In the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a quest is defined as “an act or instance of seeking.” However, quests are a bit more structured than how our language defines them. There are five common characteristics of every quest: a quester, a destination, a stated reason for the quest, obstacles, and a real reason for the quest (which is always to gain self-knowledge in some fashion). In the poem Beowulf, the title character goes on a quest to help his cousin Hrothgar defend his people, battles three monsters, and ultimately gains personal glory. In his novel Salvation on Sand Mountain, Dennis Covington sets out to write an book on snake handling, yet finds his purpose in his spiritual life and discovers that snake handling is not for him. Though
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In speaking of his religious upbringing, Covington states, “In retrospect, I believe that my religious education had pointed me all along toward some ultimate rendezvous with people who took up serpents” (Covington 11). He also mentions a childhood full of snakes and his curiosity of the creatures (Covington 136-142). Perhaps it was his fate to grow up with snakes only to later discover himself in snake-handling churches. In the same way, the concept of wyrd is an important aspect in epic poetry such as Beowulf. In speaking to Hrothgar of his intended battle against Grendel, Beowulf acknowledges that whoever dies is facing his predestined fate (Beowulf 440-441, 455). Beowulf believes that whatever is meant to happen will happen and goes through his quest with this mindset. In fact, the concept of fate is mentioned many times in Beowulf separate from that of the title character. However, the most important instance of fate in this epic comes at the end of Beowulf’s quest. Fate seems to be against Beowulf for the first time in his fight against the dragon (Beowulf 2573-2574). Beowulf even recognizes his own fate at this time (Beowulf 2740). In both texts, the quester is following his destiny. Thus, the concept of fate runs deep in each …show more content…
In Salvation on Sand Mountain, the biggest example of opposition comes at the end of the novel when Brother Carl calls out Dennis for being “out of the Word” to fit his own narrative (Covington 232). Similarly, Punkin Brown later personally attacks him by ranting to the church about those preaching false doctrine (Covington 234). Though he does not explicitly call out Covington, he is coming out against him in this instance. All at once, the people that had invited Dennis Covington into their church and that he had trusted have turned against him. This obstacle leads to the end of his quest. In Beowulf, the title character faces the same obstacle while battling the dragon, when, “No help or backing was to be had then from his high-born comrades; that hand-picked troop broke ranks and ran for their lives to the safety of the wood” (Beowulf 2596-2599). When Beowulf was in his time of greatest need, the people he depended on most abandoned him because they did not have faith in him or themselves to defeat the dragon, ultimately leading to his death. In both texts, the lack of support from people both men trusted leads to the end of their
In speaking of his religious upbringing, Covington states, “In retrospect, I believe that my religious education had pointed me all along toward some ultimate rendezvous with people who took up serpents” (Covington 11). He also mentions a childhood full of snakes and his curiosity of the creatures (Covington 136-142). Perhaps it was his fate to grow up with snakes only to later discover himself in snake-handling churches. In the same way, the concept of wyrd is an important aspect in epic poetry such as Beowulf. In speaking to Hrothgar of his intended battle against Grendel, Beowulf acknowledges that whoever dies is facing his predestined fate (Beowulf 440-441, 455). Beowulf believes that whatever is meant to happen will happen and goes through his quest with this mindset. In fact, the concept of fate is mentioned many times in Beowulf separate from that of the title character. However, the most important instance of fate in this epic comes at the end of Beowulf’s quest. Fate seems to be against Beowulf for the first time in his fight against the dragon (Beowulf 2573-2574). Beowulf even recognizes his own fate at this time (Beowulf 2740). In both texts, the quester is following his destiny. Thus, the concept of fate runs deep in each …show more content…
In Salvation on Sand Mountain, the biggest example of opposition comes at the end of the novel when Brother Carl calls out Dennis for being “out of the Word” to fit his own narrative (Covington 232). Similarly, Punkin Brown later personally attacks him by ranting to the church about those preaching false doctrine (Covington 234). Though he does not explicitly call out Covington, he is coming out against him in this instance. All at once, the people that had invited Dennis Covington into their church and that he had trusted have turned against him. This obstacle leads to the end of his quest. In Beowulf, the title character faces the same obstacle while battling the dragon, when, “No help or backing was to be had then from his high-born comrades; that hand-picked troop broke ranks and ran for their lives to the safety of the wood” (Beowulf 2596-2599). When Beowulf was in his time of greatest need, the people he depended on most abandoned him because they did not have faith in him or themselves to defeat the dragon, ultimately leading to his death. In both texts, the lack of support from people both men trusted leads to the end of their