The Perception of Heroic Qualities Stories of great heroes have come and gone, but patterns have remained. These patterns are called archetypes, that can manifest themselves in different ways. The main reason that archetypes keep occurring in a hero’s journey is through the darwinism and evolution of literature. In the beginning, not all stories were written down. For a story to be put in writing it had to be great.
Beowulf, the story that has traveled through the ages. Originally as an epic adventure told by storytellers instead of being read through the pages of a book, but was finally put onto paper around 1000 ad, but the exact details are unknown. Many years after it was put onto paper, Beowulf was translated into modern English in 1837 by John Mitchell Kemble. This epic tale is an extraordinary adventure symbolizing heroism, strength, and loyalty, with character traits that are pertinent to this day.
During the time period Beowulf was written the idea of myths and archetypes were found in almost every piece of literature. There are many types of archetypes that can be found within Beowulf, but the two major archetypes presented are the hero and the outcast. Heroes were often seen as a figure larger than life, one who is in search of self-identity, and often seen to have god on their side. An outcast is a character that is separated from society because of a physical impairment, their actions, or the actions of their ancestors. However, Beowulf is unique because there are characters within the poem that blend from one archetype to another causing the character to constantly change their actions within the poem.
According to Dictionary.com, a hero is “a person noted for courageous acts or nobility of character” (Dictionary.com). Beowulf does many courageous acts in the book, such as killing Grendel and slaying the dragon. He also has “nobility of character,” as his reasons for doing these acts are purely selfless. He even knew that he was going to die before fighting the dragon, but he fought it anyway to protect his kingdom (Beowulf 165). The Britannica Dictionary defines a hero as “a person who is greatly admired” (Britannica.com).
A hero is a distinguished person of outstanding qualities and abilities, who is admired for not only having these specific characteristics but also admired by his people for his noble acts and bravery. More specifically to this story would be to look at the aspects of an Anglo-Saxon hero. An Anglo-Saxon hero is a person who is a great leader, is open to and able to protect his people and give them a sense of safety, and is also willing to put himself in harms to protect these people. These heroes were usually someone of high standing or someone with great accomplishments because they distinguished themselves by doing things for the greater good. In the epic poem Beowulf, the unknown author portrays Beowulf as a hero in order to show how being a hero requires a specific set of
Wiglaf proved to the kingdom and Beowulf he was worthy of being the new king of Geatland. All the character archetypes in Beowulf allow the reader to have a deeper understanding on all the characters and what their role is in their society. It also creates a much understandable plot since the reader knows why a certain character makes those
A hero does not fight for fame and glory but for the greater good. A hero is someone who goes through adversity to help others in desperate times. A hero fights evil, and defends people. Beowulf should be considered a hero because he is a strong, brave warrior who defended his people and slayed evil monsters. Beowulf proves himself to be a strong, brave warrior by killing Grendel the monster.
The physical and emotional characteristics, self-identity, and tragic downfall are each aspects which label Beowulf as a mighty archetypal
Beowulf is a hero in the same vein as Hercules in that he represents the values of Christianity and Fate, Courage, and Reputation. Beowulf is a person
According to Google a hero is defined as “a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities”. Beowulf was portrayed as a true hero throughout the poem by fighting in many battles and protecting other people. After Beowulf's death
A hero is someone who is admired or idealised for their courage, outstanding achievements or noble qualities, so therefore Beowulf is a hero. In literature, Beowulf is the perfect example of a Anglos-Saxon hero, he fits perfectly with the characteristics , he is strong, intelligent, courageous and plus he's humble and kind,“Beowulf, Higlac’s follower and the strongest of the Geats-greater and stronger than anymore in this world…”(109-111). In this quote it symbolizes his admirable trait and his strength. He was created for the Anglos people because they needed someone to look up to and he represented their cultural values, “None of the wise ones regretted his going, much as he was loved by the Geats: the omens were good, and they urged the
When one hears the word hero many think of a man in tights with a cape who possess powers that he uses for the greater good, but not all heroes wear capes. In the epic poem Beowulf, author unknown, the main character, a man who the work is named after, shows heroic characteristics as he battles monsters that threaten the safety of the people. Beowulf exemplifies himself as a hero throughout the story by displaying heroic characteristics such as: bravery, honor, and loyalty. One example of how Beowulf is a hero is that he is brave.
An epic hero can be described as someone whose actions determine the fate of a tribe, nation, or race. Characteristics of an epic hero are courageous, devoted, loves glory, and loyalty. Beowulf fits each characteristic throughout the epic. He is distinctly known for being a warrior, a friend, and a loving leader. Beowulf is an epic hero because he has pride, loves glory, and a devoted loyalty to his followers and his country.
A hero can be defined as brave, strong, loyal, and a leader. Heroes tend to put their lives on the line; Beowulf is no exception. In the poem Beowulf, the main character whom goes by the name Beowulf is a prince who embodies heroic qualities. Beowulf is introduced in the middle of the poem, known as a warrior and a polished speaker. The demi-god Beowulf embarks on a journey where his courage will be tested.
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.
