More handpicked essays just for you.
Critically analyse the character Beowulf from the epic poem Beowulf
Literary analysis beowulf
Analysis of Beowulf
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
According to Katie Johnston, (2014) the working poor are “waitresses, department store clerks, and fast-food workers. They clean office bathrooms and airplane cabins, care for the elderly, and serve hors d’oeuvres at high-end fund-raisers. One in five workers in the state, the majority of them over 25, make $12 an hour or less. As employers squeeze costs, these low-wage earners frequently can only get part-time work without benefits, some with irregular schedules that make second jobs and child care arrangements difficult. They have no protections from having hours cut
As per Joseph Campbell's "Saint with a Thousand Faces", the intrepid warrior Beowulf was viewed as a legend. Beowulf , was a little story expounded on a man who was a contender/Warrior , who yielded his life for the general population in Scandinavia to shield them from the assault's of the awful beast Grendel and his mom . Beowulf is viewed as an incredible saint in the book composed by Joseph Campbell " The Hero With A Thousands Faces . " Beowulf demonstrates physical quality in the story by crushing Grendel. In line 219 of Grendel's mom, it tells how Beowulf murdered her. "
Joseph Campbell defines a hero as “someone who has given his life to something bigger than himself.” In the epic poem, Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney and the novel Harry Potter and the Source’s Stone, by J.K. Rowling, both follow The 17 Stages of Joseph Campbell’s Monomyth. Beowulf and Harry Potter prove they are heroes and fit into Campbell’s pattern because of their bravery, perseverance and courage throughout each story. In Beowulf, the main character Beowulf, demonstrates courage throughout the poem and Campbell’s Monomyth helps prove his heroic journey.
The Anglo-Saxon idea of what a hero is includes characteristics such as robustness, courage, and honorability. Over time, these characteristics--along with others--have developed into the archetypal hero as seen in myths and stories across the globe. In the epic poem Beowulf, written by an unknown author, the two characters Beowulf and Unferth display several of these qualities; however, they do not exhibit all of them or they demonstrate them in a less conventional way. The main character of the poem is Beowulf, an already established hero when the reader is introduced to him. He goes on a journey to aid a neighboring kingdom in a fight against a horrible monster.
Every past and modern culture over the course of history, has its hero’s. A hero is a person or figure that others look up to and use as forms of protection. Many cherish the hero’s, they make up who we are today. The Anglo-Saxon hero, Beowulf, and the postmodern hero/hero’s, the soldiers, both show the traits of bravery, selflessness, and loyalty. To have the trait of bravery you have to have lots of confidence in yourself and have courage.
In “Beowulf,” the hero-king is faced with challenges that are both physical and moral, both threatening his life. Like Sir Gawain, Beowulf has all the requisite characteristics of a hero and like Sir Gawain, he is invested in protecting his reputation. Beowulf does not know when to stop fighting; even in old age he is still waging the morally just fight against evil forces, suggesting to the reader that the struggle to maintain one’s identity is lifelong. The fight against evil never ends; however, what the author of “Beowulf” may be suggesting is that by passing the torch on to the next generation, the continuity of the fight is maintained and lessons are shared. As we mature, “Beowulf” suggests, we begin to relinquish our fight and teach
The Revolution of Heroism In modern times, people toss around the word hero, but the idea of heroism through the centuries has never perished. What is exactly as a hero? A hero is not someone that can fly or has super strength. A hero maybe someone who is fighting for their people, to someone that crushes fear, or to an average person that sacrifices themselfs for people in need. Overtime, the evolution of a hero has changed drastically.
The definition of a true hero is very subjective as people have their own opinions on what makes someone a hero. Some people might consider someone who does the right thing a hero, for some it may be people who fight for their country. The characteristics of a hero might vary, but in the epic “Beowulf,” Beowulf is sought out to be the hero because of three main traits; his noble cause, code of honor, and his strength and courage. Each of these traits makes up the hero he is portrayed to be. One of the first qualities described in the epic is the act of a noble cause.
History has a tendency to repeat itself through actions and moments. This is evident when comparing two epic heroes: Iron Man and Beowulf. Like Beowulf, Iron Man demonstrates many of the qualities of an Anglo Saxon epic hero such as courage, strength, and arrogance. Even when read the definition of a hero: a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, and noble qualities.
Beowulf: Epic Hero or Proud Fool? So what exactly is a hero? A hero to most is a person idealized for their courage and their outstanding achievements and qualities. Some may even consider Beowulf a hero due his never backing down and risking his own life for the safety of his people.
What is a hero? A hero is someone who has the ability to rise above challenges and is brave enough to sacrifice himself for others. In the novel 1984 by George Orwell, by definition, Winston Smith can be considered the novels hero. This is because of his strength and bravery to go against the party. While reader can admire Winston, they can over exceed his actions.
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.
Once upon a time, there was a marvelous warrior that was a hero to so many and king to some. In the story of Beowulf, the hero, Beowulf, must follow and go through the hero’s journey. The hero’s journey has twelve stages, or three acts. The stages go in the order: 1) The Call to Adventure, 2) Assistance, 3) Departure, 4) Trials, 5) Approach to the Inmost Cave, 6) Crisis, 7) Treasure, 8) Result, 9) Return, 10) New Life, 11) Resolution, and 12) Status Quo (Winkler). Since Beowulf is facing three different monsters, there is not only the story’s significant journey, but also multiple inside it.
A powerful work of literature can offer diametrically opposed perspectives, which in turn provokes a plethora of reviews, literary criticism, and even doctoral dissertations aimed to explain a certain literary dilemma. Much like the contention over the real monster in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, the quest for discerning the underlying meaning of true heroism in Beowulf evokes the essential question: does Beowulf embody the elements of an ideal hero: selflessness, peace, and wisdom? The ambiguity of the epic partitions readers into two groups: those who believe Beowulf was heroic through his many sacrifices and those who contend that Beowulf did not have the qualities or demeanor to be considered a real hero. His conceited nature, interactions with Hrothgar, tendency to be violent, and his final sacrifice which jeopardized his fellow Geats, thoroughly explored by literary critics, suggest that the latter is true and Beowulf lacks the basic traits necessary to be considered a hero by Anglo-Saxon and modern standards.
Joseph Campbell once said, “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself”. Beowulf is a hero who helped Hrothgar and Hrothgar’s towns people by defeating Grendel and Grendel’s mother. Harry Potter is a hero when he protects his friends and Hogwarts. Beowulf and Harry Potter have similarities and differences so their values teach the reader about society. Having values is important in our society for many reasons.
