The Archetypal Epic Of Beowulf

The well-known story of Beowulf, is in the form of an archetypal epic. Although the story took place long ago many of the ideas and events that happen in the epic are still relevant today. The story tells of Beowulf’s adventures as the leader of the Geats and the man who single handedly defeated Grendel, Grendel 's mother, and the dragon to keep the people around him safe. Beowulf represents many things in today’s world. From the epic, one could grasp a representation of society’s requirements of a hero. Also in this tale is a representation of the difference between good and evil, a person’s place in society, mankind’s indifference to nature and who one can truly depend on. The dangers of pride and greed are portrayed as well as the importance

In the novel, the hero, Beowulf, represents good in many ways. He is the leader of the Geats and acts to protect the people of his kingdom and the Danes from all the monsters and danger. He looks out for the greater good of the two groups and keeps peace with everyone else. The monster, Grendel, represents evil. He terrorized the Danes and at night, would go into their town and kill people. However, evil is no match for good and the hero, Beowulf, who later kills Grendel. The quote, “In the end each clan on the outlying coasts beyond the whale-road had to yield to him and began to pay tribute. That was one good king.” Beowulf (9-11), shows that Beowulf was a good

Too much pride is a bad thing. One can have pride, but at some point it becomes too much and blocks one’s mind from doing the right thing. It becomes just about pride and nothing else. Greed is also a very dangerous thing too much greed can get someone into bad situations while doing things without thinking, just for the reward. Pride and greed need to be balanced otherwise things will turn for the worst. “The chieftain went on to reward the others, ‘Each man on the bench who had sailed with Beowulf and risked the voyage received a bounty, some treasured possession. And compensation, a price in gold, was settled for the Geat Grendel had cruelly killed earlier,’” Beowulf (1049-1054), This quote explains that all the men who were there on the voyage to kill Grendel got a reward. This represents greed because if some people know there is a reward involved they will do whatever they can and risk many things just for a reward. This also goes for our lives. Many people will do things they normally wouldn’t just for the