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Heroes that compare and contrast to beowulf
Heroes that compare and contrast to beowulf
Heroes that compare and contrast to beowulf
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An epic is a long narrative poem that has been around ever since the earliest forms of literature were created. The main character of an epic is the epic hero. Beowulf is an epic hero. The qualities of an epic hero include: being introduced in the midst of disaster, being a great leader, warrior, and speaker, possessing god-like characteristics, taking on challenges that no other person is brave enough to do, and defeating almost all of the enemies, according to the article “What are the Characteristics of an Epic Hero?”. Beowulf exceeds all of the qualities of an epic hero in the epic “Beowulf” by saving the town in distress, always being a great leader, never backing down from a battle, being noticeably god-like, and leaving the world while …show more content…
Grendel was conceived by monsters born of Cain, who was the oldest son of Adam and Eve that murdered his brother, Abel. Herot, the kingdom ruled by Hrothgar, was where Grendel feasted every so often during the night. After the men of Hrothgar had finished drinking, Grendel would make his appearance. Thirty men, within seconds, were snatched up by Grendel and brought back to his lair. Hrothgar mourned for his loss of men and had to flee with the ones who were not slaughtered because Grendel came again. After trying to bargain with Grendel, Herot became deserted for twelve years because he would not accept any gold or riches. All the beast wanted was men to feed on. This is the disastrous moment when Beowulf makes his …show more content…
As many would conclude, Beowulf puts up a great fight against this dragon. First, Beowulf tells of how he will defeat this monster and inherit all of the dragon’s treasures that are kept away in the tower. Then, he travels to the dragon’s castle, feeling the heat from afar. When he approaches the dragon, his shield and armor protect him for awhile, but then start to melt. For the first time, Beowulf knows fate is against him. So, he puts his sword into the monster’s skin and draws blood, but the sword then brakes. The dragon then comes at Beowulf and all of his men run except Wiglaf, a good soldier who saw his king burning and suffering. Quickly, he helps Beowulf and defeats the dragon. As Beowulf lies on the ground dying, he tells Wiglaf to take all of his riches and keep the treasures found in the tower. Wiglaf, being the great soldier he is, retrieves the treasures but does not keep them.
Instead, Wiglaf and Beowulf’s men, the ones who bailed when Beowulf needed them the most, build a tower to bury Beowulf in as he wishes. They also put all of the riches and treasures in the tower with Beowulf’s body. This is a huge sign of how much the men of this great leader respect and honor him for his bravery and being a tremendous warrior. Beowulf’s men knew they did not deserve any of his wealth because they are not worthy. The men did not show enough leadership characteristics to inherit
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).
Towards the end of the story, Beowulf travels to fight a dragon who is protecting a large treasure. He wants to prove to his kingdom that he is still the brave and strong man he used to be, but his main motivation is the treasure he will get after his victory. "And Beowulf uttered his final boast: 'I've never known fear, as a youth I fought In endless battles. I am old, now, But I will fight again, seek fame still, If the dragon hiding in his tower dares To face me'" (606-610). On the other side, the dragon has the same motivation. He is willing protect the treasure if it takes his life. This makes the fight one to the death. "When he comes to me I mean to stand, not to run from his shooting Flames, stand still till fate decides Which of us wins" (619-622). Beowulf feels that if he cannot have this victory, that this is the proper way to
Beowulf is a great tale but as a person, he isn’t that all that people make him out to be. In his older years his need for attention and glory ended up with the death of him. He fought the dragon alone and in return, ended up killing the dragon, but also sacrificed himself. Even as he died he asked for one thing, his people to build him a memorial near the sea so everyone could see the person that he was. His need for attention, lack of planning, and need for glory caused him to be just a prideful man, not a
While engaging the Dragon in combat, Beowulf runs into complications with it and realizes that his sword can do no damage. Beowulf finds himself in defeat for the first time. However, Wiglaf, one of Beowulf’s kinsmen, comes to his aid and together with the combination of courage and strength delivers a deathblow to the Dragon. Although Beowulf is mortally wounded and is about to die, he passes the throne to Wiglaf and gives thanks to God for the treasure they receive from the Dragon’s hoard. This ends Beowulf’s third and final heroic battle in this case with the
While fighting the Dragon Beowulf shows feats of strength and courage that define him as a hero. The classical...
While fighting the Dragon Beowulf shows feats of strength and courage that define him as a hero. The classical hero displays a special quality that separates him from the rest of
In every epic story, the center of attention will be on the epic hero. Usually all the epic heroes have some kind of special power, which keep them different from other characters. Later on, their epic journey these powers, help them to win the glory, which make them epic heroes. In Beowulf, Beowulf is truly an epic hero, because of his wisdom, strength and bravery.
