Comparing Beowulf And The Hero's Journey

567 Words2 Pages

Katherine Jones
Mrs. Howard
English Comp 2
8 November 2017
Beowulf and the Hero’s Journey
Beowulf fights many monsters and he is successful in his hero’s journey. Beowulf is a strong warrior and had a lot of will power to keep pushing on and moving forward during his journey. Beowulf Hero’s Journey is trials, treasure, and results.
Beowulf goes through many trials throughout this story. At the beginning of the story Beowulf comes to Heorot to help the Danes fight Grendel (Heaney 25). Beowulf felt like there was no one else like him alive to be able to help the Danes beat Grendel. The first night that Beowulf and his people are in Geatland, Grendel decides to attack the Mead Hall while everyone is sleeping (Heaney 47-51). Beowulf fights Grendel and fatally wounds him (Heaney 55). Beowulf was granted the glory of winning; Grendel was driven under the fen-banks, fatally hurt, to his desolate lair. Beowulf also argues with Unferth who he first gets to Geatland (Heaney 41). Beowulf also fought Grendel’s after he killed Grendel (Heaney 89-91). Beowulf was not around when Grendel’s mother had decided to attack Heorot. Beowulf decided to try to go and find Grendel’s mother. When Beowulf fought Grendel’s mother in her lair, he tries to hit …show more content…

her with sword but it pretty much disintegrates (Heaney 105-7). Secondly, Beowulf gets a lot of treasure from the battles with Grendel and his mother. Beowulf took Grendel’s head as a sign that he had won the battle against Grendel and his mother (Heaney 111). “The Geat Captain saw treasure in abundance but carried no spoils from those quarters except for the head and the inlaid hilt embossed with jewels” (Heaney 11). Beowulf got many lavish rewards from the lord of the Danes for his part in the battle. He received gold and much more once the battle with Grendel and his mother had finally come to an end (Heaney 143). King Hrothgar presents Beowulf with gifts: an embroidered banner, breast-mail, an embossed helmet, and a sword. Last, but definitely not least, Hrothgar gives Beowulf eight horses with gold bridles, one of which has a fancy saddle designed for a king in battle (Heaney 61-87) Lastly, the results of the story is part of the hero’s journey.

Beowulf says good bye to his men and sets off on his journey to go fight the dragon. Beowulf is not as strong as he once used to be. He does his best to injure the dragon with his sword and is having no luck at all. All of Beowulf’s companions run in terror as he fights the dragon (Heaney 169-191). At the end of this poem Beowulf dies (Heaney 203). Beowulf dies after fighting the dragon at the end of the story. Beowulf fought a strong battle against Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. Beowulf fought a large dragon and fought with all his might to defeat this retched dragon but it ended in Beowulf dying and the monster being severely hurt (Heaney

205). In Conclusion, Beowulf is strong and fights with every last ounce of his power to help the Danes. Beowulf was a strong soldier who believed he could take care of the Dane’s issue and he sure did. Beowulf fought long and hard until his death at the end of the story. Beowulf’s Heros Journey had trials, treasures, and even a sad end result.

