Beowulf : The Most Glorious Hero of all Time In the epic poem Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, Beowulf completes many heroic and glorious actions allowing him to earn eternal life.
The first indication of Beowulf achieving his goal of eternal life is through glory to one’s king. From achieving glory from one’s king, the kin of the clan will most likely begin to speak of this glory that was achieved ; thus, creating eternal life. For example, this can be seen when Hrothgar was pleased with Beowulf. He proclaims, "so now, Beowulf, / I adopt you in my heart as a dear son / nourish and maintain this connection" ( Heaney 445-447 ). Furthermore, when King Hrothgar verbally adopts Beowulf, it shows that he had brought glory to this …show more content…
As Beowulf fights off monsters that are attacking the Danes, he is in the process of fighting evil. He is doing for glory. For instance, when he is about fight Grendel and he says , "may the divine lord / in His wisdom grant the glory of victory / to whichever side he sees fit" ( 685-688 ). Certainly, Beowulf knows that God would choose him due to the fact that he is fighting for good in the name of God. Another key point is when the Danes claim that God brought Beowulf to the Danes in order to help them. They say, “Now Holy God / has, in his goodness, guided him here” ( 381-382). In other words, the Danes claim that when God brought Beowulf to the Danes, he will do good and bring himself glory. Especially since the Danes are already speaking highly of him although he just arrived. Also, when Beowulf is about to leave the Danes tell Beowulf, "May the God of ages / continue to keep and require you well" (955-956). In the hope that God continues to treat Beowulf well because of his exemplary deeds, Hrothgar explains in the quote how God has already given Beowulf glory. Since Beowulf completes these impressive victories against evil, he can achieve glory and continue on the road to never ending
The first indication of Beowulf achieving his goal of eternal life is through glory to one’s king. From achieving glory from one’s king, the kin of the clan will most likely begin to speak of this glory that was achieved ; thus, creating eternal life. For example, this can be seen when Hrothgar was pleased with Beowulf. He proclaims, "so now, Beowulf, / I adopt you in my heart as a dear son / nourish and maintain this connection" ( Heaney 445-447 ). Furthermore, when King Hrothgar verbally adopts Beowulf, it shows that he had brought glory to this …show more content…
As Beowulf fights off monsters that are attacking the Danes, he is in the process of fighting evil. He is doing for glory. For instance, when he is about fight Grendel and he says , "may the divine lord / in His wisdom grant the glory of victory / to whichever side he sees fit" ( 685-688 ). Certainly, Beowulf knows that God would choose him due to the fact that he is fighting for good in the name of God. Another key point is when the Danes claim that God brought Beowulf to the Danes in order to help them. They say, “Now Holy God / has, in his goodness, guided him here” ( 381-382). In other words, the Danes claim that when God brought Beowulf to the Danes, he will do good and bring himself glory. Especially since the Danes are already speaking highly of him although he just arrived. Also, when Beowulf is about to leave the Danes tell Beowulf, "May the God of ages / continue to keep and require you well" (955-956). In the hope that God continues to treat Beowulf well because of his exemplary deeds, Hrothgar explains in the quote how God has already given Beowulf glory. Since Beowulf completes these impressive victories against evil, he can achieve glory and continue on the road to never ending