Beowulf takes place in Denmark and Sweden where a Norse warrior named Beowulf who was portrayed as a hero.. Beowulf was one of the many archetypes the epic uses to create conflict and the themes within the story. The epic culture takes place in a time where Norse mythology was accepted and the thousands of people worshiped. Both character archetypes and the cultural beliefs in Beowulf allow the reader to understand the characters actions and plot thoroughly. Beowulf was portrayed as a hero archetype because of his egotistical mindset, especially when he was younger. He bragged about his accomplishments and never thought of other possible consequences other than being victorious which makes him believe he was unstoppable. He always prevailed even though his enemies became stronger. This is why he carelessly fought any monster he encountered, he only saw one …show more content…
King Hygelac left Beowulf the throne because Hygelac had no heirs of his own. Once Beowulf had to fight the dragon 50 years later and concluded in him dying from the dragon’s poisonous bite and if it wasn't for Wiglaf, Beowulf wouldn't have been victorious. Since Beowulf did and also had no heirs, Wiglaf was appointed king of Geatland once Beowulf handed him his torque and his treasures before he died. “And now the youth was to enter the line of battle with his lord, his first time to be tested as a fighter. His spirit did not break and the ancestral blade would keep its edge, as the dragon discovered as soon as they came together in the combat” (2625-2630). 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