courage it takes for an individual to stand up for something. A perfect example of this situation is the story of Jackie Robinson. …show more content…
In fact, some people believe that winning is more important than taking a stand because taking a stand doesn’t always accomplish something. While this statement isn’t 100% true since winning doesn’t always accomplish something either, it is important to disprove the belief that winning accomplishes more than taking a stand. This isn’t true because winning allows more people to follow suit and overall make a bigger impact than any single individual could. Beowulf led his warriors into battle and while he didn’t use them until his final battle, they still followed him. He was able to inspire Wiglaf to help him in his final battle against the Dragon and save their people. Wiglaf states, “I’d rather burn myself than see / Flames swirling around my lord” (761-762). When a win is accomplished, people tend to support the movement, but when someone takes a stand, people tend to join in on the …show more content…
It’s difficult because often times taking a stand goes against the common belief of the people. Also for this reason, people are often hesitant to support those who take a stand early on until it is more accepted by the public. Many people are afraid to stick out and disagree with people, but those who take a stand are respected for the rest of their lives. While Grendel was attacking the people of Herot, nobody was brave enough to stand up to the beast. When Beowulf hears of their troubles, he instantly fills a ship with 14 of the strongest men he can find to go take down the beast. They are greeted by a watchman who knows that the Geats have come to help and shows his respect by telling them, “I’ll guide you / Myself - and my men will guard your ship” (205-206) and also says that a “... Warrior who does battle with the creature / Haunting our people, who survives that horror / Unhurt, and goes home bearing our love” (210-213). It’s important to note that the officer doesn’t say anything about defeating the creature, but instead he just says that any warrior who takes a stand and battles the monster will return their home being loved by the people of
When he accepts his first challenge in the poem, Grendel, a big and powerful creature with claws, had been tormenting Herot for “twelve winters” (Beowulf 62). Later, Hrothgar approaches Beowulf to inform him that the “only help, again, lies with [him]” and to “save [them] once more” from Grendel’s revenge-filled Mother (443-44; 446-47). In these moments, Beowulf embraces the role of being the ultimate hope to not just the Danes, but his fellow Geat brethren as well. After fifty years of ruling the Geats, he is once again put in a position of being their only hope when a big, powerful fire breathing “dragon begins terrorizing [them]” (62). Beowulf succeeded in stopping the dragon’s attacks at the cost of his own life. However, his mission was fulfilled. The Geats had been saved and proceeded to finish the final wishes of their fallen king.
Beowulf takes on the challenge of killing Grendel and later Grendel’s mother because he wants to show everyone how tough he is and that he can take on anyone if he wanted to. In other words, he is trying to be this powerful man who no one can ever defeat. Beowulf does not look at the task as a challenge, but rather a way to show everyone that he is the strongest and heroic man of them all. When Beowulf goes into any sort of battle, he refuses help from anyone. He does not want to feel or look, he is so focused on himself and his pride that he does not see the elevating problem in himself. Both Beowulf and Sir Gawain serve a king in their task, but they are taking on the task for different reasons that are instantly shown by their
The life-changing experiences and decisions Jackie Robinson faced were a result of him being asked to become the first black player in Major League Baseball. In the face of many challenges, Robinson made the decision to keep playing to prove to others that he was just as good as the white players on the team. In paragraph 3 it states, “The hate mail piled up. There were threats against me and my family and even out-and-out attempts at physical harm to me.” In the same paragraph he continues by describing the rejection he felt from his own teammates when he says, “Some of my teammates refused to accept me.” These events challenged Robinson by forcing him to face racial slurs, snubs, and physical threats from fans, teammates, and opponents who did not want a black man to play in the major leagues. In paragraph 3 he explains how these comments affected him emotionally by saying, “It hadn’t been that easy to fight the resentment expressed by players on other teams, by the team owners, or by bigoted fans screaming “n---.” He continues by saying, “I had been forced to live with snubs and rebuffs and rejections.” In light of these painful and difficult events Robinson continued to grow and develop. Robinson decided to focus on his accomplishments, which helped him to appreciate the courage and love that the team owner and his wife
Conduct in warfare might be "every man for himself" in today’s world however, during Beowulf’s time, the poet shows that honor was the most valuable asset. Upon knowledge that Grendel used no weapons, just bare flesh, Beowulf immediately put his weapons aside and promised to fight empty handed, so the fight would be fair. "I have also heard say that the monster in his recklessness cares not for weapons......I scorn to bear sword or broad shield, yellow wood, to the battle, but with my grasp I shall grapple with the enemy and fight for life, foe against foe " (Norton 32). An unfair fight, as the poet implies, has no glory or distinction. This proves Beowulf to be a worthy hero and role-model.
The well-known story of Dracula was strategically written to include every sin imaginable, each with its own special place in hell. Inferno, by Dante Alighieri, was written about hell, with each level representing a different level of tortured sinners. Dracula, written by Bram Stoker, is about a vampire who terrorizes the city of London. Inside of Dracula, readers can discover that it contains many of the elements found in Inferno. Each of the sins represented in Inferno can be found, in detail, inside the novel, Dracula.
Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play Major League Baseball. This was not an easy task for him to do. People judged him and didn’t like him by the color of his skin. Jackie Robinson said “The hate mail piled up” (Robinson). That shows that no one cared to give him a chance to play in the Major League. The innocence of young kids had a great inspiration on Jackie Robinson because they didn’t care about his color they just wanted him to play good. Jackie Robinson was “proud to be a part of a significant breakthrough” (Robinson) in breaking the color barrier. Even though Jackie Robinson has been through
He was looking for a way to become known, so he arrived with his fellow Geats to help the Danes. Beowulf had access to many weapons, armor, and warriors, but he still decided to take on the deadly challenge alone and without protection. He doesn’t think of the consequences, or abilities of the opponent. “‘When it comes to fighting, I count myself as dangerous any day as Grendel.’” (47: 677-678). Beowulf is overconfident in his abilities, and doesn’t take into consideration how many people Grendel has killed. He goes in with his own men not expecting to see him again. “None of them expected he would ever see his homeland again.” (47: 691-692). This is why the inner threat of Beowulf was more barbaric. Grendel was indeed a worthy opponent, and very dangerous, but Beowulf’s careless actions could have
When the story begins, Beowulf has gone to the land of the Danes to kill Grendel for the people, not for the glory. Beowulf brings his own hand picked, group of soldiers with him throughout his battles, and refuses to allow help from others. Beowulf also tells the readers he will not use weapons unless necessary. Before the battle against Grendel, a Denmark officer states, “A chosen warrior who bravely does battle with the creature haunting our people, who survives that horror unhurt, and goes home bearing our love” (ln. 210). Also, when Beowulf’s men abandon him in the battle against the dragon, he does not choose to run in fear, but to continue fighting. In this moment much like in his past, Beowulf shows how honorable he really
After Beowulf gives his life to kill the dragon and his men run from the scene to preserve their own lives, they have their beliefs reinforced by Wiglaf, who tells them that “when the brave Geats here / How you bolted and ran none of your race / Will have anything left but their lives. And death / Would be better for them all, and for you, than the kind / Of life you can lead, branded with disgrace!” (2887-2891). Wiglaf brings to light how the warriors are supposed to be loyal to their leader regardless of how grim the situation looks, and that by abandoning this mindset, they now live lives branded with disgrace, and how in their quest for eternal glory, the more effective method would have been to give their lives to protect Beowulf. The only explanation for the reason the warriors fled is because they are afraid of death, and for that reason, they are selfish and preserve their own lives instead of sacrificing themselves to save their leader, Beowulf. Furthermore, Beowulf goes on to be burned on a pyre atop a mountain, and drown in gold and riches upon his death, whereas the cowering warriors are not mentioned again, which means that they do not go on to achieve their goal of eternal glory. Beowulf achieved this goal by sacrificing his life in battle for the greater good of his
Grendel has been attacking the people of Heorot for a very long time. For twelve long years everyone has been in a panic and gossiping about the monster, Grendel. Over time the stories have bled into the land of the Geats. Beowulf hears this and feels that it is his duty to protect the Danes
Beowulf’s generosity leads him to the shores of Heorot after hearing the news of Grendel’s gruesome murders. Beowulf being the kind warrior that he is offers his help to king Hrothgar. Beowulf explains that “...news of Grendel, hard to ignore, reached me at home: sailors brought stories of the plight you suffer in this legendary hall, how it lies deserted, empty and useless once the evening light hides itself infer heaven’s dome. So every elder and experienced councilman among my people supported my resolve to come here to you King Hrothgar, because all knew of my awesome strength…” (pg. 29). Beowulf’s battle with Grendel not only symbolizing his strengths, courage, and bravery but also the youth of a warrior. Beowulf proved that he was young and strong enough to face Grendel with out any weapons. ...
The news of Grendlel traveled to many kingdoms, and soon it reached the Geats from across the sea. King Hygelac, the king of the Geats, heard this news, and soon Beowulf heard it. Beowulf was the strongest, and boldest man in the Geat Kingdom. He was also the son of Ecgtheow, a great war hero. When he heard this news he was ready to help the Danes. At first Hygelac, and the wise eldermen didn’t want Beowulf to go, because they feared he wouldn’t return, but then yielded. Beowulf then chose 15 warriors, with the help of Hygelac and the wise eldermen, to go with him on his journey to defeat Grendel. Upon their arrival, the Geats were greeted by an earl of Hrothgar. The earl asked them who they were, why they were dressed for war, and if they knew the password, and then noticed Beowulf. He was in shock for he had never seen a warrior like this one, and was sure that he was a hero. When Beowulf explained who they were, and why they were there, the earl quickly asked them to follow him to Heorot Hall. When faced with the...
Beowulf, the heroic figure in the poem, is known throughout the land as a courageous man who performs great deeds of valor. He is a Geat, who later becomes the king of the Geats. Beowulf’s strength seems to be a gift from God. As a noble and kind man, Beowulf comes to Herot to save them from God’s foe. Before Beowulf initiates battle with Grendal he exhibits a sense of fairness in not using a weapon against the monster.
In the beginning of the story, a mythical monster named Grendel who is attacking King Hrothgar’s mead hall Herot. When Beowulf hears of this tragedy, he volunteers to go and fight the mythical beast. The author wrote, “So Beowulf chose the mightiest men he could find the bravest and the best of the Geats, fourteen In all.” Once Beowulf arrives, he is given a feast and then decides to stay in Herot overnight to confront Grendel. Grendel then arrives and kills one of the Geats before Beowulf can get into the battle. Beowulf then goes hand-to-hand against Grendel and ends up tearing off Grendel’s shoulder. Grendel then retreats to his lair to die. This is only a mere example of why Beowulf is a hero.
Throughout all three battle scenes, Beowulf portrays the characteristic of a great warrior. Heroes during the Anglo-Saxon time period were able to handle themselves in battle and accomplish great feats of strength. For example, Beowulf fights Grendel, the terrible fiend, that had been terrorizing the people of Herot for twelve long years. Beowulf is the only man to have accepted the challenge of killing him. When Grendel came to