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beowulf literary analysis essay on the setting
literary analysis of beowulf
Literary Analysis beowulf
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Does the Hero Decline in Beowulf?
Beowulf, a rousing Old English poem of man and monster, narrates the rise and fall of a superhuman hero named Beowulf. It is the interpretation of some readers that he declines markedly through the poem. This essay will explore that point of view.
In Beowulf, the main character, a Geat warrior named Beowulf, possesses extraordinary qualities: “He was the strongest of men alive in that day, mighty and noble.” Upon spotting Beowulf approaching, the sea-guard of the Danes says, “Never have I seen a greater man on earth…” King Hrothgar of the Danes says of Beowulf, “Seafarers who took gifts to the Geats say that he has the strength of 30 men in his hand grip.” Beowulf chooses to fight Grendel by himself and without shield or weapons; previously the hero slew nine sea monsters with his sword. And he is fully willing to sacrifice his very life for this: “… I alone will fulfill the wish of your people … or die in the foe’s grasp.” Beowulf consciously chooses to act in a superhuman manner: “I shall perform the deeds of a hero or I have passed my last day in this mead hall.” Even Grendel recognizes the hero’s superior strength: “The criminal knew he had not met in this middle-earth another with such a grip.” Other warriors when thinking of Beowulf “would quickly compose a skillful tale in words.” Hrothgar refers to Beowulf as “the best of warriors.” The Danish queen Wealhtheow compliments after Grendel’s defeat, “You have earned forever the praise of men from near and far.” Hrothgar expounds on good warriors: “This is the best-born man – my friend Beowulf … the best of warriors.” When the dragon burns the mead hall of the Geats and Beowulf prepares to retaliate, he “scorned a host, a...
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...hat time he is sorely lacking in a strong faith in God, which was the cause of his earlier successes, besides his extraodinary strength. Weakened by this lack and by an avaricious atitude, he fails not only against the dragon but also morally.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Chickering, Howell D.. Beowulf A dual-Language Edition. New York: Anchor Books, 1977.
Fry, Donald K.. “Introduction.” In TheBeowulf Poet, edited by Donald K. Fry. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1968.
Goldsmith, Margaret E.. “The Corruption of Beowulf.” In Readings on Beowulf, edited by Stephen P. Thompson. San Diego: Greenhaven Press,1998.
Shippey, T.A.. “The World of the Poem.” In Beowulf – Modern Critical Interpretations, edited by Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987.
Thompson, Stephen P, editor. Readings on Beowulf. San Diego: Greenhaven Press,1998.
The story of Cain and Abel ends with Abel’s blood being shed and Cain being banished. Gene’s intention was not to kill Phineas; due to the jealousy taking Gene’s mind he hurt Phineas. Many of the other students started questioning if Gene intentionally pushed off Phineas. That is similar to when God questions Abel of what happened to his brother Cain. After the second fall Phineas had another severe injury caused by Gene he had to go thru an operation that killed him. As Cain was left to wandered the earth knowing that the earth was cursed to drink his brother’s blood. Gene was left with the guilt of his best friend being gone thru his
Throughout the novel, Gene is constantly envying Finny because he describes him with many god-like traits that he himself does not possess. Gene sees that “Phineas could get away with anything” even when he gets into trouble, and starts to admit he “couldn 't help envying [Finny] [...] which was perfectly normal. There was no harm in envying even your best friend a little” (Knowles 25 ). However, when Gene becomes paranoid that Finny is also envious of his academic success but then realizes that this is not true, his jealousy develops into enmity as he sees that Finny is naturally pure and good willed at heart- something he is not. Because he “was not of the same quality as [Finny]” (59), Gene unleashes his anger by physically harming Finny. In the end, Finny’s death is the outcome of Gene’s actions which are provoked by his initial feelings of jealousy. Gene loses a good friend, but his remorse has allowed him to take on a new identity has Finny, eventually forcing him to let go of his true self. Overall, one is able to witness from Gene that emotions can do a significant amount of damage to relationships, as well as cause an individual to lose themselves in the
At the beginning and the first chapters of the book, Gene shows a very weak character accepting everything that’s offered to him by Phineas, not considering any other facts like his studies or anything he’s responsible of doing like the night he spent with Phineas in the Ocean when he couldn’t study for his trigonometry exam and almost missed it. Gene lacks self control until the last chapters of the book unlike Phineas who has a total control of himself and is pleased with the way he lives his life. Gene complains about the way of his life with Phineas and sometimes thinks Phineas is affecting his life in a bad way consciously whereas it’s his own fault not wording his thoughts to Phineas. Gene is never sure himself in many occasions and what his own properties are. He always thinks Phineas is good at everything and doesn’t give a second thought to what he is himself, a very successful student with a fine ability in sports. He becomes aware of his academic abilities when Phineas tells him s...
