Examples Of Figurative Language In Beowulf

Are You a Hero?

It is an extraordinary experience learning about how a hero is a hero, what makes up a hero? What symbolizes a hero? What are the reasons for a hero to solve battles and conflicts? The answer to these questions, is using literary devices. In Beowulf not only do people talk about his bravery in battles, but also his heroic qualities. A critic states, “Beowulf is predominantly a positive role model; not only does the poem use an unequivocal phrase when describing him, but he never fails to exhibit the kinds of qualities one would want in a ruler…” (Gulley). The critic is referring to Beowulf’s heroic qualities, and how being a warrior doesn’t change his characteristic of being a positive role model.

To begin with, in epic

the poem of Beowulf, conflict and battles are the main subjects in the story. To define the meaning of conflict, is being incompatible or at variance with something or someone. For example, Beowulf taking on the battle with Grendel’s mother, this conflict is caused for the reason that Grendel’s mother kills Hrothgar’s closest friend. By that time, Beowulf makes a decision to go kill Grendel’s monstrous mother. The speaker states, “As his words ended / He leaped into the lake, would not wait for anyone’s / Answer; the heaving water covered him / Over. For hours he sank through the waves; / At last he saw the mud of the bottom…” (lines 467-470). The quote from Beowulf explaining how no matter what anyone has to say, he resolves to kill Grendel’s monstrous mother whether he comes back alive or not. This is where the conflict begins and it is taken into Beowulf’s hands, after he successfully overcomes this battle, he is honored by Hrothgar and became King. Not only in the battle with Grendel’s mother but also in the battle with Grendel, Beowulf takes the matter in his own hand, as a critic states:
In the fight with Grendel, the more experienced Beowulf is prepared to endure the ordeal in order to help society. And although he attempts to fight Grendel alone and without arms (an attempt that marks him as the potential hero) / Beowulf does not fulfill his quest as the hero / precisely because he is still within society, literally inside the walls of Heorot and the circle of his men. (Vaught)
Though the critic describes the type of emotions that Beowulf is feeling within the battle, Beowulf knows he needs to help society whether he is armed not unarmed. In conclusion, conflict can have a good or bad ending, it all depends on how it is solved.
In addition, imagery plays a big role in the poem of Beowulf, imagery is visually descriptive or figurative language that makes reading come to life.

Hence, the battle with Grendel’s mother, the speaker specifically describes the battle, he states, “They wrestled, she ripped / And tore and clawed at him, bit holes in his helmet / And that too failed him…” (lines 498-500). The tearing, clawing, and the holes made in Beowulf’s helmet can help picture every move that the monstrous mother is making. Imagery can even make sounds come into an imagination in a thought, as the speaker states, “A call so loud and clear that it reached through / The hoary rock, hung in the dragon’s / Ear…” (lines 664-666). This quote describes how loud the call is that it reached to the dragon’s ear, the picture that comes to mind is seeing the sound waves of the call heading towards the dragon’s lair. Imagery in this story helps to actually picture what is going on and in reality it can help with memorizing what

happens.
Last, but not least, characterization is the description of the unique nature or features of someone or something, for example Beowulf has characteristics of being a warrior, being brave, being generous, which all describe who he is.

Beowulf is brave because of the battles he takes on, like the time when the king told Beowulf about the two monsters and their underwater lair, Beowulf goes to find the monsters himself so he can kill them after. The speaker states, “I’ve heard that my people, peasants working / In the fields, have seen a pair of fiends / Wandering in the moors and marshes, giant / Monsters living in those desert lands” (lines 411-414). This is a quote from Beowulf explaining how his people tell him about the monsters, and how they are afraid that they will harm them. Beowulf takes it in his own hands and goes where the monsters are living, and handles it on his own. There are different opinions on the characteristics of Beowulf, for example, a critic

states:
As the only human hero in the story, Beowulf the character fits into a conventional hero schema; however, the several monstrous qualities that Beowulf possesses outweigh his heroic features. By contrast, his three adversaries, though seemingly negative and villainous, are more human-like and have their own individual characteristics. (Yang)
The critic’s quote explains how Beowulf does possess monstrous qualities and they outweigh his hero qualities. Being a warrior means a brave or experienced fighter who is engaged in warfare, and will fight to the end even if it means their own life might be taken away. Beowulf by this time he is old, but his bravery of being a warrior and seeking fame will not stop him from fighting the dragon in the last battle. The speaker states, “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.” (lines 624-628). This quote from Beowulf is describing his pride and bravery towards being a true warrior. He knows that he is old, but he will fight again, but only if the dragon dares to face him. Characterization is explaining the description of someone or something using the person’s personality, or either analyzing quotes being said from the person.
In conclusion, being a hero is not always easy, sometimes battles in life might be more difficult than it seems and it might not beat it. Beowulf is a hero in many scenarios, like having compassion, because he loves his people he wants to protect them, and by protecting them he has to resolve conflicts. Before Beowulf’s battles he knows he made a strong commitment and has to prepare to sacrifice anything. It is an extraordinary experience learning about how a hero is a hero, but always remember all these qualities of being a hero can either go wrong or go right, just prepare for anything. To conclude, a hero can be described as Beowulf.