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The significance of beowulf
The influence and cultural value of Beowulf
The significance of beowulf
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Heroes, Hopes and Dreams made human
Heroes often represent a culture’s hopes and dreams in a personified form, and this is true in the case of Beowulf for the Anglo-Saxons, and Superman for great depression era America. The theme of heroism is one that is important to both medieval and modern cultures. Because Beowulf and Superman both represent a hero with superhuman abilities who is able to fight off even the toughest of opponents, they often provide hope to the down and out people of their respective cultures. Although they are similar in that aspect, they also have distinct differences such as Superman wearing a costume to hide his heroism and Beowulf showcasing his heroism to all. Even though the heroes are of different eras they still
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The Anglo-Saxon people held their heroes in high regard and had a strict code one had to follow in order to be a hero. The code had many rules which consisted always being fair in battle, fighting an enemy together with your clan, being honorable, and having bravery in battle. Heroes were important to the Anglo-Saxons because they often had a grim outlook on life due to their violent lifestyle. Heroes provided them the hope to improve how they viewed life. An article on csis.pace.edu describes Beowulf as,“the Anglo-Saxon hero is well defined by the actions of Beowulf. It is obvious that Beowulf is the quintessential hero. His strength and courage are unparalleled, and he is much more humble (and honorable) than many of the corrupt warriors around him.” This shows that Beowulf is a direct reflection of the Anglo-Saxon culture in the way he acts, the opponents he battles, and how he battles. Beowulf was also written in the epic style of writing which uses the literary elements of elevated language, kennings, and caesuras to enhance the story. The first battle of Beowulf is against a monster named Grendel, who lives in an underground layer removed from the rest of society. This detail is important because exile was often seen as worse than death this culture. Another important detail in the battle is that Beowulf follows the heroic code by not using a weapon because Grendel doesn't have one. This allows beowulf to …show more content…
Both Beowulf and Superman have the capability of superhuman strength, which allows them to beat their opponents even without a weapon. They also both represent as someone who provided hope for their respective cultures. Because the Anglo-Saxons were a violent society their outlook on life was decidedly pessimistic. The same applies for great depression era america as many people people lost their jobs and therefore lost hope for their future. Beowulf and Superman each showed their cultures that there is hope for a better future and helped them to continue on. Superman and Beowulf both have difficult opponents they fought in order to protect the common people from their evil wrath. Although Superman and Beowulf have many similarities there are also some distinct differences that distinguish them. The first example is that Beowulf was written hundreds of years before Superman and comes a very different society with no technology or modern amenities. Because of this Beowulf has many supernatural elements that were just natural events which had no explanation then. The second difference is that the writing styles of either story are very different. Beowulf was also written as an epic in the style of writing, while superman was written in comic book form that mostly consisted of dialogue and lots of
In conclusion, although Beowulf possessed many heroic qualities he would not be considered a hero in today’s world. A hero varies from culture to culture. The Anglo-Saxon appreciated different things in a person that what do not we appreciate today. Many things have changed a lot with time, the requisites for being considered a hero have also changed. Today we do not like to solve problems with war. Pride and honor are not as important as the willingness one has to help others. Beowulf is not feeling that contact with people he doesn’t identify with them because he believes himself better, a part of a hero´s cycle is to be identified with the community. To be part
society in which he lives. He apartment is purposely set on the opposite side of town
Beowulf was a great king in many ways based on the Anglo-Saxon values. One example is when Beowulf showed when he was courages. When Beowulf decided to get invoked with Grendel, a monstrous man, in a battle, it was a big deal because it was thought to be that Grendel had more courage; things turned out to be
There are many similarities between Batman- a modern day hero making use of his intellect, modern technology, and detective skills on crime and warfare and the classic hero, Beowulf- who travels great distances to prove his strength against his enemies, even at impossible odds. For example, the simplest being that they are both heroes working towards the common good, saving others without twice thinking of their own safety. However there are also many differences: obvious ones such as the fact they were born centuries apart, and subtle ones like the importance placed on humility with Batman versus self-confidence with Beowulf.
Do people ever talk about superheroes, and monsters? Especially people into comic books and children. Every child, even adults, have a superhero they look up to, or a role model they want to grow up to be like. Superheroes are everywhere from movies to books. Children even sit in their room playing with toy superheroes, hoping one day they can be just like them. Even hundreds of thousands of years ago there were superheroes! A long time ago in the Anglo-Saxon Period there was a brave and loyal hero! His name was Beowulf, and everyone looked up to him. This hero definitely brought peace to many people, and if it wasn’t for the mighty hero Beowulf, the Anglo-Saxons would have been terrorized forever. Therefore, the times were hard before Beowulf, the Anglo-Saxon warriors always stood for three values, and the time was changed without monsters.
