Beowulf, the wonderful--yet very tragic--epic poem expresses the true importance of heroes and outcasts within any given myth. A hero is a character who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities; while an outcast is a character who is separated from society due to a physical impairment or an emotional or physiological realization that makes him/her different. These characters are also known as archetypal characters. Some of these characters include Beowulf, Wiglaf, Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon--all of which are essential to the completion of Beowulf. For a myth to be successful, an outcast and hero must be present because each play a significant role in the storyline. There are several characters …show more content…
First, he traveled to the Danes to help defeat Grendel for king Hrothgar. Grendel snuck into the mead-hall while Beowulf and his geats were sleeping. Once he reached Beowulf, he began attacking; however, Beowulf was prepared. Once the geats were awaken, they all began attacking, but they noticed something--the swords were not doing any damage to Grendel’s body. Grendel possessed an armor-like coat, making it almost impossible for him to be injured. Of course, however, Beowulf knew what to do. He grabbed hold of Grendel’s shoulder and began pulling. Eventually, Grendel’s arm began detaching from his body. Injured, he went back to the marsh to his hellish-lair to die. This was not only a victory for Hrothgar, but it was for Beowulf, also. Beowulf had destroyed the most murderous beast; the one who destroyed the mead-hall--killed hundreds of men.
Secondly, Beowulf had killed Grendel’s mother. Once she knew her son was dead, she had to seek revenge. Asleep, Beowulf and the geats had a strange feeling of what was going to happen next. Grendel’s mother came towards the mead-hall, planning to the retribute the death of her only son. She attacked and killed Hrothgar’s most trusted advisor, Aeschere. Grendel’s mother not only wanted Beowulf and his soldiers to suffer, but she wanted Hrothgar to feel the same pain she felt. Once the arm of her late son was retrieved, she left, heading towards the marsh to
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The dragon guarded the gold within his barrow, and the gold was his. However, a robber had stolen a gold-plated cup. When the dragon woke up, all that could be felt was fury. The dragon was scorching the ground as he was trying to find the thief who stole from him, but he found no one. Thinking he was imagining things, he went back into his barrow and began searching for the cup, only to find that someone had stumbled upon the golden treasures. He could no longer sit in his lair, but he had to seek out revenge. The dragon began to belch out flames and burn homesteads. Before daybreak, he went back into his den. Beowulf was given the bad news that Hygelac--king of the Geats--had been killed and his homeland had been destroyed. Like the dragon, Beowulf had to seek
The epic poem Beowulf by Seamus Heaney used character archetypes to explore the values embodied in Anglo-Saxon culture.
The English epic Beowulf is able to show normal archetypes just like in most examples of literature. Beowulf follows the normal archetypes just like most novels like To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Both pieces of literature are completely different, but both share the archetypes of; the outcast, the mentor, and the task.
After fighting and winning many battles, Beowulf's life enters a new stage when he finally becomes king of his homeland, Geatland. Even in his old age, his code of honor still obligates him to fight against an evil, fiery dragon. For fifty years he has governed his kingdom well. While Beowulf is governing, the dragon "...kept watch over a hoard, a steep stone-barrow" (Norton 55). Under it lays a path concealed from the sight of men. Over centuries no one had disturbed the dragon’s kingdom until one day when a thief broke into the treasure, laid hand on a cup fretted with gold, which infuriated the dragon. "The fiery dragon had destroyed the people's stronghold, the land along the sea, the heart of the country" (Norton 57).
Which is to slay the dragon that continues to attack the villages and farms of Geatland.“ Beowulf spoke, made a formal boast for the last time:” I risked my life often when I was young. Now I am old, but as king of the people I shall pursue this fight for the glory of winning, if the evil one will only abandon his earth-fort and face me in the open.” (lines 2510-2515), being his final words to his people before he sets out to slay the dragon. While battling the dragon Beowulf gets burned and injured badly. All his men are frightened by this and run off besides Wiglaf. “ The nobel son of Weohstan saw the king in danger at his side and displayed his inborn bravery and strength(lines 2694-2626).... Once again the king gathered his strength and drew a stabbing knife he carried on his belt, sharpened in battle , He stuck it deep into the dragon’s flank. Beowulf dealt it a deadly wound. They had killed the enemy, courage quelled his life; that pair of kinsmen, partners in nobility, had destroyed the foe. So every man should act, be at hand when needed;”( lines 2702-2710). Even though beowulf and wiglaf slay the dragon king Beowulf dies from his injuries. “ The dragon from underearth, his nightmarish destroyed as well.” (lines 2824-2826). After this tragic loss Wiglaf orders seven men to collect the dragon 's treasure. What remained after was placed in the barrow as a memorial
When Grendel takes out one of Beowulf’s men, that is when they attack. In his oath Beowulf promised to take Grendel on bare handed, and he intended to do just that. While he was fighting with the monster, his men tried striking at Grendel with their blades.However it was futile for their blades could not harm Grandel. With these circumstances laid in place it was up to Beowulf to use his brute strength to defeat Grendel. After the two engaged in battle Beowulf was soon to triumph.”He twisted in pain, and the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulders snapped, muscle and bone split and broke.The battle was over, Beowulf had been granted new glory: Grendel escaped, but wounded as he was could flee to his den, his miserable hole at the bottom of the marsh, only to die, to wait for the end of all his days.”(337-345) Even with the lack of weapons, Beowulf was able to defeat Grendel and carry on his legacy.
Then the Danes decide to go back to Herot and while they are sleeping, Grendel’s mother comes to attack them in order to even the score for the killing of her son. Then she leaves, taking the body parts of her son and Esher (which is one of Hrothgar's close friends) with her. Beowulf attempts to save him by entering the monster-filled lake, although the sword that he uses is useless against the skin of Grendel’s mother. As he continues to fight, he grows tired, but then notices that there is a huge sword on the wall of the battle hall where he was dragged to. The sword just so happened to be a magical one that was blessed by the giants that made it.
