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Beowulf As An Epic Poem
Essays on beowulf and the three epic battles
Beowulf As An Epic Poem
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Ambition/Greed: Good? Bad? Ugly? Consequences?
What is good and evil and where did it come from? Everything in the world was created from the one God. The God theory infused all things in the world and that live beyond it. From this viewpoint good and evil both derived from the God law. They have both lived since the construction of the world. Yet, evil was in a dormant form at that juncture. Evil is in our mind, not inside our aspiring heart (http://www.srichinmoy.org/spirituality/spirituality/good_and_evil).
As a result of the missions of good and evil forces is completely divergent to one another, there is continuously a battle stuck between the two. This equilibrium of good and evil rise and fall over time is never stable. The effects of good and evil are felt transversely all the sections of the world. The classic Beowulf makes an effort to illustrate both sides of these cultures of good and evil. It also conveys the eternal battle between the two. “Grendel, a monster who lives at the bottom of a nearby mere, is provoked by the singing and celebrating of Hrothgar's followers” (http://csis.pace.edu/grendel/projf981e/story.html). Beowulf, prince of the Geats, hears about “Hrothgar's troubles, gathers fourteen of the bravest Geat warriors, and sets sail from his home in southern Sweden” (http://csis.pace.edu/grendel/projf981e/story.html). In Beowulf, the author uses light and darkness to accentuate good and evil in the world.
The brawl experienced by the epics central character Beowulf test his ethics his aptitude to prevail over sinister forces. All the way through its authoritative use of metaphors and illustration, Beowulf sketches a transparent difference between good and evil. Moreover good always prevails over evil. The ...
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... his men arrive at Herot and are called to see the King (47).
The fight between good versus evil has lived existed ever since the introduction of time. It will carry on until the end of time. The world we live in today is faced the struggle of good verse evil in every walk of life. The government is by all accounts built to battle evil. The men of the American military and now women have been fighting battles since World War I. The American military is design to serve and protect its country in the people. In addition to other counties that USA has allies with. After Beowulf battles the Grendel, Grendel’s mother, malevolence dragon. He returns to his home. Beowulf anon is befalls king of Geats. Years after his battle with Grendel, Grendel mother and the dragon Beowulf and Wiglaf kill overthrow another dragon, but the old king is mortally wounded (61).
The philosophies expressed in the Beowulf epic complement the exploration of existentialism throughout the modern work, Grendel, by John Gardner. Both works portray different perspectives of the same story, involving the same characters; Beowulf, the ancient Anglo-Saxon hero who destroys Grendel, and Grendel, the monster who terrorizes Hrothgar’s hall. Beowulf and Grendel act as archetypes that explore humanity’s perception of the world. In the Anglo-Saxon epic, Beowulf and his companions represent good, and the monsters, including Grendel, represent evil. When Beowulf kills Grendel, the world is less evil, but since Beowulf’s companions die in the struggle, the world is also less good. Ultimately, the two forces of good and evil will destroy each other, but the story maintains that God will interfere and save mankind from destruction. In Gardner’s story, the progression of society begins when mankind creates a monster and then creates a hero to fight the monster. Once the greater power of the hero had been established, once the conflict’s resolution strengthened society’s power, than a greater monster developed ...
While the classic battle between good and evil forces is a major theme of the medieval epic Beowulf, one may question whether these good and evil forces are as black and white as they appear. Scholars such as Herbert G. Wright claim that “the dragon, like the giant Grendel, is an enemy of mankind, and the audience of Beowulf can have entertained no sympathy for either the one or the other” (Wright, 4). However, other scholars such as Andy Orchard disagree with this claim, and believe that there is “something deeply human about the ‘monsters’” (Orchard, 29). While Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon are indeed portrayed as evil and violent foes, there are parts within Beowulf that can also lead a reader to believe that the “monsters” may not be so monstrous after all. In fact, the author of Beowulf represents the “monsters” within the poem with a degree of moral ambivalence. This ambivalence ultimately evokes traces of sympathy in the reader for the plight of these “monster” figures, and blurs the fine line between good and evil within the poem.
“In my youth I engaged in many wars”, Beowulf boasts to his warriors, which is certainly true. Throughout his life, he faces many deadly foes, all of which he handily defeats, save one. His story focuses on the most challenging, as well as morally significant of foes, Grendel and the dragon. These creatures reveal much about society as well as Christian virtue at the time. Even after Grendel and the dragon are defeated physically, the two monsters pose a new threat to the hero on a higher plane. Beowulf is not only at risk of losing his life, but his humanity, virtue, and even spirituality.
Good and evil operate and work in different environments. In the book Beowulf, light and darkness are the environments used by good and evil. Although the author shows the power of darkness, he also exhibits light’s eventual victory in Beowulf’s battle with Grendel, in Beowulf’s first skirmish with Grendel’s mom, and with the imagery created at the beginning and end of each
In this reimagining of the roles of good and evil, we see that there is a similar struggle in both stories. Beowulf mirrors it so closely, in fact, that careful consideration of the information plainly available can cause the lines of good and evil to blur perceptually. It is clear that the author of Beowulf had a deep understanding of the concepts of the Biblical creation story and took great care to recreate the struggle of good and evil in his epic.
During the Anglo-Saxon age where good and evil clashed in battle, there was a brave hero named Beowulf who fought many battles and who led monsters to their doom. With fate and strength by his side nothing could stop him. There were two kingdoms in this story that were overcome by evil. The People tried to fight back but it was no match for such an evil. The attitudes and actions between various monsters and humans show that Beowulf is a story comprised of battles fating good against evil.
