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Beowulf character analysis essay
Beowulf character essay
Beowulf's pride
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8. Based on Beowulfs opening address to Hrothgar my first impression is that he is very confident and perhaps even self obsessed. He brags about his success and his strength. He says “of my youth have been filled with glory” and also states “my people have said, the wisest, most knowing, and best of them, that was duty was to the Danes’ Great king. They have seen my strength for themselves, have watched me rise from the darkness of war, dripping with my enemies blood. I drove five great giants into chains, chased all of that race from the earth.” And also to continues to list all of his world changing achievements that he accomplished all on his own. To me personally, he comes off as self conceded and feels as if he is untouchable. 9. Beowulf will fight Grendel under the certain conditions that he and his men alone shall face Grendel. He wants no help from the Danes except for cooperation and obedience. In the text it states, “That this one favor you should not refuse me- That I, alone and with the help of my men, may purge all evil from this hall.” Beowulf plan is to attack Grendel when he comes back to the mead hall looking to snatch up more men. …show more content…
Beowulf is proud in the sense that he has no fear. He is willing to go to any length and any condition in order to protect the Danes. “My lord Higlac might think less of me if I let my sword go where my feet were too afraid to, if I hid behind some broad linden shield;”. Beowulf is explaining how he will use no weapons on Grendel to kill him, and in my opinion he thinks it would be cowardly to do so. He is humble because he is okay with dying and he lies his fate in Gods hands. “And if my death does take me, send the hammered mail of my armor to Higlac, return the inheritance i had from Hershel and he from Wayland. Fate will unwind as it must!” Beowulf is putting the fate of his life into God’s hands and is willing to die in the chance to kill Grendel for the safety of
From the moment he is introduced, it is clear that Beowulf is confident in his abilities. He boldly tells Hrothgar that he will fight Grendel, the monster causing trouble for the Danes, “hand to hand.” Beowulf also seems at peace with whatever the outcome of the battle may be, stating that “Wyrd,” also known as fate,
Beowulf an epic hero who had to had to put an evil force threaten the land. But did Beowulf really get all of the revenge in Grendel,Grendel mother and the Dragons. The theme of revenge is used to drive the plot of the story and to motivate Grendel’s mother to get the well needed revenge that she want’s on Beowulf. Does Beowulf really get all the revenge he wants when it came to Grendel and his mother .
In the anglo saxon society in which Beowulf took place, there was a warrior code which resulted in everyone trying to gain power over one another. Everyone lived by a heroic code that encouraged battles, feuds, and murders and rewarded the victor with treasure. By showing your insecurities or weaknesses in this age you will be taken advantage of. Beowulf understands the heroic code and uses his pride to get the upper hand on everyone else, Beowulf boasts himself as an invincible hero and goes in battle with out an ounce of fear. Beowulf’s justifies his excessive pride through his . Lastly, Beowulf’s pride made him a leader and led by example to defeat the dragon and ultimately sacrifice himself in the process. Beowulf’s desire for pride
In my opinion Beowulf is can be considered a hero. Beowulf can be considered a hero because of the characteristics he displays that resemble heroes. He displays all of the characteristics that heroes have. Throughout the story Beowulf stays true to himself and is morals showing that he is a hero. Beowulf is a hero due to his courage, loyalty, and justice.
Even from an early age, Beowulf took every opportunity he could to show off his strength and fearlessness. When he first introduces himself to King Hrothgar, a Danish warrior by the name Unferth recognizes Beowulf and brings up a story from his youth. He explains to the entire hall how Beowulf had challenged another young man, named Brecca, to a swimming match and lost. Unferth says to him, ¨both of you daring and young and proud… risking your lives for no reason? All older and wiser heads warned you not to, but no one could check such pride¨ (Raffel 23). It is clear that in this story, that Beowulf´s pride consumes him and fuels his reckless actions. He goes on to tell Unferth about how he had stayed behind to fight 9 monsters, while Brecca
According to google.com a hero is someone who “is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievments, or noble equalities.” (google.com). For example, superman , superman is an all time american classic modern hero who is admired for his courage and for saving earth multiple times from super villains. Another example of a hero is Beowulf. Beowulf was created around 1000 AD and was known far and wide throughout the lands for his selflessness,bravery, and courage .
Beowulf takes on the challenge of killing Grendel and later Grendel’s mother because he wants to show everyone how tough he is and that he can take on anyone if he wanted to. In other words, he is trying to be this powerful man who no one can ever defeat. Beowulf does not look at the task as a challenge, but rather a way to show everyone that he is the strongest and heroic man of them all. When Beowulf goes into any sort of battle, he refuses help from anyone. He does not want to feel or look, he is so focused on himself and his pride that he does not see the elevating problem in himself. Both Beowulf and Sir Gawain serve a king in their task, but they are taking on the task for different reasons that are instantly shown by their
her in the neck and cut it through broke bones and all her body fell to the
Beowulf wants to fight Grendel, a monster wreaking havoc, and is boasting that he is more powerful and courageous.
