Beowulf is one of the most iconic and influential heroic journeys of all time. Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow, is a Geat and like no other warrior ever seen before. He is the strongest man alive. He has the strength of thirty men in his arm alone. When Beowulf was only a boy, he had battles with his friends and swam for miles with his sword in his hand and armor on the rest of his body. When he battles Grendel's mother, it is said that Beowulf is underwater for nearly half a day. Aside from being a great warrior, he is also very smart and modest about his strength. When Beowulf arrives in Heorot, he is confronted with opposition. The king, Hrothgar allows Beowulf to fight because has known Beowulf's father, Ecgtheow, and Hrothgar saved him from …show more content…
Beowulf battles his enemies with pride and tells Hrothgar that he will "fulfill the will of your people or else fall in slaughter, fast in the foe's grasp. I shall achieve a deed of mainly courage or else have lived to see in his mead-hall my ending day" (Norton 35). Beowulf is saying that he would rather die in battle, than any other place. A great warrior would rather die in battle. According to Beowulf, it is always better to seek vengeance then suffer than to live in sorrow. Beowulf saves the people of Heorot. He is greatly praised and he receives gifts and good advice from Hrothgar. Beowulf returns home to Hygelac and becomes king. In his old age, he battles a dragon; unfortunately, the dragon gets best of him, and Beowulf falls to his death. The life of a great and praised warrior has finally ended. From Beowulf, we move forward in time to the timeless story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Sir Gawain is originally faced with the challenge of the Green Knight. The Green Knight appears in King Arthur's court and causes a disturbance, issuing an open invitation to all in the court "to strike one stroke for another" ( 287) with his strong, sturdy, and finely-crafted axe as the prize. This test appears simple enough, and it puts Gawain …show more content…
With a domestic gross of $380,843,261, it was the all-time highest-grossing original animated picture until the release of Frozen in 2013. I believe that this movie was so successful due to its wonderful retelling of the classic hero’s journey that people have loved for centuries. Throughout time this journey has not changed, obvious in some cases and more cryptic in others, the basic ideas laid out by Joseph Campbell remain true. From the Anglo-Saxons, to medieval times, to present day, and even into the future, we have and always will use a hero’s journey in our stories. This basic pattern and its elements have stood the test of time and continue to be astronomically successful. No matter what walk of life one comes from, they can recognize and appreciate the journey of a
In Beowulf, the protagonist Beowulf is shown as a hero with extrodinary strength. This is not what makes him a hero. By definition, a hero is a man of exceptional quality. However this term does not do Beowulf justice. His self-imposed purpose in life is to help others, and eventually sacrifices his own life in doing so. Beowulf’s battle with the dragon serves as a critique of the notion that Beowulf is a hero. The Dragon section displays many of Beowulf’s heoric characteristics. Beowulf establishes himself as a hero by fighting the dragon, exemplifing strength and courage when fighting the dragon, and sacrificing himself so that others can live.
When deciphering between what it considered to be heroic or monstrous, it is important to keep in mind the angle in which a story is being told. While reading Beowulf, the protagonist of the epic poem could be considered either heroic or monstrous through the eyes of different characters. Beowulf can be classified as a hero according to The Hero’s Journey through the eyes of Hrothgar and Hygelac. On the other hand, Beowulf could be viewed as being monstrous according to Monster Theory through the eyes of Unferth and Grendel’s Mother.
He is known as the son of “ A noble warrior- lord name Ecgtheow” or as “The Great leader”. Beowulf saying in a boastful manner to king Hrothgar of Denmark,“Because all knew of my awesome strength. They had see me bolstered in the blood of enemies when I battled and bound five beasts, Raided a troll-nest and in the night-sea slaughtered sea-brutes” (lines 417-421) from Beowulf: A New Verse Translation by Seamus Heaney. From this quote you see what Beowulf is know for. Which is being a archetypical hero. The archetypal hero usually has some form of journey known as the Hero’s Journey. Beowulf from Geatland is an archetypical hero because his story follows the steps of the Hero’s Journey.
Beowulf is “the strongest of the Geats -- greater / and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world” (ll.110-111). Even though he is famous for his massive strength, Beowulf has other attributes that are noticeable other than his strength. These attributes, arrogance, bravery, and a strong love for his people are what make Beowulf become such a powerful, epic hero. Beowulf is arrogant. He constantly brags about his supreme strength. The “strongest man alive” lets people know that he is the most powerful person around by saying, “no strength is a match for mine” (l.267). Beowulf does not think that he could ever be destroyed by anything. He obviously never questiones how his fighting ability would be when he was around seventy. Since Beowulf is convinced that God is watching over him, his ego makes him act as if he is invincible, because of the idea that he has a guardian angel. But, as Beowulf gets older, wiser, and fights in more battles he should realize that there was a possibility that he can die. Beowulf also boasts about his many battles, and is proud of himself for winning all of them. One of these triumphs is the battle in the water when he meets up with nine sea monsters which he killeds, and fights with a monster that is digging its jaws into Beowulf’s flesh. Beowulf proclaims that “ I fought that beast’s last battle, / left it floating in the sea” (ll.290-291). This epic tale reads that while Beowulf is in battle with Grendel’s mother, all he cares was about the fame he would get for defeating her. Unferth thinks that Beowulf was arrogant, by saying, “ You’re Beowulf, are you the same / Boastful fool who fought a swimming / Match with Brecca” (ll.239-241). Yes, Beowulf is a boastful fool that loves the attention that his strength gives him. A strong man and an arrogant one, Beowulf is also brave. Even after all of the horror stories that he hears about Grendel, he still fights the cursed beast without any hesitation. When he battles with Grendel, he does it without the things that everyone else would use--weapons. This shows that Beowulf is not scared of anything in the world. He also must be brave to fight a sea monster after swimming in the ocean for days. He went straight into battle exhausted, from the strenuous journey across the ocean.
