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Archetypes in literature shadow
What can you predict about the Anglo-Saxon idea of a hero
Archetypes in literature shadow
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The archetype of hero is a literary character that is all-round good. He or she will save other people, do the right thing, protect that is good and they will fight any monster that comes to his or her way. They are one of the basic paradigms in tales and mythology from across the world, but especially in European culture. For example, the hero archetype starts from Achilles until Beowulf via superheros such as Superman and other 1980s action
In Beowulf there are three archetypal types of monsters. Grendel, Grendel’s Mother, and The Dragon. Each one of the monsters symbolized a factor of Beowulf’s life. Grendel represents the sin in a man’s life. Grendel’s mother represents evil of the people in the anglo-saxon age.
The use of archetypes in literature has a rich history, and the epic poem "Beowulf" is a testament to this tradition. One of the most notable archetypes found in the poem is the Quest archetype, which is a journey taken by the hero in search of something valuable. In "Beowulf," the Quest archetype is used to develop the theme of heroism and the struggle between good and evil. Showed throughout the quest with the decendent’s of cain.
Mythological or Archetypal philosophy has been around for centuries and is used across numerous cultures. Carl Jung, a close colleague of Sigmund Freud, defined the word archetype as “a figure...that repeats itself in the course of history wherever creative fantasy is fully manifested.” Archetypes can come in various forms: characters, images, and situations. Though many different forms of archetypes appear in the tale of Beowulf, specifically, the archetypal character roles of the hero and the outcast are major aspects of the story. The role of the hero is a popularly recognizable element of many stories.
Three archetypes shown in Beowulf are the battle between good and evil, the hero, and the devil figure. One of the archetypes stressed in Beowulf is the hero. Beowulf portrays heroic traits such as loyalty, honor, bravery, faith and superhuman strength. These traits make him the Anglo-Saxon hero.
The story of Beowulf successfully follows every step of an Archetypal Hero Quest; the hero, Beowulf, answers a call, makes a decision, prepares, faces obstacles, reaches a climax, and returns home. Beowulf is met with three large battles within Beowulf, first with Grendel, then with Grendel’s mother, and his last fatal battle, with a dragon. Each battle carries aspects that add to the Hero Quest but do not fully create one until all are together. The call is the beginning of a Hero Quest.
Beowulf is a old novel that displays a variety of archetypes, most notably heroism, villainy, evil, demon, etc. The story clearly depicts and explains these characters so that we know right away what role they play in the story. For instance, Grendel is a fear feeding, hatred seeking ogre that lives in a swamp. He has no concept of love or happiness, and is a purely instinctual predator. That being said, he clearly symbolizes the id of the story, and is the villain or most obvious evil antagonist.
During the Anglo-Saxon period, heroic characteristics are defined as being courageous, brave, loyal and victorious in arduous battles. In Beowulf, by Seamus Heaney, Beowulf is given the title “hero” because he wins the battle between Grendel by killing him. However, the Danes see Grendel as a monster and a bloodlust because he is the total opposite of how the Danes discern the definition of a “hero.” Although Grendel is fated to be a “God-cursed brute” (Beowulf 11), there is another side of Grendel where the Danes do not see. Grendel can be seen as a gruesome, yet a pitiful creature.
Beowulf is the main character in the epic poem Beowulf, He is a strong warrior who fought battles for the king of the city Hrothgar. Beowulf is the strongest and bravest warriors to ever live under Hrothgar. There are three major battles that occurred in the epic poem, Beowulf against Grendel, Beowulf against Grendel’s mother and the final battle was Beowulf against the dragon. So just in seeing who fought in the battles shows how many differences and similarities they posses as a whole. As the poem continues, Beowulf’s character changes greatly.
The author of “Beowulf” uses the motifs of honor and strength to support the overall theme of the story. Antagonists can present honor and strength just like protagonists, which is exactly what Grendel presented. In the the epic poem Beowulf, we see a lot of examples that supports strength. For example, when Beowulf goes to fight Grendel we hear Beowulf explaining how Grendel, “will carry our bloody flesh to the moors, crunch on our bones and smear torn scraps of our skin on his wall.” (line 181-184)
The story of Beowulf has to do with a Hero who is the leader of the Geats. Beowulf had three major battles: Grendel, Grendel’s Mother, and the Dragon. As it is in most stories the hero always wins. Beowulf did whatever he had to do to win. He did not win easily, but he made it happen.
The knight from the Canterbury Tales is considered the protagonist as he serves as an honorable servant to the king. Beowulf and The Knight both compare through their loyalty and humbleness. Beowulf is considered as a protagonist as he embodies strength and courage while defeating the evil of Grendel, Grendel's Mother and the dragon. He is reluctant to back down from battle, just so he can save the people from evil. He signifies the true heroic character
Christopher Reeve (AKA the 1978 superman) said that, “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles”. Both Beowulf and Modern day heroes are similar in that way in that they fight for the common good of people. That quote from Christopher Reeves on what a modern day hero is, also applies to the epic hero qualities that Beowulf has. Similarly Beowulf and a modern day hero defeat an evil so that good can prevail. Some examples are, Beowulf Slaying Grendel and Grendel's mother to save the land of the Danes, and soldiers fighting enemies that threaten the lives of a country, and police officers putting criminals behind bars.
Very little is known about the epic poem Beowulf besides that the story was told during the Anglo-Saxon period, specifically between the years 500-1100. The author is unknown, due to the fact that the story was originally told verbally and not documented until much later. Like many stories told throughout the ages, Beowulf consists of many archetypes. An archetype is a recurring symbol found in literature, such as the Hero archetype. In this epic poem, the hero, Beowulf, travels from his homeland to Denmark to save a kingdom from an awful beast that has been attacking men late at night for over twelve years.
What defines us as humans? Is it the fact that we have thumbs? Or our capability to think and make moral decisions? Could it be how we have intelligence, and the capacity to be diverse? We tend to follow the customs of this world, following fashions, and customs.
