Danes

Beowulf is an epic poem that has captivated readers for centuries. It tells the story of Beowulf, the “heroes of all heroes” and savior of the Danes and Geats. Beowulf represents what a true hero should be, not just in his time, but throughout history. In contrast, Grendel, his mother and the dragon share characteristics that accurately portray them as villains. So it is only natural that conflict would arise between the virtuous hero and the dangerous villains that around him. This leads to the…

Many of the challenges observed in Beowulf that the society of Herot faced are comparable to the struggles of Anglo-Saxon society. The epic, Beowulf, would be considered an archetypal symbol to Anglo-Saxons because the Anglo-Saxons had to fight groups in order to defend the society they had built up which is similar to what Beowulf encountered in the epic. One challenge that Beowulf faced was trust in his men. When Beowulf was going into his final battle Wiglaf was the only one brave enough to…

powerful and strong man. Although, by the end of the poem his fall caused him to be viewed as weak and selfish. Beowulf and the Danes were people of Herot not knowing that many battles were in their future. Soon rather than later the test of Beowulf's skills were put into action. Grendel, one of the many sea monsters came up to land were Beowulf and the Danes were congregating as one and attacked Beowulf. They fought at each other with all of their might and strength until Grendel's arm…

marches, marauding round the heath and the desolate fens; he had dwelt for a time in misery among the banished monsters, Cain's clan, whom the Creator had outlawed and condemned as outcasts.” ( Heaney ) had been haunting the magnificent meat hall of the Dane ring giver named Hrothgar lured the mighty Geat. In the first stages of the poem we are given some of the Anglo Saxon’s…

Beowulf: Home, Identity and Exile Beowulf is centered in a male-dominant society engulfed in danger and barbarity. An era where each warrior takes high value and honor of the heroic code. In the land of the Danes, King Hrothgar built a mead-hall, or Heorot for his noblemen to gather, feast, and trade war stories with one another. However, a monster known as Grendel, appeared and annihilated the place and the people of this land. This dire threat has succumbed the region. Thus, came Beowulf, a…

Loyalty is a hard personality trait to find in people but in the story Beowulf loyalty is shown throughout the book as being the most important lesson, being loyal in this book has its ups and down in the story. loyalty in this story can come with perks like treasure and fame are big ones and just respect from people Beowulf is a very loyal man and that is why he is a really respected man one of the first people he is loyal to is his family which says it all because if you can't be loyal to…

Heorot is constantly referenced throughout the epic Beowulf as strong and sturdy, a place of refuge and a symbol of hope for the Danes. This depiction of Heorot is similar to the description of Beowulf, as he serves as the heart of his troops and withstands multiple onslaughts and provides hope and protection for the Danes. Heorot’s strength, unity, resilience, and wonder show that Beowulf, as the embodiment of the mead hall, was given a set fate that pushed him to achieve amazing things and…

good vs evil as hero vs villains. In the beginning a young geat warrior known as Beowulf sets off on a long voyage with a handfull his best men to the notorious land of the danes. Where a great king known as hrothgar sits in distress terrorized by a great foe known as Grendel. Grendel has been terrorizing the land of the danes for 12…

Generosity and Kingship in Beowulf Generosity plays a large role in Seamus Heaney’s translation of Beowulf, particularly to the kings and their successors. Much emphasis is placed on a king’s ability—and willingness—to provide for his people; if he did, his people would know that “he was a good king” (l. 862). Kings would often reward their most prodigious warriors, and receiving gifts and gold was seen as a sign of respect and honor, as well as an indication of skill. If a king is…

Cultural differences have a huge impact on how life is viewed in pictures and movies. The time period also has a great influence on things seen or depicted for an easier understanding. For example, in Beowulf and Grendel the movie (Gundarsson 2005), the writers wrote the movie to fit more modern day characteristics so people are able to relate and understand the story better. The epic Beowulf (Heaney 2000), is set in an old context which is extremely hard to relate to considering that we live in…