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Irony between beowulf and pardoner's tale
Who is beowulf compared to greed
Irony between beowulf and pardoner's tale
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Greed, gold, and treasure can play a major role in the way people live their lives from start to finish. Many choose to use gold and treasure to honor others as victors and heroes, while others choose to use greed to take the gold and treasure away from others. It is easy enough to show the similar ways treasure and greed is used in Beowulf and “The Pardoner’s Tale,” while at the same time show the differences of gold.
In Beowulf and “The Pardoner’s Tale” the way treasure is used is similar in many ways. Treasure in both lead people to lose sight on the big picture of things. In Beowulf a servant came and stole a goblet from the dragon’s lair making him go on a rampage attacking and burning everything in its sight (ch. 30). When the three rioters find the treasure under the tree, all of them begin planning ways to kill each other in order to have the gold for themselves (pgs. 12-13). The writer's use death as a representation of treasure in both the stories. The treasure from the dragon’s lair was buried with Beowulf as a way to honor his death and for his people to show their respect (ch. 39). The rioters started out looking for death itself, but instead come upon a treasure that leads to their deaths from killing each other (ch.
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11). As can be seen treasure leads to death from either honor or greed. Taking a closer look, it can be seen how gold plays different roles in Beowulf and “The Pardoner’s Tale.” Gold is used as a way of celebrating life or death, a reward for winning a battle, or used to show power in Beowulf.
For example when Beowulf receives gold treasures from Hrothgar after defeating Grendel and his mother (ch. 15). “The Pardoner’s Tale” refers to gold as a way to show greed and can only lead to death. The friends started their journey working together to seek out death, but in the end turned on each other because of the gold leading to them to kill each other (pg. 8-11). This is meant to show that death (physical being) is not what kills people, but people killing other people for reasons, such as greed and
selfishness. There are similarities in the way greed is represented in both Beowulf and “The Pardoner’s Tale.” Greed in Beowulf is shown by the dragons need to destroy anything and everything to get his treasure back. The dragon’s desire to retrieve his treasure leads to the battle with Beowulf that ends up causing his death (ch. 30-34). Greed in “The Pardoner’s Tale” is shown by how the three rioters found the gold and made a plan to split it between the three of them, but eventually they turned on each other. Once they were separated two of them decided to kill the youngest, while the other decided to poison the two of them (pgs. 11-13) This emphasizes how greed in both stories is the root to all evil. The common moral lesson in both Beowulf and “The Pardoner’s Tale” is that people should not be selfish and greedy. People should work together and not as individuals because it can lead to greed and death. Beowulf was selfish by fighting the dragon alone and not allowing his men to help. This resulted in him being brought down and killed by the dragon. The rioters were selfish by turning on each other to keep the gold for themselves. They started out as friends trying to help each other find death and ended up plotting each other’s deaths. No matter what time period gold, treasure, and greed will continue to cause problems for mankind.
After fighting and winning many battles, Beowulf's life enters a new stage when he finally becomes king of his homeland, Geatland. Even in his old age, his code of honor still obligates him to fight against an evil, fiery dragon. For fifty years he has governed his kingdom well. While Beowulf is governing, the dragon "...kept watch over a hoard, a steep stone-barrow" (Norton 55). Under it lays a path concealed from the sight of men. Over centuries no one had disturbed the dragon’s kingdom until one day when a thief broke into the treasure, laid hand on a cup fretted with gold, which infuriated the dragon. "The fiery dragon had destroyed the people's stronghold, the land along the sea, the heart of the country" (Norton 57).
The tale of Beowulf is a tale of human nature, people still want the same things that they wanted thousands of years ago. Even if people switch out words now to make themselves sound less selfish, it is still there. Beowulf makes such an interesting topic to discuss because it covers the normalities in Anglo-Saxon culture, the ethics of gift-giving and how these customs have carried over into today’s world. It is relatable if one looks at it from a more personal point of
Towards the end of the story, Beowulf travels to fight a dragon who is protecting a large treasure. He wants to prove to his kingdom that he is still the brave and strong man he used to be, but his main motivation is the treasure he will get after his victory. "And Beowulf uttered his final boast: 'I've never known fear, as a youth I fought In endless battles. I am old, now, But I will fight again, seek fame still, If the dragon hiding in his tower dares To face me'" (606-610). On the other side, the dragon has the same motivation. He is willing protect the treasure if it takes his life. This makes the fight one to the death. "When he comes to me I mean to stand, not to run from his shooting Flames, stand still till fate decides Which of us wins" (619-622). Beowulf feels that if he cannot have this victory, that this is the proper way to
Beowulf is an epic poem telling the story of Beowulf, a legendary Geatish hero who later becomes king in the aforementioned epic poem. While the story in and of itself is quite interesting, for the purpose of this paper it is important to look at the character more so then his deeds, or rather why he did what he did.
