Argumentative Essay On Beowulf

From the outside looking in, there are certain things that are not as obvious as you would think. For example, when there is a fight the only people who know the reason for the fight are the aggressors. Even then, they might not agree on the reason because of personal beliefs. In the great epic “Beowulf”, there are 3 significant fights that occur. Beowulf is always the contender and he goes against three horrific monsters. The real question is “Why?”, why would Beowulf take it amongst himself to set out and risk his life to defeat these monsters? Why did he not allow Hrothgar to fight against Grendel and his mother since it was Hrothgar’s kingdom? Were these battles just a display of Beowulf’s heroic nature, or was it much deeper than that? These questions can be answered differently depending on the critic. From personal …show more content…
Where did he come from? Though Beowulf is the center of this epic poem, hence the name, we do not know much about him or his background. As Kathryn Hume stated, “Virtually nothing else is given us; few private thoughts or personal hopes or misgivings; no characterizing features except extraordinary strength” (Hume 2). These factors complicate him more a character. Beowulf seemed a bit antisocial, he carried himself with the stature of one like a modern-day business man. He comes into Hereot on a mission. “Beowulf’s relations with other people are all public and forward; and though we infer deep feeling for Hygelac, we witness no more personal an exchange than might take place, between any commander and scout” (Hume 2). Upon his arrival he is praised and they have a great feast. During the feast someone brings up a swim race that he lost and Beowulf’s response is that he was proud to have competed in the race, regardless of the outcome. Was Beowulf’s pride one of his personal weaknesses? Was his prior loss what drove Beowulf to come to the land of the Danes to fight this monster Grendel? Hume