Hygelac

Beowulf Beowulf is the story of a warrior who fights against monsters to gain glory and the treasure of south-Scandinavian cultures. Beowulf is a heroic story in general however when I read Beowulf, I realized that not only the story tells about the hero who fights against monsters alone but the treasure in the story also plays a significant role throughout the story and also serves many functions. For example, treasure takes form as a legacy when the father passes armor to sons. Treasure also…

kinship wove individual warriors together into tribes and even kingdoms. Without these bonds, chances are these tribes and kingdoms would have failed to exist. In Beowulf, kinship is seen between Beowulf and his men as well as among the thanes of Hygelac, and Hrothgar. In the Wanderer it cannot be seen directly, but it is seen nostalgically in hindsight. The Wanderer misses having kinsmen and the poem spends quite a few lines on the subject. However, the bonds of thanes to one another isn’t…

In Anglo-Saxon times literature escalated as an oral tradition. It was past along generations including songs, ancient stories, and poems. The poems did not posses the expected rhyme, they particularly had a strong beat. These traditions all held unique types of alliteration. Anglo-Saxon traditions in Beowulf illustrate how the Anglo-Saxon traditions became a strong influencing focus in Beowulf. In Anglo-Saxon culture and literature, to be a hero was to be a warrior and ultimately a king. He…

concerning Grendel so that you might certainly know, / giver of treasure, how it turned out, / the heroic wrestling-match” (Beowulf 2070-2072). He addresses his King as the giver of treasure and this does two things. First it grabs the attention of Hygelac to make sure that he understands the full weight of his heroism, and secondly, this word play indicates that his king should reward him for his feats with the Danes. His version of the tale is internally focalized because his story indicates…

Beowulf Throughout Beowulf, there are many examples of the qualities of Beowulf that make him the epitome of a hero. Beowulf’s first heroic quality that he shows throughout the epic is superhuman strength. In the story, Beowulf fights monsters, a dragon, and he even has the ability to hold his breath underwater for around nine hours. Another heroic quality of Beowulf is his loyalty to his companions and to other people he meets throughout his journey. Beowulf sleeps with his kin in the hall,…

to help those in need not to just gain fame, but because he knew he was undoubtedly the only one who could help. In line 1480, Beowulf states, "If this combat kills me, take care of my young company, my comrades in arms. And be sure also to send Hygelac the treasure I received." This is most likely my favorite line because it demonstrates that…

bravery, humbleness, and the struggle to fight his humanity. Throughout the story, Beowulf fights monsters and receives glory and treasures. Although Beowulf receives all of these treasures from Hrothgar he stays humble and shares with his Lord Hygelac. Hygelac is also Beowulf’s uncle. One night some of the Danes men were drinking and passed out. A foul demon named Grendel took the scene to his advantage and grabbed 30 drunk men. He took the…

Lines 1584-1590 The glory that Beowulf receives for his accomplishments earns him the fame and glory he desired. He is now a hero throughout the land for saving Hrothgar’s kingdom. When he returns home, king Hygelac rewards him with the best sword in all of the Geat’s armory. When Hygelac dies in battle, Beowulf is rewarded the throne, and rules into old…

The Epic of Beowulf stresses a society in which the inhabitants of the story are under great scrutiny due to the fact that the tribes push the idea that force is the only way to resolve any issues. This ideal reflects throughout the tale how the society protects the people based on how a warrior goes about his actions; however it dictates decisions made that have negative outcomes because of the influence of this society that exists in the tribes. This society is referred to as a “warrior…

first lands in areas controlled by the Danes, he is identified based on loyalty to his king. When questioned by the guard at the shores about who he and his men are, Beowulf replies, “We belong by birth to the Geat people / and owe allegiance to Lord Hygelac” (Beowulf 260-261). Aside from what clan he comes from, the other important part in his identification is the man he serves and devotes his loyalty too. Interestingly, Beowulf mentions which leader he is aligned with comes before identifying…