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Beowulf Courage Quotes

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Beowulf, a new translated verse by Seamus Heaney, a story about a hero who defeats monsters for his people. A hero has courage when he can fight for others, speak his mind, and conquer any obstacles. This paper is about how Beowulf has courage and uses it to protect others against the dangerous monsters in there kingdom. Beowulf wasn’t one of those people who sent others to do what needs to be done, he did it himself. Beowulf spoke whatever came to mind, especially if it’s important. Beowulf could any obstacle that got in his way. In contrast to Beowulf’s courage he can be very pompous. In a sense he can seem ostentatious or show a display his dignity of higher importance. Presenting himself as someone who is full of himself as a hero Beowulf …show more content…

It also gives an example of when Beowulf speaks his mind like a hero. “…Unferth, if you were as keen or courageous as you claim to be Grendel would never have got away with such unchecked atrocity” (590-593).Beowulf has just been criticized by unferth; as a result Beowulf reaffirms himself against unferth claims. This quote supports my claim by giving a representation of Beowulf speaking his mind no matter what others may think. Beowulf could have easily just ignored the comment or even cower behind the words that were …show more content…

Beowulf explains what had happened while he was in the land of the Danes in an adventurous way. “ myself and Grendel coming to grips on the very spot … losses I avenged so no earthly offspring of grendals need ever boast about before dawn no matter how long the last of his evil family survives ” (2002-2009). I feel that in this quote Beowulf was giving out a warning that no one in grendals family will terrorize people or boast about being evil ever again. Beowulf is boasting about how he left a legacy in the land of the Danes by defeating the monsters Grendel and his

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Caution against pride seems to be a frequent theme of British Literature through all ages. The likelihood of characters to think they are not destined by the boundaries of average humans. Today I will focus on four different literary works who portray this caution against pride. The literary works can be found in the books, The Longman Anthology of British Literature the Middle Ages and The Longman Anthology of British Literature the Early Modern Period. I will discuss characters from different periods including , Old English with the story of “Beowulf”, Middle English with the story of “Sir Gawain”, and from the Early Modern Period, “Paradise Lost” and “Twelfth Night”.

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While Beowulf’s boasts might be thought of as him stating his qualifications as a hero back during the time that it was written, it is thought of as arrogant in today’s

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The quote shows how Beowulf was a strong, well-known and respected man. The people of Beowulf's kingdom did not try to stop him because they believed in him and Beowulf was confident in himself as well. When he arrived in Herot, the people applauded him and gave him a feast. Since Grendel alway attacks the mead hall, Beowulf decided he would stay there

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563 Words | 3 Pages

This portrays Beowulf as greedy because he wants to be perceived as the greatest warrior, but also it is an example of pride. He has been at the top for so long that he does not think that he can be killed, but when he is in his old age, he easily is. Moreover, he doesn't know what it is like to be at the bottom anymore. Making the downfall of himself more

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662 Words | 3 Pages

As he killed those men he is “delighted with his night’s slaughter”(40-41). Grendel, had killed Danish people to fulfill a blood lust and a deep hatred because in his situation he was alone. However, Beowulf had to lead his geats to fight with Grendel in cruel way, they were ready to take blood for blood. Grendel’s first action had lead the poem to the most important part of the story which is the

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1114 Words | 5 Pages

A quest is the story of a hero’s endeavor to establish his or her identity or fulfill his or her destiny. Although the author is unknown, Beowulf is a well-established poem about a hero’s quest to fulfill his destiny. Every literary work that includes a quest follows three main sections: departure, initiation, and return. Nonetheless, there is no standard schema for specific steps a story has to follow in order to be a quest; however, most quests follow a similar pattern of events.