Grendel appears the night when Beowulf arrives at Heorot. Beowulf wrestles the monster barehanded. He tears off the monster's arm but Grendel escapes. He dies soon afterward at the bottom of his mere, or swamp. Hrothgar rewards Beowulf with a great store of treasures. Another banquet is held for the warriors of both the Geats and the Danes.
King Hrothgar once again looks toward Beowulf to take care of another monster. To get ready for this battle Beowulf wears armor and uses the Horting sword which has never lost in battle. Once again Beowulf shows his courage by deciding to go to the bottom of the monster filled swamp and fight alone. Fighting off monsters on his way down, Beowulf reached the bottom where he was met by Grendel 's mother. He tried to cut her head off with Horting, but she is too strong. Beowulf takes a sword made for giants off the wall, and uses his super strength to cut the mother 's head off. As a trophy of this battle Beowulf finds the body of Grendel in a corner and decides to take his head back to the mead hall. Hrothgar celebrates another victory by once again throwing a large celebration where they gave more gifts to Beowulf and the Geats. After two battles, Beowulf decides it is time for him and his men to head back to their homeland. Continuing to show courage, honor, and strength Beowulf states that if the Danes ever have anymore problems with monsters he will help protect
A hero is someone who is admired for their courage and bravery, as well as their noble accomplishments. They are respected by almost everyone, due to their kindness and charitable mindset, that drives them to fight for the good of others. Beowulf is the perfect representation of a hero, based on multiple characteristics that he displays throughout the novel. Along with his characteristics, Beowulf also takes on many “hero like” challenges and tasks. In the novel, Beowulf is praised and admired throughout the kingdom for his bravery, humility, and selflessness.
Grendel’s mother was both bigger and stronger than Grendel. She sought out Danish blood for the revenge of her fallen son. She killed Hrothgar's closest friend along with many other soldiers. After her first attack Beowulf knew he had to defeat this savage killer or she would continue to return for more blood. He tracked where she had traveled through the woods. He found her lake where her evil lair lay in the depths of the boiling hot water. “Again lies with you; Grendel's mother; Is hidden in her terrible home, in a place; You’ve not seen yet. Seek it if you dare! Save us,” (56). Beowulf plunged into the depths of the uncharted waters aware of the fate that could possibly be before him. He challenged the sea witch even though his measly sword had no effect on her enchanted skin. His sword shattered and all odds were against him but even then he did not fear dying. He continued to fight the beast even when his ending was closer than ever. Beowulf scoped her lair in search of a possible weapon. To his surprise he found a magical sword made by giants. This was the only weapon powerful enough pierce her impenetrable skin. Beowulf spent hours under the water fighting the monster. The Danes lost hope and thought he had been defeated. Beowulf surfaced from the water showing that he has not meet his fate in this
Beowulf was originally only supposed to fight Grendel, but when a deal was broken between Grendel’s mother and Beowulf, a dragon was awoken. The deal made between the two was that as long as the cup awarded to Beowulf after defeating Grendel was to stay with Grendel’s mother, there would be no terror put on to the people. The cup was found by one of the men that heard the story about how Beowulf killed Grendel’s mother and how he could not find the cup because it was used as a bait. Beowulf was the king of the land at that time and had to protect his people, but he knew that he would not be able to come back and tell his story after this fight. Beowulf ended up killing the dragon, but he also payed the ultimate
Beowulf has multiple archetype that can be defined as figures, character types, settings, and story patterns that are universally shared by people across cultures. Three that stick out the most are character archetypes, symbolic archetypes, and situational archetypes. The reason these stick out the most to me is because Beowulf goes on an adventure driven by his desire to help. Also Beowulf is the main hero of the novel and is constantly saving the day. Cause Beowulf is depicted as a hero it is easy to say that this show character archetypes. Him fighting the Grendel, Grendel’s Mother and the Dragon can be seen as symbolic and situational archetypes.
In his fight with Grendel, Beowulf has his whole crew of Geats with him in the mead hall. This gave Grendel a lot of distraction before he attacked Beowulf. Beowulf also took off all of his armour and hid it with his weapons so that he may fight Grendel without any protection. “When it comes to fighting, I count myself as dangerous and day as Grendel.” (Beowulf, 39) This is a very brave and smart act and it is what will win him the fight, but he still used his men as a sort of shield. Grendel kills one of Beowulf’s men, then pursued Beowulf himself. When fighting Grendel, Beowulf showed his amazing strength by ripping off Grendel’s arm. Grendel skulked off into the night to die. “Grendel was driven under the fen-banks, fatally hurt.” (Beowulf, 55). When morning arrives Beowulf is showered with gifts for his victory.
Beowulf looked over on the wall next to them and saw a magnificent sword hanging on the wall adorned with beautiful carvings, it was blessed with magic. No normal man could ever have lifted that sword, but Beowulf was no normal being. He waited for the right moment to go and retrieve the sword, and when he found the perfect opportunity and he ran straight towards the wall. He pulled the sword down with great force and began running towards Grendel’s mother. Beowulf took in a deep breath as he leaned back and heaved the sword forward. Beowulf had sliced straight through Grendel’s mother’s scaly neck, blood began to pour everywhere and he heard her bones cracking as the sword passed through her.
The evil monsters of Grendel and her family sucked the blood and wantonly until the arrival of Beowulf, the noble retainer, has both strong strength and great wisdom. Once he seizes Grendel, he rips Grendel’s right claw from his shoulder by bare hand. Grendel is being defeated, he flees with fatally wounded.