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Beowulf's bravery
Essay on the character beowulf
Essay on the character beowulf
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Beowulf was considered the mightiest hero among the lands of where he resided for his heroic actions and thoughtful actions towards his civilians and other rulers. In the beginning of the book there was a mythical creature that reeked havoc upon the village named Grendel that attacked the King’s Hrothgar’s mead hall. When Beowulf heard the news, he willingly volunteered to attack Grendel. He then gathers up the mightiest men to go on the journey with him. When he arrives at Herot he’s given a feast and allowed to stay the night at the Herot to confront Grendel. Then when Grendel arrives he kills one of the men waiting before Beowulf could get to the battle. Beowulf then begins fighting with Grendel and tears off his shoulder, when his shoulder …show more content…
People believed that from that encounter that he took over the kingdom and then became a ruler of a different kingdom. From a young knight into a wise king he had become from the start of the book. Before Beowulf dies from old age in the book, he has his final battle against an epic dragon and includes many traits that can make him a noble hero in the book from having loyalty to not only his men but to his kingdom that he prospered, he also had courage from when he fought off all these threats to his kingdom ranging from Grendel to Grendel’s mom, Hrothgar when the power came to his head, to his last battle against the dragon. He also had skill, as it takes skill to win all those battles your normal knight can not win all those battles without having the knowledge to win them. As well as generosity, he was generous to anyone he came upon and offered help when it was needed, an example: Grendel when he became a threat to a kingdom, and when he was …show more content…
He possessed traits that most heroes don’t even posses take for example another mythical character Hercules he defeated mythical creatures, stood for his kingdom, and became a mythical God and was the son of Zeus. Beowulf did more in a shorter time than Hercules did his entire lifetime, he saved more kingdoms, he might of not defeated as many mythical creatures that he did but he was more of a hero. Not only was he a kind hearted man towards Hygelac’s son that was taking over throne but he stood by him and helped him. When it came to Beowulf’s death when he sacrificed himself to the dragon thinking was best for his kingdom but he put them in danger since they were left without a king, while most would say Beowulf did not have much of a choice for free will from the dragon. But we also can not blame our heroic figure in this story, that he was just thinking for the kingdom and what would honor the best for the civilians. In the end the story was kind of harsh calling it a failure and that should obviously look wrong, most should think of it as a heroic act at the time that it happened, that Beowulf himself was just acting for the good and responsibilities of a king and his moral status. When Beowulf’s funeral came around the people made sure it was going to be a memorable funeral they gave over golds and silvers and
In conclusion, although Beowulf possessed many heroic qualities he would not be considered a hero in today’s world. A hero varies from culture to culture. The Anglo-Saxon appreciated different things in a person that what do not we appreciate today. Many things have changed a lot with time, the requisites for being considered a hero have also changed. Today we do not like to solve problems with war. Pride and honor are not as important as the willingness one has to help others. Beowulf is not feeling that contact with people he doesn’t identify with them because he believes himself better, a part of a hero´s cycle is to be identified with the community. To be part
Beowulf was a strong young man who was able to defeat a terrible monster known as Grendel. During this era in human history young men were expected to be far more durable and adequate compared to those of today. Those young men commonly had the dream of becoming king, defeating strong monsters, go on adventures, or even die a hero. All of which Beowulf managed to do making him a perfect role model for the young men at the time. The story of Beowulf truly captured all of the dreams of young men at the time and it was a perfect story for the time. Although times changed the dreams of the people never died, they were just advanced, edited and remade into new stories, better stories for better
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
An epic is a long narrative poem on a serious subject. It usually is about
In Beowulf, the protagonist Beowulf is shown as a hero with extrodinary strength. This is not what makes him a hero. By definition, a hero is a man of exceptional quality. However this term does not do Beowulf justice. His self-imposed purpose in life is to help others, and eventually sacrifices his own life in doing so. Beowulf’s battle with the dragon serves as a critique of the notion that Beowulf is a hero. The Dragon section displays many of Beowulf’s heoric characteristics. Beowulf establishes himself as a hero by fighting the dragon, exemplifing strength and courage when fighting the dragon, and sacrificing himself so that others can live.