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958 Words | 4 Pages

Before the battle with Mother Grendel Beowulf is alerted that a dear friend of King Higlac has been murdered by Mother Grendel which causes him to become upset and go after her. Evidence to support this is stated in line (p.18)“I promise you this: she’ll find no shelter, No hole in the ground, no towering tree, No deep bottom of a lake, where her sins can hide.” In this quote, Beowulf seems more spiteful when talking unlike when it came to Grendel he seemed calmer. He may be upset that Mother Grendel got past him and took one of the people he promised to protect and possibly smudged his reputation, Though revengeful Beowulf's confidence and bravery are still present when he hunts down Grendels mother. When he and the warriors reached the lake where Grendels mother lives Beowulf is the only one brave enough to swim other.

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1260 Words | 6 Pages

The character begins insinuating pagan ideals, such as seeking pride and glory for himself and not directly for God, which dictates Beowulf’s decisions throughout the poem. At the beginning of this work, Beowulf hears of Grendel, a monster, and seeks to defeat him. His pride is seeping through his teeth when he mentions, that when it comes to fighting he is “as dangerous any day as Grendel.” (ln. 678). It becomes known that Beowulf intends on defeating Grendel alone.

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We see where they induce our modern principles of thinking and acting by showing us how he deals with Grendel’s death and how his view of him change after that. They show us how he is confronted with the son of Grendel and spares his life without thinking. This shows us that Beowulf has a heart and takes his feelings into consideration about the situation that is presented before him, which is a modern action that would be considered in our culture now. Was this an act of guilt or remorse we don't know, but this does not happen in the book and it is a sign that in today's culture we feel for the things we do wrong no matter what is good or what is bad. it shows the difference that our two cultures have that one doesn't value the true meaning of good and evil while the other takes into consideration both sides and is more

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Beowulf is only thinking about himself. Performing these acts alone just to get the fame forms the quality of selfishness in Beowulf. Beowulf is putting all of his strength to be credited as a hero, but he displays acts of selfishness which marks him as an insignificant

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In the epic poem “Beowulf” the character Beowulf is the foundation for all of our modern heroes, but was he really a great hero? A hero is classified as a person who is admired for their bravery, achievements, or nobility. Although Beowulf displays all these qualities, there are several reasons he is not a hero, mainly him being egotistical and arrogant. This is why Beowulf is not a heroic person. Beowulf is often caught bragging about himself and his great accomplishments.

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621 Words | 3 Pages

Beowulf embodies many universal societal heroic values that are signified in the modern world like courage, bravery, and strength. In the poem, Beowulf displays courage. “Now, I mean to be a match for Grendel, settle the outcome in single combat” (Heaney 425-426). This quote shows courage because he’s telling them that he can fight Grendel and wants to weather he wins or loses.

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821 Words | 4 Pages

Beowulf possessed the poised demeanor necessary to defeat all evils by the arrogant swing of his sword. The commitment shown by lending his life to the welfare of his people was imperative in order to be called a flawless warrior. Beowulf embodied the determination that Anglo-Saxons saw as unmeasurably valuable. If nothing more than just fiction, Beowulf is the ideal hero of the people from who he originated. “They said that of all the kings upon the earth he was the man most gracious and fair-minded, kindest to his people and keenest to win fame.”

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805 Words | 4 Pages

Questions of Honor: Beowulf Beowulf’s honor and integrity can be questioned throughout the entirety of the epic poem, Beowulf. Whether or not his actions are inspired by his own pompous arrogance or confidence, one can argue that he is a hero nonetheless. Evidence and experience prove that Beowulf is more of a fearless hero than an excessively prideful man, and his hubris is more than justified due to the formidable duties he is able to execute. Throughout the poem, Beowulf expresses his intense strength and courage to the fearful people in the poem. His daring sense of self-assurance is backed by his victories against all three monsters, (even though he suffers a tragic death after facing the dragon, it is a defeat nonetheless).

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Beowulf’s Motivations (An Understanding of the motivations of Beowulf to Fight the Three Monsters) Every human being has a certain code with which they follow, most are outlined by the Anglo-Saxon, better known as Viking, code. This code itself was depicted through the epic poem known as, “Beowulf,” and more importantly, Beowulf’s motivations. His first motivation for fighting Grendel, is because he believes it is his duty to fight the monster. Secondly, Beowulf believes that fighting Grendel’s mother would help him in receive glory.

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