Later on in the book, after the accident, when Gene looks at himself in the mirror while wearing Finny’s clothes, on page 54, it says “… it was no remote aristocrat I had become, no character out of daydreams. I was Phineas, Phineas to life. … standing there (it seemed) that I would never stumble through the confusions of my own character again.” That meant that following that day, he was going to try to live each day more like Finny. Through out the book Phineas taught Gene more and more about himself, he taught Gene to live each day to the fullest, because you might never have another.
After visiting Devon as an adult, Gene reflects on his own life in the aftermath of his friend's death saying, “Phineas created an atmosphere in which I continued now to live, a way for sizing up the world with erratic and entirely personal reservations” (202). After Finny dies, he tries to atone for his mistakes by living life inspired by Phineas’ joy and goofiness. Gene hopes to make up for Finny’s death by living through him. The life he chooses is silly and without tradition. Gene sacrifices his own personal desires to make up for his previous sins. When Phineas is in the hospital Gene is able to admit and convince Phineas that he caused the accident, saying, “It was some blind impulse you had on the tree there...Yes, yes, that was it...I think I can believe you, I think I can believe that” pg 191. Gene is able to push aside his own desires and do what is right. He stills sees him as his friend but Gene feels that their friendship is healed now that he has admitted his mistake. Since he knows Phineas is sick, he has to tell him the truth so he no longer has to lie to himself or others. Phineas previously was in a period of denial of his horrible actions and tells the
Throughout the novel Gene loses his innocence and matures under the influence of Finny. Gene gradually lets go of his childish jealousy over Finny, who he believes is superior to him and feels hatred towards. He however comes to realize what Finny’s friendship holds for him and recognizes his need to be a part of Finny. Gene first gains confidence in himself and starts maturing when he refuses to lie about his rich heritage...
Wilbur, Richard. “Beowulf.” In TheBeowulf Poet, edited byDonald K. fry. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1968.
Shippey, T.A.. “The World of the Poem.” In Beowulf – Modern Critical Interpretations, edited by Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987..
Phineas, still possessing the same traits and frame of mind he had at the beginning of the novel, never expects this of Gene and never even knew of the deadly rivalry Gene thought was between them. In spite of this, Gene’s hatred comes to a violent head. Gene describes the point at which he boils over, “Holding firmly to the trunk, I took a step toward him, and then my knees bent and I jounced the limb. Finny, his balance gone, swung his head around to look at me for an instant with extreme interest, and then he tumbled sideways, broke through the little branches below and hit the bank with a sickening, unnatural thud” (Knowles 52). This was the moment in which Gene lost his innocence and entered a world of turmoil. Gene’s jealousy finally inspired him to push Finny out of a tree, and Finny never saw it coming; he was unable to foresee any sort of betrayal. Moreover, when Finny fell out of the tree, he fell into the clean, waters of the Devon River, which proves that Finny has not been tainted by jealousy or hatred. His innocence allowed him to be betrayed, but in the words of Joseph Joubert, “Innocence is always unsuspicious.” Finny was unsuspicious that his best friend would hurt him which is exactly what caused him to get
Fittingly, the single greatest expression of such knowledge is in the characterization of the protagonist Gene, and later his development. He is the premier student of Devon Academy, intelligent and studious, but a social outcast, trying to stay afloat in a school of piranhas for classmates. He is commonly described as the "cautious Protestant" with a "germ of wildness" ("A Separate Peace"), describing his innate savagery beneath the veneer of civilization. In the beginning of the story, he held great enmity for Phineas despite their friendship. Gene saw Finny first as a competing rival, neurotic and jealous like himsel...
In the ending, Phineas dies during an operation to correct a second fall. Gene claims that he feels it was his “own funeral. (Pg 186)”
Gene Forrester is a quiet, envious, introverted, and lonely young man. His insecurities are especially seen when Finny is around. There is a constant rivalry through Gene’s eyes between them. He always chooses to compete or argue with Phineas. The first example of his competitive personality is seen when Phineas asks him to jump out of the tree. Phineas says, “you were very good, once I shamed you into it. .. I am good for you that way. You have a tendency to back away from things otherwise.” and Gene states “you didn’t shame anybody into anything. I never backed away from anything in my life.” Gene would have never jumped off the tree if it were not for Finny. Gene depends on Finny as his security blanket. As time progresses the rivalry increases and
Frank, Roberta. “The Beowulf Poet’s Sense of History.” In Beowulf – Modern Critical Interpretations, edited by Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987.
Author unknown “Beowulf.” The Norton Anthology Of Poetry. shorter fifth edition. Ferguson, Margaret W. , Mary Jo Salter, and Jon Stallworthy. New York, New York: W W Norton , 2005. 2-9. Print.
Wright, David. “The Digressions in Beowulf.” In Readings on Beowulf, edited by Stephen P. Thompson. San Diego: Greenhaven Press,1998.