Epic heroes usually exemplify the character traits most admired in their societies, and Beowulf is no exception. "Beowulf" is set in the Anglo-Saxon society, a time when war was rampant among the many peoples trying to take over the different kingdoms of England. In this dangerous, violent time people lived in constant peril and jeopardy. These conditions only allowed people of great bravery to survive and men of outstanding courage were admired the populous. These warriors fought for their leader and tribe in return for treasure and protection. This relationship between the lord and his men was the basis of the Anglo-Saxon society. The epic poem "Beowulf" is a perfect example of how this system worked in these trying times.
Most of us have heard of modern day heroes such as Spiderman, Superman, and the Hulk. Each is a hero to many children. Heroes are introduced to people early on in life usually as fictional characters, but as children grow older their perceptions of heroes alter. The characteristics of a hero are usually based around the ideas of a society or culture. In the epic Beowulf, the main character is thought of as a hero. Beowulf, a pagan warrior and the main character of the epic, shows certain characteristics such as bravery, loyalty, and generosity, which portray him as a hero. It is interesting how modern day heroes show the much of the same qualities as Beowulf.
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
Societies construct heroes that represent and embody the ideals of those who create them and read about them. Their is a stark contrast between the hero in the time of Beowulf and Hamlet’s creation and heroes created in modern times. Current literature, movies, and television portray a different kind of hero from those created in 1000 AD to 1600 AD. A hero is defined as someone who is "admired for achievements and noble qualities"," shows great courage", and in historical texts such as Beowulf and Hamlet is a "legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability" or an "illustrious warrior" (Merriam-Webster). Despite the popular belief that the time for heroes has passed away, based on the needs of society, today's
Every culture has many stories and poems to represent what they believe in, and what they look for in a hero. The heroes written in these stories and myths are brave, and are leaders. However, every hero comes with a flaw or two. The epic poem Beowulf by Seamus Heaney, has an extraordinary hero named Beowulf. Beowulf was a hero to the Anglo-Saxons which were fierce warriors who fought a lot. Beowulf fights many brutal monsters and threats in his days, but the most barbaric of them all is the inside threat within him. Beowulf had a big ego, and focused more on creating a name for himself than thinking about the real risks ahead. Two of his major battles that he faced along with his internal peril was against the dragon, and the beast Grendel.
First off, Beowulf shows the characteristic qualities of an Anglo-saxon hero by being selfless. Beowulf would always help everyone and he helped the townspeople by getting rid of Grendel. Beowulf risked his life just to save the people of the town, and he did just that. He took Grendel's life, and ripped his arm off. Another way Beowulf is selfless is that the last thing Beowulf tells Hrothgar is to take care of his men if he dies in battle. His first thought was towards his men and what would happen if he died. Another example of Beowulf's selflessness is when "Beowulf gave a battle-sword to the
The story of “Beowulf” begins at a time where a great hero is needed. This is where Beowulf’s character takes the initial place of an epic hero. In the first story of “Beowulf,” Beowulf takes on the responsibility of destroying the great threat, Grendel. This immediately shows the courage, honor and bravery of Beowulf. When Beowulf sailed to the Danes to kill Grendel, he was not searching for money, he was simply putting the Geats lives before his own. Beowulf was not yet
One major similarity between Beowulf and Superman is their battles with supernatural foes. For example, Beowulf defeated the monstrous Grendel, a dragon, and Grendel’s mother. Similarly, superman had several fights with the invaders from Krypton. The battles are related in many ways such as their fighting style. The heroes in both battles only use their fist in battle, that is if the opponent
Pretend for a minute that the superhuman world exists. Many people know the general story of Super Man and of Beowulf. We all know that they both have an enormous amount of strength. They are heroes and people around them relied on them, because they fought the bad guy. It’s also known that they come from completely two different types of worlds, and lived centuries apart. Superman isn’t even human but kryptonian which allows him to have other powers besides strength. In a dark ally being robbed, or a meteor heading toward earth, or the government (which ever kind it is) has gone whack, or any other kind of sticky situation you find yourself in, who are you going to wish was there, Superman or Beowulf. First you have to know what their qualities, strengths, weaknesses, are and what they can provide to help you.
In the beginning of the story, a mythical monster named Grendel who is attacking King Hrothgar’s mead hall Herot. When Beowulf hears of this tragedy, he volunteers to go and fight the mythical beast. The author wrote, “So Beowulf chose the mightiest men he could find the bravest and the best of the Geats, fourteen In all.” Once Beowulf arrives, he is given a feast and then decides to stay in Herot overnight to confront Grendel. Grendel then arrives and kills one of the Geats before Beowulf can get into the battle. Beowulf then goes hand-to-hand against Grendel and ends up tearing off Grendel’s shoulder. Grendel then retreats to his lair to die. This is only a mere example of why Beowulf is a hero.