(A) “Remember how he clung to the rotting wealth / Of this world, how he clawed to keep it, how he earned / No honor, no glory” (1758-1750). (B) The poem “Beowulf” written by an unknown author and was set in Sweden and Denmark. In the story, many men and kings were easily corrupted by money and abused the power that they had, and what came of this is an unfortunate end usually in the wars that they started. (C) This could have easily happened to Beowulf but he happened to listen to the advice of those who were wiser than him. (D) Beowulf was the ideal hero and a great king with nothing lacking in his character, and Beowulf believed that a good king should rule without the thoughts of greed and pride.
In Beowulf, the essence left behind by a true hero is extremely important. In epics such as this one, leaders tend to have the determination and boldness of a hero. On the other hand, the main character, Beowulf, does not only display these certain traits. In this heroic poem, respect and trust come naturally. Honor and integrity are present throughout the poem. There are many moments in Beowulf that manifest the many traits that a person should have. This proves how important these attributes are to the characters and the Anglo-Saxon society. Although Beowulf has no known author, it embodies many of the beliefs and morals of the early Germanic society. The author of this epic poem uses many approaches in order to demonstrate that respect and trust are fundamental characteristics of a leader and hero.
Damrosch, David, and David L. Pike. “Beowulf.” The Longman Anthology of World Literature, Compact Edition. New York: Pearson, Longman, 2008. 929-970. Print.
Picture a world shrouded in darkness and despair, where war is inevitable and its inhabitants live with a relentless sense of fear. Medieval Europe was not a peaceful or secure place, but rather a world filled with turmoil, suffering, and unrest. Commoners living in medieval Europe never strayed far from the security of their homes because evil and suffering lurked within every facet of society. The story of Beowulf recounts the life of an idealized warrior, whose desire for honor instills deep convictions of justified violence. In many ways, Beowulf’s attitude parallels the warrior instinct exhibited by the crusaders as they attempted to recapture the Holy Land. Hence, the world of medieval Europe painted suffering for a just cause as an honorable
Someone from the Land of the Geats has stolen fro the dragon while it slept. Now, the dragon is out for revenge. Beowulf knows that he must fight the dragon although he is old and not as strong as he once was. As Beowulf is tragically injured as of his soldiers run except for Wiglaf. Together Wiglaf and Beowulf destroy the dragon. As Beowulf dies he gives the kingdom to Wiglaf and tells him to build a lighthouse in his memory. The treasure that Beowulf gets from the dragon can either be physical or emotional. It conveys on page 64 line 867, “Crying that no better king had ever lived, no prince so mild, no man so open to his people, so deserving of praise.” The physical treasure is the treasure and riches of the dragon, while the emotional treasure is helping his people.
In this essay, I will uncover the countless insights that can be learned about the characters in Beowulf, as well as the society as a whole, based on the weapons the characters choose to use in battle. During the Anglo-Saxon time, roughly between 400 and 1066, swords were considered the most precious weapon someone could own. Although it is not certain who wrote Beowulf, and when, many people believe it was composed in the middle to end of the Anglo-Saxon period. Analyzing the different weapons, and significance of each, in Beowulf, and comparing them to the weaponry at the time, provides the readers with a great deal of insight into the society during this period. The use of weapons in Beowulf not only provides the readers with insight into
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.
...agon goes on a rampage across Beowulf's kingdom. Beowulf ends up dying defeating this dragon, and the treasure that he and so many others died for is buried with the him "and a trove of such things as trespassing men had once dared to drag from the hoard" (Beowulf 3164-3165).
Treasures were used to gain loyalty from other men in Geat “steadfast companions will stand by him” (Beowulf 23). Theses “steadfast companions” (Beowulf 23) help the king survive and help conquer lands and allowing a king to stay in power. In the end of this poem even those gifts will not get the support Beowulf needs. The treasure that was laid on the boat for Shield was “Far-fetched treasures / were piled upon him, and precious gear” (Beowulf 36-37) A “far-fetched treasure” (Beowulf 36) would be some of the rarest in the world. Shield has told his men to “Shoulder him out to sea’s flood” (Beowulf 30) The boat they put him in was “A ring-whorled prow rode in the harbor, / ice-clad, outbound, a craft for a prince”(Beowulf 32-33). The description of the boat I think shows the honor that the Geat’s wanted to show their kings and how ornate they make things. At Beowulf’s funeral at the end of the poem they build a great pyre “The Geat people built a pyre for Beowulf, / stacked and decked it until it stood foursquare.”(Beowulf 3137-38). The pyre is like the boat in the first funeral the boat is built ornately and to stand the test of time. The pyre is built to be tall and strong very similar to the boat. “hung with helmets, heavy war-shields / and shining armor, just as he had ...
Beowulf is an epic poem that, above all, gives the reader an idea of a time long past; a time when the most important values were courage and integrity. The only factors that could bestow shower fame upon a person were heroic deeds and family lineage. Beowulf, as the paradigm of pagan heroes, exhibited his desire to amass fame and fortune; the only way to do so was to avenge the death of others. This theme of retribution that is ever present throughout the poem seems to color the identities of its characters.
But we know from archaeological evidence that the royal and aristocratic milieu of Beowulf with its lavish burials and gold-adorned armor “can no longer be dismissed as poetic exaggeration or folk memories of an age of gold before the Anglo-Saxons came to England (Cramp 114).