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Beowulf is courage
Beowulf is courage
Times beowulf showed courage
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Caitlin Kruckenberg January 3, 2014 Beowulf: A Great Leader Literature is found in all parts of the world, whether written or oral, and boasts the cultural differences of each area. No matter how different each of the stories is they all have one thing in common: a great leader. Each culture may have slightly different standards of a great leader, but there are a few indispensible traits that make up every leader no matter how big or how small. The story of Beowulf, the fearless warrior, is a fine example of what a great leader is made up of. The first characteristic of a great leader that Beowulf portrays is confidence in the right things. When Beowulf was a young warrior he was boastful in his unmatched strength, but he was also boastful in something more important: his faith in God. “They have seen my strength for themselves/ have watched me rise from the darkness of war/ dripping with my enemies’ blood…my hands/ alone shall fight for me, struggle for life/ against the monster. God must decide/ who will be given to death’s cold grip”(36-37). This passage, spoken by Beowulf himself, illustrates not only his confidence in himself, but also in God. He knows that he is strong, but he also knows that it is God who really grants victory. He must be in good graces with God in order to win his battle. He knows that he cannot survive without God’s approval. This gratitude towards God is also shown in the final moments of his life. Beowulf thanks God for the life he was allowed to lead, and for all the battles that he won because of the grace of God. “For this, this Gold, these jewels, I thank/ Our Father in Heaven, Ruler of the Earth/ for all of this that his grace has given me”(109). This humble attitude is a great asset for a leade... ... middle of paper ... ...fight the dragon. Beowulf understood that the key to being a great leader was selflessness, which is also why he chose Wiglaf, son of Wexstan, to be his successor. In Beowulf’s time of greatest need Wiglaf was the only selfless warrior that came to Beowulf’s aid. Even in death, Beowulf understood all the qualities of a great leader and saw them in Wiglaf. There is no question that Beowulf was a great leader. His fearlessness, selflessness, and faith in God all aided in shaping him into the great warrior and the great king that he was. Ancient civilizations and modern populations alike should all strive to live their lives in accordance with the characteristics of a great leader that Beowulf demonstrated, no matter where they come from or who they are. Works Cited Baskin, Leonard. Beowulf. Trans. Burton Raffel. Amherst: University of Massachusetts, 1971. Print.
This portion of the Norton text deals with Beowulf and his root to God's grace:
Beowulf is characterized as a leader from start to finish. In the beginning of the story, Beowulf, a Geat thane, catches wind of the monster Grendel and decides he wants to assist, “so Beowulf chose the mightiest men he could find, the bravest and the best of the Geats, fourteen in all, and led them
In order to accurately analyze Beowulf, the reader must understand first what exactly is leadership, what makes a good leader, and lastly, how does leadership affect the context of the poem as a whole.
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
Beowulf exhibits many obvious heroic qualities, such as his strength and confidence in battle. These along with more subtle diplomatic actions serve to define him as both a great warrior and leader.
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
Beowulf risks his life for his people. He was the apitamy of great kings and was dedicated to his country and people. His promise to the people and his devotion, generosity and kindness are the reasons he is Hrothgar’s ideal leader.
Beowulf is a good example of a courageous and strong hero. He shows all of
For the most part, Beowulf’s characteristics describe those of a triumphant warrior who played a major role in defending the lives of his fellow citizens, while leading a thriving country. Although Beowulf soon became king, he died for his people, and was remembered as a victorious fighter. Beowulf is at least in part a study of kingship because it discusses the qualities that produce a good king, the disadvantages during his rule and how he overcame them, and the problems that arose upon his death.
At the beginning of the novel, Beowulf represents a savage warrior, displaying mostly his strength and bravery by defeating Grendel and his mother. However, as Beowulf ages, he begins to change into a different kind of hero. After becoming King of the Geats, Beowulf matured and took on more of a leadership role in the community, as opposed to a warrior. Even though Beowulf was still a hero, he began to lead an army of geats and acted for the good of the people. In both cases however, Beowulf was respected by others for his admirable
Beowulf displayed great courage and honor throughout his journeys and battles; he was an epic hero. An epic hero is a person who is viewed as larger than life and possesses values of a certain society. From the time of Beowulf’s battle with Grendel to his brawl against the dragon, he has showed everyone what being an honorable hero looks like. His heroism is revealed through both youth as a young warrior and wisdom as a reliable king. He never backed down and didn’t give up when situations were tough. Beowulf had obligations to fulfill and went about every aspect of his life with courage and strength. He cared for his people and was willing to take on anyone that threatened them or his kingdom. He sincerely was the hero of his time.
In “Beowulf” translated by Burton Raffel, the character Beowulf is portrayed as a brave, courageous, and very pious man. In the pagan tale the underlying motif of Good vs. Evil heightens these characteristics even to the point where Beowulf comes across as a symbol for God and Christianity. He battles “the demon” Grendel (ln. 16), Grendel’s mother, and a fierce dragon, all in order to save those who need aid, primarily the people of Herot. This too is very Christlike because he is serving those lower than himself for the sole purpose of doing the right thing. Although Beowulf is very brave all throughout, he becomes boastful and greedy from the time he first battles Grendel to when he takes on the dragon.
Beowulf, often acknowledges God as his protector and as a guide. As he sets out on his journey he uses his faith in God to get through the difficult decisions and situations that he is faced with. When presented with things like weapons or other aspects which help him along the way he gives the credit to God for creating these things. Along with this there is the idea that everything great comes from God, whether it be success or great fortune. Multiple times throughout the story, Hrothgar explains to Beowulf how life is a gift from God and that he must be thankful to him for what he has given
The main character and hero in the story Beowulf, Beowulf shows many heroic traits that German culture valued at that time. He is physically built and strong, making him more than capable to defend the Danes against the monster Grendel, his mother, and the dragon. “In his far off-home Beowulf, Higlac’s followers and the strongest of the Geats-greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world…” (42). One of his strongest character traits is his leadership. “Beowulf arose, with his men around him, ordering a few to remain with their weapons, leading the others quickly…” (43.) The audience and society admired this personal trait of his. Beowulf was willing to...
Beowulf is a complex character that is cast as the ultimate hero and champion, whose greatest strength is also his greatest weakness. Though his obsession with power yield him courage and strength that allow him to defeat enemies most other warriors cannot bring themselves to fight, his unilateral quest for glory leaves his citizens and kingdom desolate and unprepared for the difficulties they face. Beowulf may be the greatest warrior of one of the greatest epics written, but as is said in the last words about him in the book, his most notable trait is not his greatness as a leader and king but that he is the “keenest to win fame”.