Beowulf is told to be, “as strong as thirty men”. He has slayed numerous water monsters. When faced with Grendal, he kicked Grendal’s behind. Grendal had never felt such fear for his life. After he beat up Grendal, he kept his arm as a trophy to display in the hall. Hrothgar was forever grateful to Beowulf; he gave Beowulf a sword, a coat of mail, horses, ensign, etc. Weatheow, Hrothgar’s wife, gave Beowulf Hygelac’s old collar of gold. Beowulf was then faced with the vengeful mother of Grendal. Of course he defeated this foe and in reward he took with him Grendal’s head and a giant’s sword. Beowulf is a strong fighter in the manuscript Beowulf.
In Beowulf the poem, Beowulf is considered to be an epic hero, he is different than just a regular hero. At the time, except for the King, warriors were the most honored and respected. Throughout this poem the author expresses that Beowulf is a true epic hero. What makes an epic hero? An epic hero must undertake a quest to achieve something tremendous value to his nation, must be super-human, and protects his people and their ideals. Beowulf is one of the greatest warriors of all time to protect his nation and people, he is a perfect candidate of an epic hero.
There are many things to take into consideration when characterizing a person as a hero. Heros are typically seen as people who accomplish brave deeds and fulfill noble tasks for the greater good of things. In the epic poem Beowulf by an anonymous Anglo-Saxon poet a hero is revealed. What makes Beowulf a hero is his unbelievable strength and power. He does not get discouraged or let anything stear him away from what he feels needs to be done for the safety of others. In his battles with the monster Grendel, Grendel’s mother and the dragon Beowulf exhibits his strength and will to fight. Beowulf, is loyal to his people and his king. What I feel is the most important quality of Beowulf, though, is his willingness to risk his life for the good
An epic is a long narrative poem on a serious subject. It usually is about
Throughout the story, Beowulf fights three battles against frightening monsters. Beowulf, the prince of the Geats, was a well known warrior with extreme strength who makes a promise to protect his people under any circumstance. In the poem, his strength is tested, but he uses it to save many people in battles against: Grendel, Grendel 's mother, and a dragon. Before, during, and after each of these battles Beowulf shows many similarities and differences in his actions.
Beowulf’s generosity leads him to the shores of Heorot after hearing the news of Grendel’s gruesome murders. Beowulf being the kind warrior that he is offers his help to king Hrothgar. Beowulf explains that “...news of Grendel, hard to ignore, reached me at home: sailors brought stories of the plight you suffer in this legendary hall, how it lies deserted, empty and useless once the evening light hides itself infer heaven’s dome. So every elder and experienced councilman among my people supported my resolve to come here to you King Hrothgar, because all knew of my awesome strength…” (pg. 29). Beowulf’s battle with Grendel not only symbolizing his strengths, courage, and bravery but also the youth of a warrior. Beowulf proved that he was young and strong enough to face Grendel with out any weapons. ...
What does it mean to be a hero? Like anything else in this world, the definition of the word hero can be argued. Some may say that a hero can be passive, that is if he or she refrains from doing a certain action it makes them heroic. Others would argue that to be truly heroic the character must never turn tail and always face the obstacle head on even though he or she may die in the process. So is Beowulf a hero? Yes, Beowulf is a great epic hero, but his greatness comes only from his sword and not from his mind.
The hero's journey, created by Joseph Campbell, is the common template of a broad category of tales that involve a hero who goes on an adventure, and in a decisive crisis wins a victory, and then comes home changed or transformed. Campbell's theory describes seventeen stages of the hero's journey or monomyth though not all monomyths necessarily contain all seventeen stages explicitly; some myths may focus on only one of the stages, while others may deal with the stages in a somewhat different order. Beowulf follows the life of the great hero Beowulf and his journey. Beowulf does and does not qualify as a mythic hero, according to Campbell’s standards, because he continuously shows throughout the epic that he is a hero of his own standards as well as following the hero's journey.
The hero’s journey is a narrative pattern that is found in a great deal of media across various cultures. Joshua Campbell made this idea come to life. The hero’s journey is also known and interchangeable with the monomyth. This formula for writing was developed based on seventeen stages Campbell noticed in many heroes’ journeys to heroism. As this style of writing has spread, many characters have formed with it.
Once upon a time, there was a marvelous warrior that was a hero to so many and king to some. In the story of Beowulf, Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon, epic hero and his story has been told since the eighth century. He must follow and go through the hero’s journey. The hero’s quest was first described by Joseph Campbell in 1949, and defines the typical adventure of the hero and narrative pattern of the story. Each journey has twelve stages that go in the order: 1) The Call to Adventure, 2) Assistance, 3) Departure, 4) Trials, 5) Approach to the Inmost Cave, 6) Crisis, 7) Treasure, 8) Result, 9) Return, 10) New Life, 11) Resolution, and 12) Status Quo (Winkler).
Beowulf, written between the 8th and 10th centuries, is an epic poem set in southern Sweden. The poem illustrates the Anglo-Saxon’s strong belief in the heroic code. The loyalty between the warrior and his king bound the culture together. The warrior was the ultimate hero who represented strength and courage. Beowulf, the hero in the poem, illustrates the Germanic principles of the heroic code. Through the battles and character interactions, Beowulf converges loyalty, strength, courage and forgiveness into the hero archetype.