In the study of Germanic and Viking history, the scholar often meets a problem: there are few comprehensive texts that exist from that period; mainly because oral tradition was the most common way of passing down stories. One text that is an exception to the rule is Beowulf. Beowulf is a very complete work of Old English literature, of which it is one of the oldest surviving pieces. The epic centers around a Scandinavian warrior named Beowulf, and three different battles he has throughout his life. The poem depicts Beowulf as a perfect hero, but what are the qualities of the perfect hero, and does Beowulf exemplify those qualities? A perfect hero is the balance of strength in battle, being honorable, showing valor, having wisdom, following tradition, and displaying the traits of leadership.
In every epic story, the center of attention will be on the epic hero. Usually all the epic heroes have some kind of special power, which keep them different from other characters. Later on, their epic journey these powers, help them to win the glory, which make them epic heroes. In Beowulf, Beowulf is truly an epic hero, because of his wisdom, strength and bravery.
He showed great courage, strength, leadership and intrepidness. Beowulf defeated a beast that swooped up an entire room of people and ate them. He took his men on a dangerous voyage to Grendal’s deep, dark lair. Beowulf also demonstrated strength that a normal man couldn’t when he lifted a sword crafted for giants. Although Beowulf was an Anglo-Saxon hero centuries removed, his heroic attributes still appeal to heroes today. Although Beowulf has super strength, he still shows courage, initiative, selflessness, and desire to make the world a better place just like heroes of
Beowulf is a strong warrior and has fought in many battles. He is believed to be the strongest and most capable warrior of his time. Grendel is a fierce monster that is eating Danish soldiers under King Hrothgar. Beowulf approaches King Hrothgar and claims that he is able to kill Grendel and will do it because it is his duty. Beowulf states, “My people have said, the wisest, most knowing and best of them, that my duty was to go to the Danes’ Great king.” He Beowulf states that his people believe it to be his duty to defeat Grendel. Beowulf was a strong warrior, therefore, he was capable of defeating Grendel. The Anglo-Saxon warriors strongly believed that if a person could accomplish a task that would help others, it was his duty to complete that task. Beowulf, does in fact, go and mortally wound Grendel by ripping his arm off. He does his
What are the qualities of an epic hero? An Epic hero is a hero on a
The greatest value of Beowulf is his bravery, some may say bravado. There is no doubt that he is a great warrior. Beowulf's heroism belongs to a different time than that of King Arthur or Sir Gawain. For that reason his bragging about his prowess might seem decidedly unheroic. When he tells Unferth "I count it true that I had more courage, More strength in swimming than any other man" (514-15 (41) it might be interpreted in a poor way. What he is saying though is true. In addition, in order for him to succeed he must orally deliver his resume. Nevertheless, bragging aside, Beowulf is undoubtedly a brave man. When Beowulf sets out to kill Grendel's mother he simply "donned his armor for battle, Heeded not the danger..." (1328-29 60). When his sword fails him he uses his physical strength: "On the might of his hand, as a man must do Who thinks to win in the welter of battle Enduring glory; he fears not death" (1420-23 62). Certainly he is in search of fame. Though this is true it must not discount his brave actions. He gains his fame truthfully by doing battle with menaces to society. He does not lie or manipulate to achieve fame, he uses what is rightfully his, his bravery. Beowulf's bravery differs from that of King Arthur's for several reasons. King Arthur by being king must be brave, to rule the state people must respect him. Beowulf's bravery carries the story. One because it details his ascension in fame and secondly it also outlines his downfall.
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.
Beowulf has the outstanding qualities of a hero, he has the ability to do things and the
Beowulf’s first accomplishment as an epic hero was his battle with Grendel. Grendel was a huge beast, a descendent of Cain, who ruthlessly murdered innocent Danes because he felt pity for himself. Upon hearing of the Dane’s problem, Beowulf set off to help the Danish without having been called upon. Even though Beowulf had men backing him, He drew battle with Grendel alone and without armor or weapons. Yet, Beowulf emerged victorious with the arm of Grendel as his trophy. Beowulf then went on to kill Grendel’s vengeful mother and a huge fire-breathing dragon who thought it had been done wrong by the Geats. Alas, the killing of the dragon would be Beowulf’s last great battle for the dragon took Beowulf’s life in the struggle for his own.