Beowulf is honored after Grendel and his mother’s defeat for his morality and willingness to help the king with his problem. He put aside the life he had at home and gave up everything so they were protected. Upon his return, everyone was praising him and lifting up the wondrous works and all that’d he’d done to protect them. Because of his respectable actions, Beowulf was rewarded for his true heroism. He becomes king over his people and ruled for the next fifty years.
An epic hero according to Anglo-Saxon literature is a hero who is larger-than-life; someone with self-confidence, great strength, and the qualities of loyalty, bravery, and honor. Beowulf can be considered an epic hero for multiple reasons throughout “Beowulf.” Beowulf is a character constructed on all of the Anglo-Saxon epic hero qualifications. For starters, Beowulf is seen as a noble character, that is willing to provide security for the people by risking his own life. As a character, Beowulf conducts superhuman strength, and can complete impossible tasks. These are only some among many other reasons and characteristics Beowulf can be classified as an epic hero.
"That night, Beowulf and his men stay inside Herot. While his men sleep, Beowulf lies awake, eager to meet with Grendel" (Raffel Burton- 48). In the epic, Beowulf establishes himself as a highly profitable warrior, on a mission to serve and protect. Immediately, Beowulf is presumed to be a good force, taking on Grendel who is perceived to be a descendant of Cain, who personifies evil. A valiant warrior, Beowulf protests that he shall take on the monster, stripped of weapons and armor. When the evil monster Grendel attacked the people of Herot, Beowulf chose to fight Grendel and diminish the evil that he represents. While he and his men sleep, Grendel arrives to wreak havoc on the mead-hall.
In Beowulf’s last battle, he versed a fire-breathing dragon“that has been guarding treasure for hundreds of years”. Beowulf wore armor in addition to bringing a shield and a sword. His sword shattered against the dragon. As Beowulf’s strength was decreasing and suffering, only one of his comrades remained and that was Wiglaf. Wiglaf together with Beowulf succeed in defeating the dragon, but the wounds of Beowulf were mortal. The treasure from the dragon’s lair was buried with Beowulf. Although the “long lasting” warrior died, he still unlocked a “trophie”; in which was the guarded treasure, his loyalty,
Beowulf geos to defeat the dragon alone. No man wishes to die alone and in pain, no matter how much glory can be attained. Beowulf has a motivation stronger than riches or duty, he has a love for his people. Before he dies, Beowulf tells Wiglaf that he wishes a lighthouse to be raised in his honor. In lines 823-830, he says, “Have the brave Geats build me a tomb when the funeral flames have burned me, and build it here, at the water’s edge, high on this spit of land, so sailors can see this tower, and remember my name, and call it Beowulf’s tower.”
Beowulf is called upon again to defeat this monster. Beowulf puts on his armour and takes the sword Hrunting and descends into the monster’s lair. Grendel’s mother quickly grabs Beowulf and takes him to the battle arena. Once there, Beowulf fights and finds his sword cannot pierce the monster’s hide. So once again, Beowulf throws his sword aside and fights hand-to-hand. Yet, he could not defeat her with his hands alone. Then Beowulf sees, “hanging on the wall, a heavy, Sword, hammered by giants, strong And blessed with their magic, the best of all weapons.” Taking the sword and holding it high above his head he strikes the monster in the neck cutting deep into the skin, breaking bones and all. Thus ending his second heroic battle with a mythical beast and proving that he is indeed worthy of praise. Yet, this is not the greatest of his deeds.
Beowulf is characterized as an epic hero by possessing qualities in which common mortals lack, battling for the common good, and displaying honor in every act. An epic hero is the central character in an epic, a long narrative poem that recounts the adventures of a legendary hero in pursuit of a goal. According to Jankowski, “Understanding the significance of Beowulf 's acts requires an understanding of the key figures in the epic poem” (1). Epics have been used to preserve values and traditions. They are a rich resource for exploring the history and values of different world cultures. The epic hero character is a larger-than-life figure who is typically of noble birth. An epic hero uses his/her courage, skill, and virtue against
Beowulf also contains an epic hero. The title of the poem has been named after our epic hero, Beowulf. In definition, an epic hero is someone that does larger than life deeds and is stronger and smarter than any normal man; and Beowulf fits this description as if the mold were made for him. He has the strength of thirty men and uses it as a major weapon against evil. This can be seen through Beowulf’s battles with Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon.