Danes

The poet describes the Danes as helpless towards the wrath of Grendel. He describes Grendel’s act as a “cruel humiliation” (Beowulf 166) towards the Danes because they could not find his dwelling and they were perpetually drunk, ending in them constantly being available to the wrath of Grendel. Unferth is a prime example of the Danes inexperience and inability to help themselves. The poet criticizes Unferth for not only not attempting…

the beginning of the story, Beowulf travels to the Danes stating that his people, the Geats, recommended that he rid the Danes of Grendel’s terror. After speaking with their king, Hrothgar, Beowulf promises to do everything in his power to save them from Grendel. “My purpose was this; to win the goodwill of your people or die in battle…” (Beowulf, page 29) Not long after, Beowulf stays true his promise and kills Grendel. Even after saving the Danes once, Beowulf would not stop until his promise…

who has been terrorizing the Danes for years. Then moves on to rid the swamps of Grendel's mother, a terrifying work of evil. As Beowulf ages his final battle is to go up against a dragon, sleeping around a glorious treasure. Like the other battles Beowulf makes himself a legend. Strength, intelligence and courage; all things that define an epic hero and all qualities that Beowulf possess. His first major battle is with the Monster Grendel who has terrorized the Danes and their meat hall…

The Oxford English Dictionary defines a hero as “a person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities”. Both the history of mankind and literature are saturated with stories of heroes, many of which, are connected to royalty. Whether the hero is rewarded with royalty or begins the hero journey in a position of supremacy, heroism and royalty always coincide. Heroes and eminence also have a plethora of traits in common with each other. Heroes are rewarded with…

kings and their people, with a consistent balance of the rise and fall. In the beginning, Shild, “an abandoned child,” builds himself out of nothing and “change[s] his own fate,” where he “[l]ive[s] to be rich and much honored,” as the king of the Danes. (Beowulf 7/8). Rising from an orphan to a self-made man, Shild would change his life to become a noble, beloved king.…

When Grendel’s mother comes for her revenge he sees it as a threat or a challenge to his glory. He does not do it to keep the people of Danes safe, he did it to ensure his glory will not fade in their eyes. The battle is not about him, it is about the counsellor who lost his life, but Beowulf naturally twisted it to be for his benefit. “Beowulf was quickly brought to the chamber: the winner…

that victory, their nobility is achieved. The computer animated version of Beowulf portrays an excellent example of what a hero should be. When he answers the call to be a hero, Beowulf is a flawed character. Upon their arrival to the land of the Danes, Beowulf and his men are presented…

In Herot there was a merry mead hall that King Hrothgar built for the Danes to socialize and be merry. Then a cruel monster named Grendel invaded the mead hall terrorizing and killing the Danes. Grendel continuously came back to the mead hall at night killing innocent men. The Danes tried to fight back, but it was no match for Grendel. Hrothgar is in need of someone much stronger than his army of Danes. A man named Beowulf hears of the horrific situation and offers his help. Hrothgar accepts…

After his defeat of Grendel, Beowulf addresses the Danes, saying of the battle “I wish / I could show you, here in Herot, his corpse / Stretched on this floor! (...) Let him burn / In torment, lying and trembling, waiting / For the brightness of God to bring him his reward” (42). Though Grendel died in an…

youthful heroism. The epic begins by discussing Shild, the first king of Denmark, and how Shild is the basis of what a good king should be. The plot advances to Beowulf, a noble warrior from Geatland, who saves the Danes from Grendel and his mother because Hrothgar, king of the Danes, fails to show strength in a time of need. The epic forwards to Wiglaf, a young kinsman of Beowulf, who displays bravery, benevolence, and loyalty as he aids an elderly Beowulf in slaying a dragon. Shild is…