Characters in Beowulf

Characters in all kinds of fictional stories are characterized into different groups depending on how they shape the plot. In the great Anglo-Saxon Epic poem, Beowulf, many characters are featured as either static or dynamic. The main character, Beowulf, encounters many obstacles and undergoes multiple trials that cause him to immediately attract the attention of readers. However, Beowulf is a static character throughout the epic because while his personality may alter as he ages, his character stays the same, and does not undergo a major change that alters the plot. Beowulf, a young warrior from Geatland boasting with confidence, bravery, and rigor, is called by Hrothgar to help the Scyldings defeat the spine-chilling monster, Grendel. Bearing…

Character traits in fictional or real people have positive and negative effects on the people around them. In the story Beowulf, the epic hero in this story has a positive effect on others in his surroundings. A character trait is all the aspects of a person’s behavior and attitudes that make up the persons personality. Beowulf has an abundant amount of positive character traits as he travels on his quest. Beowulf is full of bravery on his journey. Being brave is courageous behavior. He is…

Loyalty, honor, and strength are valued as ideal traits for any fighter. A warrior’s character plays a major role in the story of Beowulf. The society of the Geats have a central focus on this when describing their warriors, especially when talking about Beowulf himself. The more a warrior displays these traits, the higher their status will be in society. Does the modern world lack traditional traits that are needed for a moral personality? The story of Beowulf is one that contains values that…

The characters presented in the old epic poem “Beowulf” provide significant insight into old English society and the characteristics that people praised. These heroes and villains act as examples and antithesis of the values that were considered important at the time. The heroic qualities of Beowulf, such as his bravery and leadership abilities demonstrate the values society deemed essential in leaders and warriors. The villains of the story, Grendel, his mother, and even the dragon, are viewed…

The Correlation Between a Minor Character and the Entirety of a Poem’s Plot Minor characters are not significantly accentuated in order to indirectly unveil an idea or highlight a concept. A character is introduced into a plot with an intended purpose— whether it be to serve as a foil or a confidante, he or she proves to be essential to the story in total. The poem Beowulf, details the story of a courageous warrior from the Geats (which is today Modern Sweden) who travels to aid Hrothgar, the…

son of Ecglaf’s, spoke contrary words.” (Beowulf 34). This is the first mention of a notable minor character in Beowulf. In Beowulf, Translated by Seamus Heaney, originally written circa 1000 ad., many minor and seemingly unimportant characters still have drastically driving effects in the story. Beowulf tells the story of a hero who has to fight demons and a dragon throughout the course of his life while aided by many minor characters. One of these particular characters is Unferth, an…

Throughout the epic, Beowulf ages fifty-plus years. He goes to several battles, becomes a great warrior, establishes a name for himself, and eventually becomes king of the Geats. In order for Beowulf to establish an identity and prove to his people that he is trustworthy, he fought in a series of battles including Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. He claims to have the strength of thirty men in one arm and often gives gifts of great measure. He proves, time and time again, that he is…

Grendel: The Controversial Character Beowulf (Heaney) is the name of an epic written in between the 9th and 11th centuries. One of the first stories written in the nascent language of English, the epic contains three “episodes” involving the heroic Geat character, its namesake, Beowulf. In the first of these “episodes”, Beowulf, the protagonist, has to slay a savage monster named Grendel, the obvious antagonist, whom the author depicts as the scourge of the earth, the most evil being in all…

The poem Beowulf makes a very clear distinction between the morally good characters, and the characters that are to be considered evil. It is nearly impossible to miss that the hero, Beowulf, is hailed as a hero and a king, and is often described by those around him as good and just. Oppositely, Grendel and his mother are the primarily evil figures. Grendel in particular is heavily shadowed as an evil figure, given his tendency to kill for sport. There is very little grey area, and both sides…

Grendel character in the book grendel had changed over the book. The three that affect the change was The Dragon then it was beowulf and then it would be Grendel Mother. The first example of Grendel Change in the book is when he leaves the cave of where the Dragon rest and was told that Grendel just a violent person and after Grendel leaves he discovers that his encounter with the dragon has changed him not only mentally, but also physically. The dragon has put a charm on him so that no weapon…