It is challenging for a country to succeed and run without good leadership. People of a country are supposed to look up to their leader and respect his or her ability. In the epic poem Beowulf, the people of the land respected their leaders because the leaders demonstrated beneficial traits. That is not the case in the United States today. Citizens of the country are terrified to elect either of the president candidates: Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. Both candidates are considered to have more flaws than strengths. The leadership displayed in Beowulf is completely different compared to leadership in today’s society.
Trust leads to respect. Leaders must be trusted by their people. Honesty in a leader is a huge factor in how the people perceive
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him or her. Citizens of a country are going to have more trust in an honest leader than one who does not tell the truth. Beowulf gained trust and respect from his people as he delivered on his promise to the Danish people that he was going to kill Grendel with his bare hands (Post). Today’s leaders lie to their people just for the chance to get elected into office. United States citizens do not respect their leaders because they do not follow up on the promises they made during their campaigns. A leader connecting to the people is key in good leadership.
Creating bonds with the people makes them closer and betters the communication. Citizens in the United States cannot communicate directly with the leader like Beowulf and his people. Beowulf had a “successful bond among the warriors in the band and between the thane and the lord” (Loughman). Him having a relationship with his warriors is beneficial in that he knows the thoughts of his people. He also can connect with them and what they all are going through. People look at their leader in a more positive way if they have a bond with him or her. Decisions are made by the leader based on his or her people and if he or she relates to them well, the decision will more than likely be a good one. In return, the people will respect the decisions the leader makes because their relationship is strong. In the United States today, decisions are not influenced by people since the people do not have the ability to directly communicate with the leader. Government officials make the decisions for the people instead. This upsets many citizens of the United States; their say on the decision is not heard since their is not relationship between the people and …show more content…
leader. Leaders are called upon to serve and protect the people of the society.
In the time period of Beowulf, leaders acted on their calling and served and protected their people. In Hrothgar’s sermon, he stated a good leader should be “a protector of his people, pledged to uphold truth and justice and to respect tradition” (McArthur). Unfortunately, leaders in the United States are called upon to do the same thing, but fail to succeed in doing so. According to Article II of the Constitution, “the President is responsible for the execution and enforcement of the laws created by Congress” (“The Executive Branch”). This statement is similar to what Hrothgar stated about upholding justice. The two presidential candidates of the upcoming election will be extremely criticized for their ability to uphold truth and justice. Both candidates are already accused of breaking the law and lying about their past. These potential leaders do not display the roles of a good leader like shown in
Beowulf. In Tom Loughman’s work, “Beowulf and the Teaching of Leadership”, he mentions “charismatic leaders often occupy positions of authority, trust, and respect.” Leaders of the United States do not fit these standards as the people do not respect the leaders because they are portrayed as liars. In contrast, leaders in the poem occupy the specified positions. The people of the land respect their leader and trust them as they know the leader has authority over them. They respect the authority because they trust him. The current day United States leaders are not considered charismatic leaders like the leaders of Hrothgar and Beowulf. It is clear that leadership today differentiated quite a bit in contrast to leadership in the epic poem Beowulf. Good leadership qualities and skills are all seen through the leaders in the poem, however they are not exactly seen in the potential United States leaders. Both Hrothgar and Beowulf were trusted by their people, had positive relationships with their people, served and protected their people, and showed characteristics of being a charismatic leader. The same cannot be said for current leaders. If the next president of the United States could recognize act upon the good leadership skills shown in Beowulf, he or she could make for great leader.
Hamilton uses fears of past despotism in monarchies and encroachments in representative bodies to persuade people to see that this essential law of good behavior “is the best expedient which can be devised in any government to secure a steady, upright, and impartial administration of the laws.” (Hamilton.Jay.Madison 100)
Beowulf wants to fight Grendel, a monster wreaking havoc, and is boasting that he is more powerful and courageous.
A leader in any tale is an exceptional figure, whether good or evil, they also display tremendous strength above all others be it physical, emotional or mental. Their qualities instill in them a reverence that all of their subjects come to realize and respect. The role of leader is usually first assigned to a different character and upon completion of his journey the main character usually becomes the leader or a figure who has the potential to lead others, the leader is usually a well-known, revered, however they are alone, both figuratively and physically. Beowulf written by an unnamed poet has multiple characters that the reader can identify as leaders, one whom is within the first five lines of the text. Shielf Sheafson, is described as the scourge of many tribes becomes the first Cyng of the Danes. In Sir Gawain the Green Knight also written by an unknown author, features many leaders the greatest of which was King Arthur, followed soon by Sir Gawain and the rest of the Knights of the Round Table. Sir Gawain’s trial is actually a journey to test his leadership girls. At the end, he realizes his error and becomes the leader figure he should be. Finally, Paradise Lost written by John Milton features two leaders, Lucifer and God, though each relies on either end of the section they both in body characteristics of a leader. The leader figure through time has many of the same traits. Each leader carries with them a particular set of characteristics that make them a leader usually through a sacrificing something, there is also a sense of reverence, omnipotence, and solitude.