Beowulf has no doubt in his mind that he is more than able to kill the wretched Grendel. But because of his overconfidence and populari...
The greatest value of Beowulf is his bravery, some may say bravado. There is no doubt that he is a great warrior. Beowulf's heroism belongs to a different time than that of King Arthur or Sir Gawain. For that reason his bragging about his prowess might seem decidedly unheroic. When he tells Unferth "I count it true that I had more courage, More strength in swimming than any other man" (514-15 (41) it might be interpreted in a poor way. What he is saying though is true. In addition, in order for him to succeed he must orally deliver his resume. Nevertheless, bragging aside, Beowulf is undoubtedly a brave man. When Beowulf sets out to kill Grendel's mother he simply "donned his armor for battle, Heeded not the danger..." (1328-29 60). When his sword fails him he uses his physical strength: "On the might of his hand, as a man must do Who thinks to win in the welter of battle Enduring glory; he fears not death" (1420-23 62). Certainly he is in search of fame. Though this is true it must not discount his brave actions. He gains his fame truthfully by doing battle with menaces to society. He does not lie or manipulate to achieve fame, he uses what is rightfully his, his bravery. Beowulf's bravery differs from that of King Arthur's for several reasons. King Arthur by being king must be brave, to rule the state people must respect him. Beowulf's bravery carries the story. One because it details his ascension in fame and secondly it also outlines his downfall.
“Many critics feel that the speech of Hrothgar between lines 1700 and 1784 encapsulates the moral of the poem….’He does not know the worse – till inside him great arrogance grows and spreads’” (Shippey 38). Hrothgar’s ominous words do come back to haunt the hero more than once. Beowulf is a braggart; he is proud, and nothing seems able to change his basic proud outlook derived from his all-powerful physical strength. Even shortly before his own defeat against the fire-dragon, our hero is recalling his killing of the great hero of the Hugas with his bare hands:
The poem of Beowulf is a story that was written in the beginnings of Christianity in 1000 a.D, which is why abounding examples of temptation and Satan are present in the story. Beowulf was written by an anonymous Christian monk. The story takes place in what is Denmark today, it takes place in a small kingdom that’s in a “gorge” called Herot. The story of Beowulf talks about a hero who is very different from any other hero in ancient literature, because he wasn’t in trouble and in need of survival, unlike Odysseus, unlike Achilles, both of whom had to fight for their life, for survival. Meanwhile Beowulf didn’t have to fight to survive, but vice versa, he lived to fight, instead of trouble finding him (which is the most common thing in any story where there is a hero), he looked for trouble. However it wasn’t just for fun, all that he wanted was gold and fame. A monster lived in a kingdom called Herot, his name was Grendel, who was “infamous” for hunting and killing people and caused “loathsome” everywhere he went, at the same time fright and disgust. Grendel “lividly” terrorized the kingdom of Herot. In desperation and need the King Hrothgar asked for help of a young hero who would free him of all his trouble, as they say in desperate times desperate measures are needed. Beowulf heard of the catastrophe in Herot and immediately sailed there to save the kingdom at its most dreadful times. Grendel was causing “affliction” to the town’s people, evidently Beowulf pursuing gold and fame came to save the day. The first day Beowulf arrived Grendel came in to hunt again though he could only kill one man before Beowulf tore out his whole arm shoulder, all the way to his “talon” and Grendel went back “cowering” to his cave in a “murky” swa...
In Beowulf’s younger years he obtains a great confidence but never elevates to becoming arrogant and self centered. All warriors need to have a confidence to be successful, because if they are not the will be lead to a most unglorified demise. Beowulf has a great respect for his own skills, and before he goes to fight his first significant evil he does not ware armor because he feels it would be unfair advantage. “Grendel is no braver, no stronger/Than I am! I could kill him with my sword but I shall not,” 666-668. After protecting Herrot from the fierce monster Grendel without any armor he has earned the right to have confidence. The people reward him with gracious gifts not because he asked them it was because they love and respect his acts of bravery and courage. The respect of the people is yet another reason for him to be able to have a strong self-confidence. Beowulf never elevates to a level of confidence above what the people allow, therefore he does not elevate to a level of arrogance.
It is no question that Beowulf was one of the b est, if not the best, warrior of his time. His skills of being a tremendous warrior are not to be questioned, but his position as a king could use a closer look. While the qualities of being a great warrior and a great king can be similar, there are some differing qualities to keep in mind. There is an extensive comparison to be made between Beowulf and Hrothgar, as a warrior and as a king and the qualities that each of them bring to the table. On lines 17 00-1739 of Beowulf, Hrothgar gives his famous speech to Beowulf on what it means to be a successful king. Hrothgar feels the need to give Beowulf this advice because he knows that Beowulf will one day need to know how to more than a warrior.