Heorot

It had been a particular wretched winter when3 Beowulf had had begun his kingship. The Geats looked up to him greatly after his incredible defeat of Grendel and his mother. As Beowulf prepared to address the Geats in Highmoon, they gather anxiously awaiting the news. Beowulf’s clear voice reverberated around the whole hall, as the people quieted. “Today we shall discuss what is to be done in the upcoming moon. I want only the hardiest men to take the task of hunting. This winter has made wise…

Grendel in the novel is very different from Grendel in the epic poem Beowulf because Grendel in the novel has the ability to speak, has an actual mother that loves him, and is a developing character whereas Grendel in the poem is all animalistic, is born of demons without love, and is a very static character. In the novel, Grendel displays characteristics that his alter ego in Beowulf does not display. One of these major characteristics is the ability to speak. “‘You think me a witless fool,’…

Adrenaline courses through his veins. A godly soldier locks eyes with a bloodlust beast, who has long overstayed his welcome. Yet even as famed and honorable as he is, even he knows that even he, is only just a mortal. In the story of Beowulf, a warrior faces an enemy in new territory, an enemy that has been terrorizing a town for 12 years. Throughout this story, the idea of mortality is constantly presented, and it shows the readers that no one really lives forever, only in the memories of…

In order to find honor, kings and warriors must trust one another. The king must trust the warrior to be able to fight off attackers and warriors must trust kings to know how to help the kingdom after their victories in battle. In Beowulfand I Henry IV, the two warriors, Beowulf and Hotspur, gain the trust of their kings in two different ways. Beowulf gains the trust of King Hrothgar by the traditional customs, while Hotspur does not. Without the help of the warrior, kings could not rule…

A hero is usually described as someone who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, and noble qualities. However, another aspect someone must experience to be considered a hero is embark on a hero’s journey. A hero’s journey is when one leaves their realm after receiving their call to adventure and accepting that challenge. This person also often encounters evil forces and will be both defeated and victorious when engaging in battle with them. Beowulf fits the mold of a hero…

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…

The Vikings Ruthless Raiders or Crafty Survivalists Upon review of the interview with archeologist William Fitzhugh, Who Were the Vikings?, one has to wonder if the long standing view of the Vikings as ruthless raiders is an accurate description. Fitzhugh argues that the Vikings, while a ruthless band, were in fact fighting for their own survival as best they could. He presents a picture of the Vikings as Scandinavian peoples who have garnered a biased narrative. This narrative is characterized…

Both writings, The Poem of the Cid and The Prince, discuss political and military leadership tactics. The Poem of the Cid presents the Cid as one of the great leaders in the history of the Reconquista; he was a remarkable warrior and leader, and his actions showed his superiority. This dominance is shown through his warfare tactics, but also through his religious commitment, his skill and practice of military command, knowledge and practical aims of battle, and cunningness and cleverness.…

“The Road of Trails” Campbell explains that “The Road of Trails” is a series of trails the hero must overcome in the hero’s quest. These trails can be slaying dragons or freeing people from a tyrant. The trails take place from the moment the Hero transverses a threshold into a “dream like landscape” full of “the unknow” and “ambiguous forms”. Campbell explains that for the hero to complete his quest he must overcome several tough trails. According to Campbell, “Once having traversed the…

2o English Each and every single person has his or her own adventure, and behind each story is a Hero's Journey. In our Hero's Journey, Erandi, Raymond, and I, The Oreos, will be competing our way to the Ultimate Slam, a grand tournament that everyone, across the entire bay area, is fighting to get into. For this reason, the three of us will have to combat a rigorous and intense battle to the top. As we prepare for the upcoming tournament, our shihan, or head instructor, will be mentoring us…