The Story Beowulf is an Epic poem written in the Anglo-Saxon period. The author of the poem is unknown. Beowulf is the hero of the story and the Thane to Hygelac the king of the Geats in Sweden. When Beowulf finds out the Grendel (the big guy) is causing problems in Denmark he decides to go over there and help them out. He fights Grendel and everyone is happy. Then Grendels mother comes to avenge her son so Beowulf has to go fight her also. After winning that battle Beowulf goes back to the Geats and becomes king and rules for fifty winters. Everything is good until he has to go fight this dragon. The dragon ends up killing Beowulf. In the story you can see how things like Honor, fame, and Courage are associated with Beowulf. The reason that he take the dangerous journey is to gain all there of those characteristics in his journey. Out lines below is how he gets each one of those traits in the story.
direction is like trying to hit a cloud with a bow and arrow. A hero is also
Leadership can be defined in a myriad of ways; but for the purpose of the question, it is but not limited to the affect someone who takes charge of a group of people with authority or rank; to be an influence to those who look to the leader. In the epic poem, “Beowulf”, there are two different views on leadership based on their leaders {i.e. King Hrothgar and Beowulf). With King Hrothgar, he accepted the help of Beowulf to fight in order to defend the people of the Herodot, “Beowulf my friend/fight for us” (457-458). Due to the understanding of his age, King Hrothgar shows humility and admirable stance, adapts to someone who admires him, allowing Beowulf to fight for the people of Herodot. Beowulf on the other hand, shows his leadership by taking the initiative and offering his aid to King Hrothgar’s people, to fight the demon Grendel, who is terrorizing the people. This leader...
The epic Beowulf is one of the oldest poems written in English. According to the Norton Anthology, "the poem was composed more the twelve hundred years ago, in the first half of the eight century. Its author may have been a native of what was Mercia, the Midlands of England today, although the late tenth-century manuscript , which alone preserves the poem, originated in the south in the kingdom of the West Saxons" (Norton 21). Although the poem is of English origin, it speaks of tribes (the Danes and the Geats) that are from the "Danish island of Zealand and southern Sweden respectively" (Norton 22). The main character, Beowulf, demonstrates that he is a warrior who places heroism and bravery over his own well-being and life. Beowulf is a hero and an example of a great warrior. His actions give us a good example of the pagan warrior mentality. The pagan society is a warrior society, in which courage and bravery are extremely prevalent. Beowulf fights against monsters and dragons, and he would rather die in battle, then anywhere else. Beowulf is called upon to help defeat Grendel, who is a monster that has taken over the hall of Heorot. He is greeted with great hospitality. Hrothgar, the King of Denmark, is relived to see Beowulf. There is some skepticism by Unferth, who recalls a fight in which Beowulf lost in Battle. Unferth is wrong, and Beowulf says this great line: "fate often saves an undoomed man when his courage is good." Beowulf defeats Grendel with great ease and the people of the hall are gracious to Beowulf.
Beowulf 's courage originates from his certainty that he can overcome creatures utilizing distinctive techniques. Hailey W. Odessa states Goodness, unwaveringness, civility, equity, and courage all portrays the attributes a perfect saint would have. At that point she says in the lyric Beowulf, there is one character that conveys all and a greater amount of these expressed attributes, and that character is without a doubt the hero known as Beowulf. We as a whole need to comprehend life is an exceptional voyage. Beowulf 's life changed when he got more seasoned. The main question is the thing that makes somebody a saint? Components of being a legend are appeared all through Anglo-Saxon fundamental qualities. A standout amongst the most prestigious
In choosing modern leaders, one can take a lesson from the Greeks in how a person’s character can affect his leadership abilities and his constituents. Even positive traits without self-control can lead to devastating ends. Hesiod’s words hold true through the ages,
An epic is a long narrative poem on a serious subject. It usually is about
For the most part, Beowulf’s characteristics describe those of a triumphant warrior who played a major role in defending the lives of his fellow citizens, while leading a thriving country. Although Beowulf soon became king, he died for his people, and was remembered as a victorious fighter. Beowulf is at least in part a study of kingship because it discusses the qualities that produce a good king, the disadvantages during his rule and how he overcame them, and the problems that arose upon his death.
Literature is found in all parts of the world, whether written or oral, and boasts the cultural differences of each area. No matter how different each of the stories is they all have one thing in common: a great leader. Each culture may have slightly different standards of a great leader, but there are a few indispensible traits that make up every leader no matter how big or how small. The story of Beowulf, the fearless warrior, is a fine example of what a great leader is made up of.
Lastly, the key to successful leadership is getting all of one’s followers on their side. In order to achieve this, leaders must gain all their followers trust. Bennis outlines four key elements to gain this trust. Primarily, constancy must be enforced. Leaders must stay the course. Second, congruity is essential. This is so the leaders can “walk the talk.” Third, reliability is needed so that leaders are present when it matters most. Lastly, leaders honor their commitments through integrity. All of these important, aspects gain the trust of their followers by their side.
Overall, for a leader to be successful, reverence is everything. Being loved will get you nowhere if there is no balance of respect and fear to go along with it. In order to be a successful leader one must know when to act accordingly and be stern. When leading individuals, love will only get a person so far and opens the door to becoming gullible, and being taking advantage of. Thoughts become cloudy and indecisive when wanting to appease the desires of others. Besides, if too much emphasis is put on making a ruler’s constituents satisfied, the resolution that is necessary for the situation will not be accomplished.
Leaders of the world and of any country particular plays most important role to achieve genuine happiness of its people. Good and capable leader leads its people and country to a peace and prosperity, while the cruel and incapable leader bring people to the world of sufferings and ultimately ruin country. Leader must not only be educated and experienced but it is important to be a compassionate and sensible to the problems faced by their people. Leaders of the government should win the trust of people by being strategically friendly avoiding any kind of provocation or war with neighboring countries and must also allow a degree of transparency in the day to day working and the governance of the country.