In epic literature as well as in modern day, the battle of good versus evil is never ending. In the modern world the battle for good and evil is more of a psychological feat. When Beowulf battles his physical demons, in the modern day and age the battle is with the minds of the people that cannot be conquered by the sword. In the battles of Beowulf and the modern people, the destruction and hardship brings loved ones together in an act of sharing the burden. Within certain battles that occur those involved in the combat will show their true colors. The story of the glorious battle is then passed on as a reminder and an inspiration to those who will follow. Beowulf is similar in many ways to
Literature spans across the entire world, shaping civilizations, and ultimately reflecting the values of the society from which it has risen. Within every literature is “a preview of human experiences, allowing us to connect on basic levels of desire and emotion; through tragedy and romance, joy and sorrow, in epiphanies and denial, in moments of heroism and in moments of cowardice.” Beowulf, an Old English epic poem, is the highest achievement of Old English literature in its often bold and strong quality, but also mournful and elegiac spirit; this poetry emphasizes the sorrow in the futility of an Anglo-Saxon warrior’s life. Beowulf has multiple themes and meanings for readers to explore, but the most important theme is vengeance within their warrior code. In Beowulf, vengeance reflects the pivotal values of the Anglo-Saxon society and serves as the main motivations of many of the characters that ultimately lead to the main conflict that pervades and eventually dominates the story, feuds.
Beowulf, one of the oldest long poems, is an Old English epic written by an unknown poet. The poet was trying to capture the heroic language and style of ancient Germanic poetry. He was a Christian and presented that throughout the poem, which the reader can tell reflects Christian tradition. Beowulf can be considered a very simple epic in many people’s view point. The whole plot is mostly focused on a courageous and mighty warrior that battles against demons and evil things lurking amongst the townspeople. This writing views Beowulf’s three great fights against evil, which will help to show the themes being analyzed. There are many themes present, but three that stood out amongst the rest include: good vs evil, courage and violence. Beowulf showcases all three of these motifs in an intriguing way. The good versus evil, courage and violence help to show Beowulf’s heroicness throughout this poem, and each affects his character in a different way.
Evil has a large presence in this world. Even if it is not an actual entity, evil is a concept explored throughout the literature of different cultures around the world. Seamus Heaney’s translation of Beowulf follows the story of the titular warrior who confronts three different monsters throughout the course of his life. The characteristics of Beowulf’s foes represent his culture’s interpretation of evil and how to confront it. Beowulf fights these creatures to defend the Danes, a group of people who mainly value honor, among other ideas. An examination of the characters and themes in Beowulf shows how different forms of evil rise when individuals go against a society’s values.
Beowulf takes it upon himself to announce several great deeds that he will perform to help countries in need. One of these deeds is his offer to King
In the epic poem Beowulf, there is an obvious distinction between good and evil. The hero and his foes play roles that are commonly associated with Anglo-Saxon literature. The lines are clearly drawn and expressed in the poem. As the story moves, the reader cannot mistake the roles being played, based on the characterizations in the epic, one recognizes each character for their purpose and place.
Once upon a time, in a land far away, the clash between good and evil resided in the heart of every story. From oral tales of the Anglo-Saxon period, to the novels of today, heavenly heroes versus menacing monsters have weaved stories throughout time. For example, in the the epic poem, Beowulf, the warriors and heroes, like Beowulf and Wiglaf, represent the good within the story. The creatures, such as Grendel and the dragon, illustrate the evil. The settings also portray both sides as well, with examples being Herot and The Lair. Good and evil are represented in many ways in Beowulf, and each of those ways gives a message regarding one of them to the reader.
“Like a man outlawed for wickedness, he must await the mighty judgment of God in majesty.” The story “Beowulf” shows an internal battle of good verses evil. This battle has always been around since the beginning of time. It is the balance of all that we know. There are several themes of this battle, even from the very beginning of the story. The battle of good andevil with God and Cain, which in turn, produces the demon Grendel. The epic battles of the story consist of King Hrothgar and the evil Grendel, who is terrorizing the kingdom, and the hero of the story, Beowulf going up against many evils such as Grendel, Grendel’s mother and finally the dragon. These are all stories of men fighting demons and monsters. Today, in the real
Evil continues to play a major role in the next sections of the epic, The Battle with Grendel and The Battle with Grendel’s Mother. Beowulf and his followers stay to spend the night in Herot, after everyone leaves. He excitedly awaits the arrival of his rival. Grendel arrives and attacks his first victim: a Geat. Grendel tears him apart, killing the man. Next, Grendel comes at Beowulf with his mighty claws. Beowulf withstands Grendel’s powerful hold and Grendel “knew at once that nowhere on earth/has he met a man whose hands were harder/his mind was flooded with fear” (274-276). Grendel cannot escape Beowulf’s hold. He has finally met his match. “The monster’s hatred rose higher/but his power was gone” (336-337). Beowulf impales Grendel, wounding him to his death, and the battle is over. Beowulf’s good, triumphs Grendel’s evil doings. With her son Grendel’s mother seeks revenge and begins causing chaos of her own. She emerges from her evil lair and for her first act of destruction she kills Hrothgar’s greatest soldier and closest friend. In their time of need people once again look to Beowulf to save the day. Beowulf swims for many hours to reach the bottom of the dark, grim, cold lake where her lair is located. Grendel’s mother attempts to hurt Beowulf but she cannot, “she welcomed him into her claws/clutched at him savagely but couldn't harm him” (458-459). His chain mail saves him from her rath. He murders Grendel’s mother and just