Why does Beowulf care so much about his people and why is he loyal to the people that are not loyal to him. Beowulf is a warrior that did everything to protect his people. He is brave and he always helped people in need. For example when he helps the Danes by trying to kill Grendal. Beowulf wants to protect the Danes so he goes across the sea brings his best men with him to kill Grendal. When he gets there and lands on their shore he wants to talk to their king to solve the problem. “Beowulf arose, with his men around him, ordering a few to remain with their weapons”(Page 54 lines-213,214,215). In this quote Beowulf is trying to keep the peace between them and the Danes so he tells his crew and all their weapons to stay outside while he goes in and talk to their king.
Beowulf is brave and will protect the village by risking his own life. “Claws bent back as Beowulf leaned up on one arm” (Page 56 line-307,308). In this quote this shows the Beowulf is not scared of Grendal and will fight. This also shows the Beowulf is different from all the other people Grendal killed. Beowulf is a honest person so he brings back evidence that he killed Grendal. “The victory, for the
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Beowulfs third battle is going to be against a dragon that attacks the city because a old man went into the dragons tower and took some gold. Beowulf is ready for the challenge to fight the dragon by getting his armor and going up the tower. “Then Beowulf rose still brave, still strong, and with his shield at his side, and a mail shirt on his breast strode calmly, confidently, toward the tower”(Page 68 line-761,762,763). Even though Beowulf is much older he is confident that he will protect his people and kill the dragon. Beowulf made sure that his people could protect themselves. “He who gave us these swords and armor”(Page 71 line-858,859). Wiglaf is looking back and noticing that Beowulf did everything for them like giving them weapons and
Beowulf is proud in the sense that he has no fear. He is willing to go to any length and any condition in order to protect the Danes. “My lord Higlac might think less of me if I let my sword go where my feet were too afraid to, if I hid behind some broad linden shield;”. Beowulf is explaining how he will use no weapons on Grendel to kill him, and in my opinion he thinks it would be cowardly to do so. He is humble because he is okay with dying and he lies his fate in Gods hands. “And if my death does take me, send the hammered mail of my armor to Higlac, return the inheritance i had from Hershel and he from Wayland. Fate will unwind as it must!” Beowulf is putting the fate of his life into God’s hands and is willing to die in the chance to kill Grendel for the safety of
In lines 2065-2069 this was suspected good faith of Heatho-Bards, and telling that they had truth and trust inside the alliance with the Danes. There was the figth with Beowulf and Grendel and then Beowulf and Grendels mother as well. “For the eldest, Herebeald , and unexpected deathbed was laid out , through a brothers doing when haethcyn bent his horn-tipped bow and loosed the arrow that destroyed Herebealds life” (lines2435-2439). This was the dwelling of a twisted brother who didn’t mind taking his own flesh and bloods life away. His age and wisdom was worthless. Beowulf had spoken a formal boast about how he risked his life as an wean and how he would rather not use weapons if there is another way around it. “This fight is not yours, nor is it up to any man except me to measure his strengths against a monster or to prove his worth” lines (2532-35). This was the speech he feed to everyone “the first time when Beowulf fought and fate denied him glory in the battle” (lines 2573-75). The only one that stood by his side was Wiglaf, and he felt enough loyalty to come to the aid of his king. Beowulf then hit the dragon in the head and the sword breaks and that mad the dragon upset. The dragon bit Beowulf neck and blood was everywhere and Wiglaf came into play. Then the dragon tried to burn Beowulf wolf to a crisp but it was a “almost”
In the story Beowulf’s men show loyalty to him as well, from the time of them being brought down to help him. When he brought fourteen of his bravest and strongest men he had to choose them because he knew of their worth and of their loyalty. Later on in the story Beowulf vows to protect the town with all that he has inside of him, he didn’t have to do it but instead he choose to do so. Even though he was much younger than everyone else. Beowulf knew that since he promised Hrothgar that he would of it by him giving up Beowulf would be betraying all the loyalty that he had to King Hrothgar. Beowulf also shows loyalty because he could of sent any of his leaders to go and defeat Grendel but instead of doing that Beowulf took the chance of bringing himself and then bringing the men along with him as a sense of backup just in case he needed them. Beowulf knew it was his duty to do so, this is a huge representation of loyalty to his dear friend King
When Grendel first walk into the hall he lets an innocent soldier get eaten alive and acts like nothing happens. In the end he killed Grendel but didn’t make sure that everything else as safe. He just assumed that the job in Herot was done and zoned out. If he had kept his guard up he could have stopped Grendel’s Mom from killing Hrothgar's best friend. Beowulf didn’t plan and in return, failed in completely protecting Herot. He might have killed Grendel, but his mother still killed more innocent people.
