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Essay on death anxiety
Narrative text about fear
Essay on death anxiety
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These warriors and kings despite having insane amounts of the values spoken above nevertheless still have fears and sadnesses that could cripple any man. Being a large strong conscript does not mean they do not have fears, but only means that they can not let anyone know about them. This sadness is felt all throughout the poem. There seems to be one main fear of all of these fearsome warriors, Mortality. The fear of their own death. Most characters fear of this is because of not understanding these things. The mighty character Beowulf understands that everyone has their own mortality and it is not their choice but God’s. He even states early in the book by conveying that, “Whichever one death fells must deem it a just judgement by God. (440-441)” The quote shows the humility Beowulf realizes everyone has. Even though he realizes that he does not control his death this does not stop him from having fear. Beowulf is constantly reminded of his own mortality that it became vital for him to accept this act. Beowulf is not the only one to envision these thoughts. The great King Hrothgar is also very aware of this sense of mortality and fear of life. He even pushes Beowulf to stay pure and not to chase treasure but to just appreciate life. He says to Beowulf, “Choose, dear Beowulf, the better part, eternal rewards. Do not give way to …show more content…
pride. For a brief while your strength is in bloom but it fades quickly; and soon there will follow illness or the sword to lay you low, or a sudden fire or surge of water or jabbing blade or javelin from the air or repellent age. Your piercing eye will dim and darken; and death will arrive, dear warrior, to sweep you away. (1759-1768)” Hrothgar is saying to Beowulf that life is more than just treasure and it is important to think about. He explains that things like that can cause miserable things to happen and make life every hard to live. Hrothgar fears that not enjoying life can lead to death. This is the overall thinking of the main character of the book which leads them to have very adventurous lives. This thought provoking book full of adventurous adventurers may seem like just a long poem to the average reader although after being analyzed it becomes so much more.
All of the character mentioned above have different ideas on life but sometime share the same ones. These views give the characters very special depths. Each of the items talked about help bring the book into a different dimension and allows the reader to make a connection with the book that is unattainable from watching a movie or reading a modern day novel. Because these connections are not often seen, it makes analyzing books like these special and very important to
mankind.
He explains that Beowulf’s greatest weakness is that he is a man and men are not immortal. The author, according to Tolkien, is “concerned primarily with man on earth… each man and all men, and all their works shall die” (Tolkien). Therefore, all humans must be prepared to meet their end and accept their. I other words, individuals must learn how to die is the lesson that emerges from Beowulf. The reader learns that “defeat is the theme. Triumph over the foes of man’s precarious fortress is over, and we approach slowly and reluctantly the inevitable victory of death” (Tolkien). Even though Beowulf defeats the monsters he encounters and is victorious, he still has to die and nothing can change the fact because it is inevitable. There is nothing any man can do to change that
“Staring at his grotesquely muscled shoulders--stooped, naked despite the cold, sleek as the belly of a shark and as rippled with power as the shoulders of a horse--I found my mind wandering...He was dangerous” (155). Even from the first day Beowulf showed up at Hrothgar’s kingdom, Grendel knew he was dealing with something worse than a hero. Once they finally start to battle, the monster in Beowulf is fully revealed to Grendel and Grendel sees again the stupidity and meaninglessness in the human’s definition of a hero.“Grendel, Grendel! You make the world by whispers, second by second. Are you blind to that? Whether you make it a grave or a garden of roses is not the point. Feel the wall: is it not hard?...Hard, yes! Observe the hardness, write it down in careful runes. Now sing of walls! Sing!” (171). Beowulf forces Grendel to make a fool of himself and unlike Unferth who longs for a heroic death, Beowulf knows he is going to win and has no desire to die. His mindset of victory, groups him with monsters who have one goal, to kill and never be killed. This shatters the Anglo-Saxon ideals of heroism and in Grendel’s death, when he is surrounded by oblivious creatures who don’t have a purpose, the meaninglessness of it all, including the meaninglessness of heroic deeds becomes evident to the
Beowulf is steeped in a pagan tradition that depicts nature as hostile and forces of death as uncontrollable. Blind fate picks random victims; man is never reconciled with the world. Beowulf ends a failure. There is some truth in this conclusion, but for the most part, someone who didn’t have a well-lived life has most likely portrayed it.