Beowulf The Hero
860 Words | 2 Pages
Beowulf’s fight against the dragon shows Beowulf as a hero. Although Beowulf had previously defeated two other foes, he stands fast and fights his most formidable foe yet, the dragon. Dragons were notoriously difficult to kill, and the poem states that it was a great man, who could kill a dragon, even if it meant losing one's life. While others cower away Beowulf fights the dragon. Beowulf defeats the dragon but loses his life in the same instance. Like the classical hero Beowulf loses his special status in death. Beowulf sought no compensation for his services; the mere satisfaction of helping others was pay enough. Like his two previous battles Beowulf fights for those who could not fight for themselves.
Read More
Comparing Beowulf And The Hero's Journey
596 Words | 2 Pages
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.
Read More
A Comparison of Heroes in Beowulf and A Lesson Before Dying
589 Words | 2 Pages
Ernest Gaines novel, A Lesson Before Dying, is a story about, Jefferson, a black man who is wrongfully charged with a crime he did not commit. He cannot get a fair trial because he is a black man in the south. He is sentenced to be executed, but before he dies Grant, an educated black man, teaches him how to walk like a man, so people do not think of him as a hog. "Beowulf" is an epic poem over one thousand years old, which was told from one generation to another. It is about, Beowulf, a great hero who defeats three different monsters to save the kingdom. In his last battle he is much older than before and is killed by a dragon. A hero does something that other people do not do and he does things for others, and other people look to a hero for guidance.
Read More
Comparing Hero's Journey In The Epic Of Beowulf And Gilgamesh
895 Words | 2 Pages
Beowulf and Gilgamesh are similar; they both experience a hero’s journey. Beowulf hears of Grendel and how he harasses Hrothgar’s kingdom. Beowulf then travels to Hrothgar’s kingdom and says he will defeat the monster with his bare hands. "I have heard moreover that the monster scorns in his reckless way to use weapons; therefore, to heighten Hygelac's fame and gladden his heart, I hereby renounce sword and the shelter of the broad shield, the heavy war-board: hand-to-hand is how it will be, a life-and-death fight with the fiend" (Beowulf 433-440). Beowulf shows great strength and skill when he says this, there is no man that could defeat Grendel. This was shocking to some of Hrothgar’s men because Beowulf didn’t use any weapons. Beowulf tears Grendel’s arm from his body and Grendel flees to his mother. Grendel’s mother then attacks the hall and slaughters many men. Beowulf seeks out to kill Grendel’s mother. Unferth whom gives Beowulf his undefeated sword Hrunting accompanies him. Beowulf dives into the acidic lake and finds Grendel’s Mother. He strikes her with the sword and it shatters; he then sees a giant sword on the wall and grabs it. He strikes Grendel’s Mother and it takes her head clean off. He returns to Hrothgar and shows that he has killed Grendel’s Mother. Beowulf then returns to the land of the Geats. He becomes king after Queen Hygd’s son Heardred dies and successfully rules for 50 years. Then a Dragon harasses Beowulf’s hall where Beowulf challenges the Dragon to a duel. The Dragon bites Beowulf’s neck and
Read More
Comparing Beowulf and a Modern-Day Hero
402 Words | 1 Pages
This essay is the comparison between Beowulf and a modern day hero. I consider any American soldier to be my modern day hero. In this essay I will explain in three paragraphs of how my modern day hero is like Beowulf. With in these three paragraphs I will go over how they are both fighting for a good cause, how they are both rewarded for what they do, and how they are both treated with much respect.
Read More
Beowulf's Heroic Qualities
531 Words | 2 Pages
In the poem Beowulf, the protagonist is portrayed as a heroic figure who strives to spread his name and glory out across the land in order to be remembered. Although his acts may not entirely be for the right reasons, Beowulf does express his heroic qualities of bravery, arrogance, and brute force.
Read More
Honor And Loyalty In Beowulf
2212 Words | 5 Pages
Early in the poem, Beowulf hears accounts of Grendel’s destruction of Herot, Hrothgar’s majestic mead hall. Knowing his strength and military prowess, Beowulf immediately devises a plan, recruits men, and orders boats, thrusting himself into a battle that was not necessarily his to fight. Beowulf felt obligated to end Grendel’s reign of terror. Though he knew the death of Grendel would bring him fame and honor, the idealized Beowulf was able to set aside personal ambition in order to end the suffering of the Danes. Shortly after slaying Grendel, Beowulf again displays an awareness of duty when Grendel’s mother extracts revenge upon Herot, killing one of Hrothgar’s best men, Aeshere. Instead of leaving Herot in a state of frenzy, Beowulf comes to King Hrothgar’s side, pledging allegiance and service. Bolstering the defeated king’s moral, Beowulf boldly addresses the older King Hrothgar saying, “So arise, my lord, and let us immediately set forth on the trail of this troll-dam. I guarantee you: she will not get away, not to dens under ground nor upland groves nor the ocean floor. She’ll have nowhere to fall to. Endure your troubles to-day. Bear up and be the man I expect you to be.” Beowulf could not set aside his duty and obligation, though he knew full well the suffering and pain that might result from his actions. Thus, Beowulf is a portrait of
