Beowulf is an epic poem that was originally written in Anglo-Saxon between 700-1000 A.D. in England. The main action of the story is set around 500 A.D., but the narrative also recounts historical events that happened much earlier. Beowulf takes place in Denmark and Geatland (a region in what is now southern Sweden). The author is unknown. The narrarator of the poem is a Christian telling a story of pagan times. The scribe who first wrote the poem down was a Christian, but the characters in Beowulf would have been pagans. The protagonist in the poem is a great and mighty warrior named Beowulf. The poet is usually enthusiastic about Beowulf’s great feats, but he often surrounds the events he narrates with a sense of doom. The poem essentially
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Beowulf and Breca head out into the open sea, and they have to wear full armor and carry swords while swimming, so that they can defend themselves against sea monsters. They get separated when Beowulf is dragged to the bottom of the sea by a ferocious monster. Beowulf later boasts that he slayed the monster. He says that by the time he got out of the water, he had killed nine different sea monsters and survived an unbelievable ordeal. Boasting was a formal and traditional part of medieval European culture, essentially the way warriors told each other about their experience and qualifications. Beowulf has all the traits of a perfect hero. He also perfectly embodies the manners dictated by the Germanic heroic code, including loyalty, courtesy, and pride. His defeat of Grendel and Grendel's mother validates his reputation for bravery and firmly establishes him as a hero. In the first part of the poem, Beowulf does not mature much, because he already possesses heroic qualities in …show more content…
He is the only warrior who is brave enough to help Beowulf in his fight against the dragon; all the rest run away. Wiglaf conforms perfectly to the heroic code. He is willing to die fighting the opponent and, more importantly, to save his lord. In this way, Wiglaf seems to be a reflection of Beowulf in the first part of the story, a warrior who is strong, fearless, valiant, and loyal. Wiglaf represents the next generation of heroism and the future of the kingdom. His bravery provides some optimism in the end of the story, which is dominated mostly by a tone of despair at what the future
Beowulf and Breca head out into the open sea, and they have to wear full armor and carry swords while swimming, so that they can defend themselves against sea monsters. They get separated when Beowulf is dragged to the bottom of the sea by a ferocious monster. Beowulf later boasts that he slayed the monster. He says that by the time he got out of the water, he had killed nine different sea monsters and survived an unbelievable ordeal. Boasting was a formal and traditional part of medieval European culture, essentially the way warriors told each other about their experience and qualifications. Beowulf has all the traits of a perfect hero. He also perfectly embodies the manners dictated by the Germanic heroic code, including loyalty, courtesy, and pride. His defeat of Grendel and Grendel's mother validates his reputation for bravery and firmly establishes him as a hero. In the first part of the poem, Beowulf does not mature much, because he already possesses heroic qualities in …show more content…
He is the only warrior who is brave enough to help Beowulf in his fight against the dragon; all the rest run away. Wiglaf conforms perfectly to the heroic code. He is willing to die fighting the opponent and, more importantly, to save his lord. In this way, Wiglaf seems to be a reflection of Beowulf in the first part of the story, a warrior who is strong, fearless, valiant, and loyal. Wiglaf represents the next generation of heroism and the future of the kingdom. His bravery provides some optimism in the end of the story, which is dominated mostly by a tone of despair at what the future