This last encounter was destined to define his lasting legacy. He lived as a warrior; it was only natural that he should die as one as well, he hopes to go down in a fiery blaze of glory, pun intended. At this point in time, Beowulf is a seventy-year-old king, he knows he is mortal and isn’t going to live forever. Nevertheless, even as an old man, it was his duty to protect and defend his subjects until the death. Towards the end Beowulf’s death looms closer and it seems like he foreshadows that he is prepared to meet his maker. “When I meet the cave guard: what occurs on the wall, between the two of us will turn out as fate, overseer of men, decides. I am resolved. I scorn further words against this sky-borne foe” (Heaney 2525-2528). Beowulf’s maturity has blossomed to its utmost peak, ironically right before he is laid to rest in the valley of death that is Beowulf’s Barrow. His endeavors throughout this long journey have brought him wisdom and enlightenment. Since the beginning, he has rapidly progressed over time, especially since evolving from his role as a warrior to a king. Initially, Beowulf was insatiable with pleasure seeking activities, but then he
Beowulf is one of the most bravest legends. He has no fear! This man will go and fight whoever needs to be fought, with or without help. As soon as Grendel's mother came to get her son’s arm back, Beowulf immediately set out to go find and kill her. He went to the place where she lives and after he plunged into the water, Beowulf swam all the way down to her lair. After he reached the lair, “Beowulf got ready, / donned his war-gear, indifferent to death; / his mighty, hand-forged, fine-webbed mail / would soon meet with the menace underwater” (1442-1445). This task also seems to be a death sentence written all over it, but Beowulf looks death in the face, and goes after his mother. He knows that they are immortal, but right next to Grendel’s mother, is the only sword that can kill them. Beowulf is brave enough to grab that powerful sword, and kill both Grendel and his mother. Men today would not do that. Beowulf does not just stop at Grendel and his mother: he continues to fight more monsters to defend what is his. He then took a break and now decides to come home to Sweden. The son of Ecgtheow bids Denmark farewell, and has a moment with Hrothgar. Hrothgar says, “You are strong in body and mature in mind, / impressive in speech. If it should come to pass / that Hrethel’s descendent dies beneath a spear, / … and you are still alive, then I firmly believe / the seafaring Geats won’t find a
His life was on the line but he was courageous enough to go against Grendel. When Beowulf also said, “Of force in fight no feebler I count me, in grim war-deeds, that Grendel deems him.” (678-679) This quote also shows Beowulf’s courageousness because he believes that Grendel is no better than him. This also proves that Beowulf wasn’t afraid to fight Grendel. Many outstanding achievements were accomplished by Beowulf. He fought off formidable foes and became king of Geatland where he ruled for 50 years. Beowulf’s most outstanding achievement, in my opinion, is when he fights off the mighty dragon who threatened his land and his people. Despite his old age he still felt that it was necessary to fight the dragon. The poem states “Atheling brave, he was fated to finish this fleeting life, his days on earth and the dragon with him, though long it had watched o’er the hoard,” (2350-2353) From this quote it seems as if Beowulf knew he was going to die but was willing to die to protect his people and to continue to live up to his legacy. It is very outstanding to
Scholars have argued about the religious stance of the epic poem Beowulf for centuries. Although the man who put the poem down on paper, known as the Beowulf poet, was a devout Christian, the actual poem itself is pagan. There are many clues in the epic that lead us to this conclusion such as the numerous references to pagan symbols, namely the symbol of fate. Also, the central idea of revenge in the poem opposes the ideas of Christianity. The poem also contains many breaches of the Ten Commandments, which prove that the story is not Christian. However, the biggest clue to the paganism of Beowulf is the scene that contains the burial of Beowulf and the building and idolization of the tower, all of which go directly against the Christian religion.
