Similarities Between Beowulf And Anglo Saxons

396 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Archetype in beowulf

Of course, monsters may only exist in a fantasy, but these barbarians are archetypal symbols for some problems. A number of people may say that the Anglo-Saxons are similar to Beowulf because they were invaded many of times by the Romans, Celts, Vikings, and Normans. In Beowulf these people were inundated by Grendel, trying to relate Beowulf's battles with the invasions of England. So, what are the differences and similarities between the book of Beowulf and the Anglo-Saxons? Who is Beowulf and why is he so great? What makes this blonde haired geat warrior and Wiglaf son of Weohstan so similar?
Beowulf and the Anglo-Saxons differences may include many of things such as, the Anglo-Saxons were invaded by the Celts, Vikings, Romans, and more!

Show More
Related

  • The 13th Warrior And Beowulf Comparison

    383 Words  | 1 Pages

    After reading the epic poem Beowulf and watching the movie The 13th Warrior, I find that the differences greatly outnumber the similarities. However, the theme of good versus evil reflects the values of the Anglo-Saxon people in both the poem and the movie. Numerous differences exist in the poem and the movie including the characters, the bloody battles, and the deaths of the heroes.

    Read More

  • An Analysis of the Epic Poem, Beowulf - Fame, Kingship, Fate and God in Beowulf

    1217 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Anglo-Saxons were a people who lived in and ruled England from the fifth century AD until the Norman Conquest. They were a people who valued courage and leadership. They lived under kings who were "keepers of gold" and were guarded by their loyal thanes (knights). They were a Pagan culture until the Normandy conquistadors came. They believed in fate and believed the only way to live forever was if you had fame. In the Anglo-Saxon book, Beowulf, there was a combination of many different people. The characters in Beowulf are defined by their status. Their status was in form of their fame and accomplishments. Beowulf was a very famous warrior, who sails to the Danes to kill a monster who is murdering their people. Beowulf kills Grendal, Grendal's mother and a dragon throughout the entirety of the story. Every time he receives more fame and more glory. Beowulf became a king. He was a great king who received honor and loyalty from his men. Although, during the fight with the dragon Beowulf's men run away and as a result Beowulf dies. The book claims that Beowulf had fate against him in his last battle against the dragon, but also says that Beowulf had Christian morals. By having two conflicting religions (paganism and Christianity) it makes the story more interesting. This book is composed of four main characteristics: fame, kingship, fate, and God, which play very important roles throughout the book.

    Read More

  • Batman Compare And Contrast Spiderman And Beowulf

    1261 Words  | 3 Pages

    The story of both heroes is quite peculiar when comparing them to each other. Beowulf is recognized for his almighty strength of defeating monsters by himself. In a kingdom located in Denmark, Beowulf travels to aid the king Hrothgar. Hrothgar had a major problem

    Read More

  • Was Beowulf A Good King

    413 Words  | 1 Pages

    Beowulf was a great king in many ways based on the Anglo-Saxon values. One example is when Beowulf showed when he was courages. When Beowulf decided to get invoked with Grendel, a monstrous man, in a battle, it was a big deal because it was thought to be that Grendel had more courage; things turned out to be

    Read More

  • Beowulf Compare And Contrast

    874 Words  | 2 Pages

    There are numerous similitudes and contrasts between Beowulf the motion picture which was made in the year 2007, and the poem by an obscure Angelo Saxon poet. A large portion of the likenesses and contrasts are clear. The poem was changed into a motion picture and was more advanced and simpler to see then the epic poem itself. The movie happens to be more modern and gives the audience a better understanding of Beowulf and what happened during his life. It also helps the audience visualize it rather than having to picture the occurences while reading the poem.

    Read More

  • Beowulf, a Classic Example of an Anglo-Saxon Hero

    903 Words  | 2 Pages

    The clear definition of a hero is often open to interpretation and has never been clearly defined. In the translation of the epic poem Beowulf by Seamus Heaney, it is often debated whether the main character Beowulf is actually a hero or not. Beowulf displays hero-like characteristics through his bravery, loyalty, brute strength, confidence and protective nature. He is a crystal clear example of an Anglo-Saxon hero in his time period. In the present day he should be considered a hero as well. He displays heroism through his fights with Grendel, Grendel’s mother and the dragon while managing to protect his people and eventually sacrifice himself.

