Author Brodi Ashton in her book Everneath explains the following about heroes: “Heroes are made by the paths they choose, not the powers they are graced with.” Paths chose by heroes are often fearsome, challenging, and test their strength as they navigate through perilous, unfathomable conditions; for both Beowulf and King Arthur – famous, legendary heroes – they face the same, yet different challenges on quests they encounter. Within Myths and Legends of the British Isles and the King Arthur (2004) movie, Beowulf and King Arthur are tasked with voyages that take immense skill and power to accomplish; however, being heroes, they possess all the necessary characteristics to succeed. They perform courageous acts other will not perform, undertake
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Beowulf encounters many acts that others will not do; he slays Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon to save the Danes and his own people. As Grendel posed a serious problem to the Danes, Beowulf decided it was his duty to slay the monster himself: “[Hrothgar speaking] ‘Beowulf, my friend! So you have come here…to fight on our behalf!...” (Beowulf 194). Slaying Grendel was an act no one wanted to do; however, Beowulf stepped forth from the shadows to take on the grievous task – proving he feels the need to do acts others will not do. After Grendel came Grendel’s mother, another undertaking Beowulf encountered in which a paucity of others wanted to deal with. Beowulf, being the fighter he is, easily kills Grendel’s mother: “[The sword] severed her head from the fated body; she fell at his feet. The sword was bloodstained; Beowulf rejoiced” (Beowulf 220). Along with Beowulf, King Arthur also performs many courageous acts such as standing up to the Bishop when he tries to tell Arthur what to do: “Think very upon the vow Bishop for I will hold you to it. Break it... and no Roman legion, papal army, nor God himself will protect you” (King Arthur). Arthur challenged the Bishop – and all of Rome – something that many people were scared to do for fear of retribution from the church. He also fights for a Rome that …show more content…
Beowulf sets about a multitude of treacherous expeditions within the poem; however, the two notable ones are him traveling to the Dane’s land to kill Grendel and the voyage into the lake to kill Grendel’s mom. He “searched out the bravest of the Geats, asked them to go with him…led fourteen thanes to the ship at the shore…” (Beowulf 189) for their journey to help the Danes – a land unknown to any of them. Beowulf also ventured into the dangerous lair of Grendel’s mother: “…the leader of the Geats dived bravely from the bank, did no even wait for an answer; the seething water received the warrior. A full day elapsed before he could discern the bottom of the lake” (Beowulf 218). Going into the lake was a risk, and Beowulf knew that; however, to be a hero he had to undertake the journeys into dangerous, foreign lands – in which he did plenty. Venturing north past Hadrian’s Wall compelled King Arthur to make choices about his future; it was unknown, savage territory, yet it was his duty to his country to go on the mission to save a Roman family. Going north through the wall would force Arthur and his knights to encounter the Celts and Saxons in their territory, and it would put his and his knights’ lives at risk (King Arthur). Embracing his role as a leader, he travels to foreign lands to save those in danger, and
Beowulf encounters many acts that others will not do; he slays Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon to save the Danes and his own people. As Grendel posed a serious problem to the Danes, Beowulf decided it was his duty to slay the monster himself: “[Hrothgar speaking] ‘Beowulf, my friend! So you have come here…to fight on our behalf!...” (Beowulf 194). Slaying Grendel was an act no one wanted to do; however, Beowulf stepped forth from the shadows to take on the grievous task – proving he feels the need to do acts others will not do. After Grendel came Grendel’s mother, another undertaking Beowulf encountered in which a paucity of others wanted to deal with. Beowulf, being the fighter he is, easily kills Grendel’s mother: “[The sword] severed her head from the fated body; she fell at his feet. The sword was bloodstained; Beowulf rejoiced” (Beowulf 220). Along with Beowulf, King Arthur also performs many courageous acts such as standing up to the Bishop when he tries to tell Arthur what to do: “Think very upon the vow Bishop for I will hold you to it. Break it... and no Roman legion, papal army, nor God himself will protect you” (King Arthur). Arthur challenged the Bishop – and all of Rome – something that many people were scared to do for fear of retribution from the church. He also fights for a Rome that …show more content…
Beowulf sets about a multitude of treacherous expeditions within the poem; however, the two notable ones are him traveling to the Dane’s land to kill Grendel and the voyage into the lake to kill Grendel’s mom. He “searched out the bravest of the Geats, asked them to go with him…led fourteen thanes to the ship at the shore…” (Beowulf 189) for their journey to help the Danes – a land unknown to any of them. Beowulf also ventured into the dangerous lair of Grendel’s mother: “…the leader of the Geats dived bravely from the bank, did no even wait for an answer; the seething water received the warrior. A full day elapsed before he could discern the bottom of the lake” (Beowulf 218). Going into the lake was a risk, and Beowulf knew that; however, to be a hero he had to undertake the journeys into dangerous, foreign lands – in which he did plenty. Venturing north past Hadrian’s Wall compelled King Arthur to make choices about his future; it was unknown, savage territory, yet it was his duty to his country to go on the mission to save a Roman family. Going north through the wall would force Arthur and his knights to encounter the Celts and Saxons in their territory, and it would put his and his knights’ lives at risk (King Arthur). Embracing his role as a leader, he travels to foreign lands to save those in danger, and