There are several heroic characteristics, all of which Beowulf possesses. First of these characteristics is honor. Honor is showing a sense of integrity in one’s actions. When Beowulf went to the land of the Danes to kill Grendel, he did it not because he wanted money, but because he wanted to help out the Geats. Beowulf felt as if it was the right thing to do since he had been successful in past deeds which he proudly says in lines 321-322, where he says “They had in remembrance my courage and might. Many had seen me come safe from the conflict,”. Beowulf expected no reward for his action, but rather just being able to “put another notch in his belt.”
As king of the Geats he has a reputation to maintain and the responsibility to protect his people. When the dragon attacks, he sacrifices his well-being for the safety of the Geats despite his justified forecast of his own death. It is apparent that the older Beowulf has much more responsibility in comparison to the young Beowulf. He not only has to...
During the battle with Grendel, Beowulf knew that many men had tried to defeat him and many men had failed. That didn’t stop Beowulf though, he knew that if someone had any chance to defeat the beast it was him, even if that meant he might possibly die. He knew that if he didn’t take the chance that many more men would die. He sat out to fight Grendel and after a long battle Grendel was finally defeated, Beowulf risked his own life to save others. Although Beowulf thought that he was finished with Grendel’s threats he wasn’t. Grendel’s mother was enraged because of her son’s death and began to terrorize the king’s men, much like her Grendel had done. Everyone knew that Beowulf was the only one able to stop her, so once again he set out to risk his life to save others. Beowulf was almost defeated during this fight, but he finally killed Grendel’s mother, because of this he became king of the Geats and ruled without fighting for 50 years, until the Dragon attacked and burnt down his house, that is. Even Beowulf knew that his chances of winning this fight were small, but he knew what he had to do. At the end of the fight Beowulf was victorious, the Dragon was dead, but Beowulf suffered an injury from the dragon and also died. Because of Beowulf’s sacrifices the people were finally safe once
As you can see, Beowulf feels strongly about the people. From this point, you can tell that Beowulf will make a good king, because of his desire to please the people. According to him, it was his main focus of the battle.
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
Beowulf wants to fight Grendel, a monster wreaking havoc, and is boasting that he is more powerful and courageous.
Beowulf’s first motivation is to obtain more personal glory. When Beowulf first arrives in Denmark he is extremely boastful and arrogant about his accomplishments. Beowulf boasts his accomplishments with this quote “I drove five great giants into chains, chased all of that race from the earth. i swam in the blackness of night, hunting monsters out of the ocean, and killing them one by one.” Clearly there is something supernatural about Beowulf, but that does not change his thirst for glory and killing Grendel in hand-to-hand combat would be give the
First, there is no one who can fight with Grendal. However, after Beowulf makes his promise that he will fight Grendal without weapon to Hrothgar, he keeps his words and killed Grendal. Although people might question the reason that Beowulf fight with evil creatures, but it is obvious that Beowulf just wants to bring peace for the people in Geat. He fight with Grendal because of freedom, he motivated to fight with Grendal and Grendal’s mom. In all three fights, he fight will the evil alone, the reasons that he fight by himself is to show his power, it is because he wants to take the risk by himself. He didn’t want evil take other people’ life
In the movie, this version of Beowulf does what the other Beowulf would have never done for a monster he just finished slaying. He builds a memorial in honor of Grendel. This shows Beowulf's remorse for killing him. An emotion the Beowulf from the epic didn't seem to have. Beowulf also shows mercy on Grendel's son when Beowulf decides not to kill him. This mercy is something that was not present at all in the epic's portrayal of Beowulf. If a deed would bring glory to the name of Beowulf, then he wouldn't hesitate to do it.
Hrothgar predicts that Beowulf’s pride would be his demise and he was correct because Beowulf chooses to fight the dragon alone in his older years. Beowulf is no longer in his prime and he knows he will not be around forever and hopes to make a final “score” and let the people live out the rest of their days wealthy and without worry. But Beowulf still wants to fight the beast alone. “Our old gift lord meant to manage this monster hot battle alone once again with his great wonder strength armed with a war name earned through a lifetime forged now with deeds” (2642-46). Beowulf is not fighting these monsters because he believes he is a god but because he wishes to carry out a promise he gave long ago to his people. His only desire is to make the Geats happy.
This demonstrates a great difference between the two characters. Had Beowulf’s attack not been unexpected, Grendal surely would have used a weapon. Beowulf’s defeat against Grendal sets one of the first stepping stones to his long legacy of heroic deeds.