In a world that is constantly evolving, the traits and actions of a hero adapt over time. What constitutes as heroism in one culture could be cowardice in another. In terms of literature, Beowulf has stood the test of time and has consistently been regarded as the epitome of heroes. While the character for whom the epic is named after performs a few daring deeds, what sets Beowulf apart from others is the exploration of his heroism in two distinct phases. The beginning of the tale starts with Beowulf in his youth; he is strong, brave, quick to volunteer to do what needs to be done.…
The poem Beowulf tells us several things about authority and what was expected of the aristocratic warrior of that era. It tells what actions should be taken in order for a warrior’s obligations to be meant. At the same time warriors have a certain way they were expected to interact and relate to one another. In order for this to happen a warrior must follow a hero’s code. It requires a warrior to be three things: loyal, respectful, and honorable.…
The Christian symbols and representations apparent in Grendel, his mother, and the parallel between Heorot and the cave are balances between good and evil. A brief history of the poem is offered due to the fact that the reader should know why the second part of the poem is so debatable. By looking at the fight with the dragon and Beowulf’s pride it is obvious that there was a shift from the Old Testament to the morals of Christian ideology and of Beowulf’s beginning to his end. He fought in a society where fighting was life. He began a hero fighting evil and died with pride in fighting.…
Since the beginning of literature and storytelling, themes have been placed in stories to portray an overall lesson that the reader can relate to or take away from. There can be more than one theme in a story, but there is sometimes one main theme that the author wants the reader to understand and it is sometimes hard to choose what the bigger theme is. In Beowulf, like in many other stories, there is the obvious battle between good and evil. From the start of the epic the reader is introduced to Grendel, a descendant of Cain. Grendel represents the evil in this epic.…
In medieval Europe, the image of strength was equally as important as the ability to act on that image. Enduring kingdoms were capable of subduing others, both through intimidation and in battle. In Beowulf, violence is a key part of maintaining society’s stability. The hero, Beowulf, is the epitome of the physically imposing, battle-triumphant warrior that is highly idealized in medieval culture. Just as a sound king indicates a sound kingdom, Beowulf’s presence increases the power of Hrothgar’s rule; individuals such as Beowulf and Hrothgar rely on violence to better their reputations, equating to a rise in the prestige of their kingdoms.…
In the poem Beowulf, the main character Beowulf shows strength, courage, and leadership. Throughout the poem, Beowulf personifies Anglo-Saxon honor and acts accordingly in all of his interactions with others. Beowulf is heroic in his deeds, wise in his leadership, and always follows the honor code. This honor code was extremely important in Anglo-Saxon society and one of the main themes of the poem explores the negative consequences of not following the code. The monster Grendel exemplifies everything considered dishonorable in Anglo-Saxon society.…
In both Henry IV, Part 1 and Beowulf, the strength of rulers allow for developing a successful society. Throughout Beowulf and Henry IV, the idea of how the actions of the nobility—that is those who belong to an influential class of the country—create an impact on the commonwealth. While we are presented with two characters of nobility, each ascended to the throne through different fashions. For Henry IV, Part 1, King Henry was able to receive this title by killing the previous king, Richard II. On the other hand, Beowulf reaches his place of nobility through his acts of leadership and courage.…
Historical Context In the epic story of Beowulf it reflex to an Old Norse Culture. It was written between 8th century and 11th century in England and it is one of the most important poems in old English literature. The Reflection from the epic story to Old Norse Culture, all men must be fearless, strong, full body armor, and kill enemies and monsters in traditional battle. The Character Beowulf is a perfect example to meet all the expectations in Old Norse culture.…
Beowulf, an epic poem composed around 750 AD (Greenblatt 26), is a story of a Dane named Beowulf and his astonishing feats of bravery and sacrifice. Beowulf’s actions showcase his strength, sacrifice, honor, faultlessness, courage, compassion, and seemingly inborn, infallible behavior. Even onlookers termed him “stout of heart” (Beowulf 338), “noble” (314), and “formidable” (370). Beowulf is a quintessential hero who lived a for the good of others and died for the good of others. The moral throughout the story of Beowulf is that self-sacrifice is an overt trait of the classic hero figure.…
Cultural values of a community reflects the protagonists of literary works through their actions and beliefs. From the Early to the Late Middle Ages, some deplorable and splendid features persist throughout this era. Moreover, Sir Gawain and Beowulf, embark on quests that illustrate their era’s ideals. More specifically, both protagonists demonstrate honorable qualities as well as fraudulent characteristics in accordance with the paradigms of the peoples they represent. Although the quests in Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight take place in varying time periods, corresponding and clashing traits have the potential to become evaluated through analyzing the context of the storyline and archetypes according to Joseph Campbell.…
However, heroism in Beowulf is not spontaneous actions, but instead, it is a product of seeking revenge for a wrongdoing. This pattern of vengeance gives warriors an opportunity to prove themselves as heroes and keeps the tribe together. The importance of vengeance is made immediately clear by Beowulf’s introduction. The introduction is laden with the importance of honoring the Germanic code.…
In the epic poem Beowulf, the poet demonstrates the various loyalties needed to maintain trust within the Geats. The poet, specifically in lines 2712-32, shows many virtues that outline the reasons why Beowulf makes a great honorable, king. With Beowulf’s knowledge, he is able to demonstrate many values that help shape Wiglaf’s character. The themes of honor and loyalty often arise to show how Beowulf stays truthful to his thanes, as well as himself, during difficult times. Throughout the many battles seen in the poem, Beowulf exemplifies unfailing loyalty to his tribe.…
Beowulf exemplifies bravery and heroism throughout the entire epic poem, showing his embodiment of being the greatest warrior among men. Sir Gawain is described as being one of the noblest of knights, who exemplifies chivalry, loyalty, and courteousness. Beowulf…
When one thinks back to the Early Middle Ages and the times of stories such as “Beowulf”, images of masculinity and bravery come to mind. Scenes of monster slaying and grand battles for honor and glory are easily accessible in many Old English verse, the men of these tales are strong, decisive and the poster children of the ideal male figure. With all of this testosterone coursing through the lines of the epic poems, it is strange to discover the presence of a feeling that doesn’t really go with the image of the tough man. This feeling exists between the men themselves, and when the feeling is explored, the reader can find examples of homosexual tendencies between the lords of the land and their men. The feeling isn’t really felt between men…
Throughout literature, every culture has created their own idea of the perfect man and hero. These cultures were trying to formulate a man who could fight in wars, slay dragons, and rule a country all at the same time. For the Anglo-Saxon people, this ideal hero meant a hero that housed superhuman abilities, the bravery of a lion, a royal background, and glory beyond belief. From the time the reader meets Beowulf; he exhibits the Anglo-Saxon qualities of an epic hero that include superhuman abilities, above average bravery, and excessive glorification of his deeds.…