    Read More

  • Selflessness In Beowulf

    713 Words  | 2 Pages

    First off, Beowulf shows the characteristic qualities of an Anglo-saxon hero by being selfless. Beowulf would always help everyone and he helped the townspeople by getting rid of Grendel. Beowulf risked his life just to save the people of the town, and he did just that. He took Grendel's life, and ripped his arm off. Another way Beowulf is selfless is that the last thing Beowulf tells Hrothgar is to take care of his men if he dies in battle. His first thought was towards his men and what would happen if he died. Another example of Beowulf's selflessness is when "Beowulf gave a battle-sword to the

    Read More

  • Bilbo and Beowulf

    852 Words  | 2 Pages

    To begin, we can examine the physical appearances of the two heroes. From the get go, we see Beowulf as a very powerful man. We see emphasise of this through the drawings of the novel. We see how muscular he is and the overall aura. He is relaxed and in control every step of the way.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between King Shield And Beowulf

    521 Words  | 2 Pages

    When being compared to the opening funeral of King Shield’s death, Beowulf’s funeral can be further interpreted as an elegy for warrior values. To begin with, the main similarity behind both funerals was the mood. The Danes respected their king, and the poet of Beowulf depicts this idea by stating, Shield “had courage and greatness. /… as his powers waxed and his worth was proved” (lines 2 and 8). King Shield provided a sense of security to the Danish nation, which established a specific image of what a proper authority figure looked like to the people. Since Shield “was one good king”, his death left the Danes with the devastated realization there may never be that form of heroic leadership ruling their country again (11). Using similar word choice, Beowulf’s poet describes a similar connection between

    Read More

  • Anglo-Saxon Culture and Pagan Traditions in Beowulf

    1112 Words  | 3 Pages

    During the turn of the 5th century, the British Isles were under control of a strong and powerful group of people, called the Anglo-Saxons. These individuals worshipped under a Pagan religion that shaped their society in many ways. During the time period when the story was written, it is believed to have followed strict Paganism beliefs. Throughout the time the story has been told, Christian monks have rewritten it, changing it around to follow a Christian belief system. Even with these changes and rewrites, the core essence of the Anglo-Saxon beliefs remain in the story. Within the epic poem of Beowulf, readers can clearly see the traditions of Anglo-Saxon culture and the Pagan religion, including importance of reputation, concept of fate,

    Read More

  • Beowulf Comparison Essay

    1056 Words  | 3 Pages

    The general definition of a hero is, “a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.” Although, the interpretation of a hero is always dependant on the society in which the hero resides. The “hero”, Beowulf, is not depicted the same way as he is in the self-titled poem “Beowulf” as he is in Grendel. The poem “Beowulf” is said to emerge from the Anglo-Saxon period or the 5th-6th century. It was later translated by Burton Raffel. The “hero” of the poem, Beowulf, is a glorified Geatish warrior whose hunger for fame and wealth drives him to the land of the Danes to rid of the evil monster, Grendel. He is depicted as a strong, brave, and courageous man and admired by the Danes. On the other hand,

    Read More

  • Theme Between The Hero And The Monster In Beowulf

    2526 Words  | 6 Pages

    There is a seemingly fine-line between the hero and the monster in Beowulf. How far should we consider Beowulf’s strength and abilities as the traits of an Anglo-Saxon hero before he becomes monstrous? To answer this we must first look at the way in which heroism and monstrosity are perceived within the literature of the Anglo-Saxon period. This can be seen within texts such as The Wonders of the East, if we note what types of creatures were described within this text we can compare these to the monsters in Beowulf and see how they differentiate. If we examine the way in which the poem 's "Hero", Beowulf, is described, then we shouldn 't see any similarities between him and the so called monsters, however the physical representation and abilities

    Read More

  • Beowulf vs. Modern Society

    1056 Words  | 3 Pages

    The first and most notable similarity is drinking. King Hrothgar built a giant mead-hall, namely Heorot, to accommodate his celebrations. Throughout Beowulf it can be seen that celebrations of any kind are always accompanied by drinking. Drinking is just present today as it was thousands of years ago. People today always include drinking in their celebrations, whether it be a birthday, anniversary, or marriage. Heorot is nothing more than a tremendous bar. The festivities of the warriors in Beowulf’s time can be seen every night in any local bar or pub.

    Read More

  • Beowulf as a Reflection of Anglo-Saxon Values

    451 Words  | 1 Pages

    In history, evil men have reigned supreme across many cultures. Some people say that being evil is inherent in every human. If this is true, then writing may be the ultimate way of releasing hatred of the world without hurting anyone. In Beowulf, all of society's evil men can be personified within the demons of Cain. The main demon presented in Beowulf is Grendel. Grendel personifies the exact opposite of what the Anglo-Saxons held dear. Beowulf, the story's hero, is the embodiment of what every Anglo-Saxon strove to become in their lifetime. Grendel is constantly angry, afraid and unsure of himself; while Beowulf is fearless and loyal to his king.

    Read More

  • How Are Beowulf And King Arthur Alike

    1082 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Beowulf, what made King Arthur and Beowulf such great kings? Prestige? Wealth? Or was it something deeper, something any man may possess but few do? I think the distinguishing factor of these two kings was the overwhelming love they held for their people. King Arthur and Beowulf weren’t great because they had wealth or because they were prestigious, these things may be achieved by any ambitious man. They were good because their hearts were rooted in love for their people. This love was shown clearly by their bravery, humility, generosity, and willingness to sacrifice. Their people recognized this, in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight they called King Arthur… and they hailed Beowulf as, “The people’s pride

    Read More

More about Similarities Between Beowulf And Anglo Saxons

Open Document