As shown in the story, Beowulf is not afraid of death in anyway. He believes that if he dies, it was his destiny to die that way. Hrothgar, on the other hand, was worried for the brave warrior. “… until the man in his unthinkingness/ forgets that it will ever end for him. / He indulges in his desires” (1732). Truth be told, he had a good mind to warn Beowulf about this. Knowing of Beowulfs strength and willingness to jump into battle, Hrothgar warns him to “beware of that trap. Chose the better part/ eternal rewards” (1760).Along with having no fear of death, pride is just as
In another situation, after Grendel's mother attacks the hall and escapes with the body of Esher, we see Hrothgar trembling "in anger and grief". When Beowulf comes to find out what's wrong, Hrothgar practically begs him to kill the monster. His grief, at this point, verges on hysteria. This point in the epic allows the readers to bring the story back to something that they can relate to, a focal point. By being able to tap into the feelings expressed by Hrothgar, one can truly understand how helpless this once strong king must feel. The emotions of Hrothgar also allow the reader to compare him to Beowulf who shuns such emotional outbursts and who isn’t wise enough to realize his shortcomings due to age. Instead of admitting that he is too old to protect his country, Beowulf attempts to relive his youth by fighting the dragon.
“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.
For the thanes, warriors fight all their lives out of loyalty to their kings, and Beowulf, who was a well respected and highly acclaimed warrior, was getting to become that king that men would so shamelessly fight for all because of how bravely and hard he fought for king Hygelac. “So Edgetho's son proved himself,/ Did as a famous soldier must do/ If glory is what he seeks: not killing his comrades/ In drunken rages, his heart not savage,/ But guarding God's gracious gift, his strength,/ Using it only in war, and then using it/ Bravely”.
Everyone feared his abilities and wouldn’t dare attack him. Then a dragon was woken from its slumber and attacked part of Beowulf’s land. “Yet the prince if rings was too proud to line up with a large army against the sky-plague.” (159: 2345-2347). Beowulf could have taken all of his warriors to fight, but he was too smug. He had to be the one to fight it, or die trying. Beowulf had a need for glorious battle and impossible tasks. He brought few warriors with him to kill the murderous creature. When they reached the dragon, Beowulf made the decision to go in alone because he was too proud, and full of himself to ask for help. When the time came that he needed his warriors, they all ran except one. Beowulf was such a great warrior that no one else in his army had any skill at battle. They had no courage or experience because of Beowulf’s need to go in alone. Beowulf met his match against the dragon, and perished. The need for all the glory and fame drove Beowulf right to his death. It wasn’t the actual threat that killed Beowulf, but the careless decisions that were the real
Beowulf has many qualities that many may see as heroic, but they present themselves as characteristics of a coward. Beowulf’s thoughts are only on his glory. He believes no one could ever compare to his intensity. His reckless actions are made because Beowulf will not allow anyone to help him. His pride had him make senseless decisions which will eventually make him lifeless.
This vision of warfare goes hand in hand with the outcomes of war which results in the lost of loved ones. The death of Beowulf after the battle with the dragon is an example on how Anglo-Saxons should cope with the deceased. Most people would die on the battlefield or because of other factors of war. Families could better cope with the death with loved ones just as the people of Geat had to. The poem features the way the people regarded the death of their king ¨ mourning [Beowulf’s] loss as a man and a king”. (Heaney, 38) Citizens had great respect for the deceased and thus that is how Anglo-Saxons should treat the those who died at war. Through these metaphors the story of Beowulf was able to relate to Anglo-Saxons and their life
Beowulf proclaims to Hrothgar the heroic code that guides their lives, Anglo-Saxons in Beowulf’s generation did not let anyone walk all over them, if anyone were to try the enemy, would have a fierce revenge cut out for them: “It is always better to avenge dear ones than to indulge in mourning….When a warrior is gone, that will be his best and only bulwark” (Beowulf lns. 1384-1389). For an Anglo-Saxon man “his best and only bulwark” refers to if the man dies defending a loved one they would pass knowing that they died for a worthy cause. In the Anglo-Saxon culture, they do not let their enemies’ wrongdoings go unavenged, the heroic code dictates, which the Anglo-Saxons admire, defending their people’s honor rather than, living in cowardly shame. Beowulf lives by the heroic code, showing his courage and valor in all deeds that he performs throughout his whole