Read More
Beowulfs Superiority
934 Words | 2 Pages
Beowulf, the great Geatish warrior, lives a very adventurous life filled with many voyages, battles, and victories. Through all of these events, he meets various people who are considered to be heroes like himself. These heroes, however, are unable to have the same abilities and characteristics of Beowulf. His great achievements cannot be matched by anything that they have done in their lives. Beowulf is a superior hero to Hrothgar, Unferth, and Wiglaf in the epic of Beowulf because he kills every monster that he fights, becomes a widely feared warrior and king, and dies in battle completing his final heroic act.
Read More
Beowulf, a Classic Example of an Anglo-Saxon Hero
903 Words | 2 Pages
Beowulf by far endures more than the average person as the poem progresses. He is faced with daunting challenges of defeating three monsters that would kill any other man. Beowulf exemplifies bravery by never backing down no matter what the threat was. He was loyal by honoring his promises of keeping those around him safe and alive. And finally, his unwavering confidence helped him push through the toughest confrontations. These traits and the fights with the three different monsters are what genuinely make Beowulf a hero.
Read More
Beowulf Is Not a Modern Day Hero
986 Words | 2 Pages
challenges. “A man cannot become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall” Aristotle. Beowulf has many adventures and he fights Grendel and other monstrous creatures but he was very sure of himself. He was born being strong and we as an audience do not identify with that. “Of living strong men he was the strongest” . Beowulf had qualities that any other man had, but he
Read More
Compare And Contrast Beowulf As A Modern Hero
1427 Words | 3 Pages
Beowulf represents what a modern hero truly is rather than Dante the pilgrim, because he displays qualities of courage, pride, and humility. In order to be considered a modern hero the individual must demonstrate these particular qualities, and courage, pride, and humility should be reflected in the actions they make.
Read More
Beowulf A Hero Essay
768 Words | 2 Pages
A hero is someone who is admired for their courage and bravery, as well as their noble accomplishments. They are respected by almost everyone, due to their kindness and charitable mindset, that drives them to fight for the good of others. Beowulf is the perfect representation of a hero, based on multiple characteristics that he displays throughout the novel. Along with his characteristics, Beowulf also takes on many “hero like” challenges and tasks. In the novel, Beowulf is praised and admired throughout the kingdom for his bravery, humility, and selflessness.
Read More
Beowulf Heroism Essay
975 Words | 2 Pages
Towards the end of Beowulf’s epic hero cycle and life as king, he had to take on one last monster, the Dragon. He commuted back to Geatland with his men. As he begins to fight the Dragon, his sword failed him, and Beowulf was left with no weapons. Then ten of the eleven men he brought fled in fear and Beowulf was left with only Wiglaf. They took on the Dragon together and successfully killed him only after being badly wounded in the neck. Beowulf then collapsed and passed on. This finished his cycle as hero and as
Read More
Is Beowulf An Epic Hero
1052 Words | 3 Pages
When the story begins, Beowulf has gone to the land of the Danes to kill Grendel for the people, not for the glory. Beowulf brings his own hand picked, group of soldiers with him throughout his battles, and refuses to allow help from others. Beowulf also tells the readers he will not use weapons unless necessary. Before the battle against Grendel, a Denmark officer states, “A chosen warrior who bravely does battle with the creature haunting our people, who survives that horror unhurt, and goes home bearing our love” (ln. 210). Also, when Beowulf’s men abandon him in the battle against the dragon, he does not choose to run in fear, but to continue fighting. In this moment much like in his past, Beowulf shows how honorable he really
Read More
Beowulf as an epic
683 Words | 2 Pages
Beowulf’s first accomplishment as an epic hero was his battle with Grendel. Grendel was a huge beast, a descendent of Cain, who ruthlessly murdered innocent Danes because he felt pity for himself. Upon hearing of the Dane’s problem, Beowulf set off to help the Danish without having been called upon. Even though Beowulf had men backing him, He drew battle with Grendel alone and without armor or weapons. Yet, Beowulf emerged victorious with the arm of Grendel as his trophy. Beowulf then went on to kill Grendel’s vengeful mother and a huge fire-breathing dragon who thought it had been done wrong by the Geats. Alas, the killing of the dragon would be Beowulf’s last great battle for the dragon took Beowulf’s life in the struggle for his own.
Read More

Open Document

Wait a second!

Comparing Beowulf And The Hero's Journey

Beowulf The Hero