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Beowulf Literary Analysis

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Literary Analysis Beowulf is one of the oldest surviving texts that is written in Old English, which was written between 700-1000. The story is an epic narrative that requires a hero on a quest, it is usually good or evil. Beowulf, the main character, represents an Anglo-Saxon lifestyle through four elements: bravery, loyalty, generosity, and friendship. As Beowulf enters into the city of Herot, he has accepted his challenge to compete with the ferocious, human-eating monster, Grendel. As he approaches Hrothgar, he explains what he has been informed of Grendel and how he will prepare himself to battle with him. "I have heard,/ Too, that the monster's scorn of men/ is so great that he needs no weapons and fear none./Nor will I." (HRW 25). …show more content…

"All of Beowulf's/ Band had jumped from their beds, ancestral/ swords raised and ready, determined/ To protect their prince if they could." ( HRW 34). Loyalty is shown by Beowulf's soldiers, who are ready to protect him from Grendel's mother as much as they can. They were armed and prepared to slay the monster to protect their hero. Alongside the battle with Grendel's mother, Beowulf is faced with his last battle. As he is attempting to brawl with the dragon, Wiglaf shows his own loyalty to the great King. In the midst of Beowulf becoming slightly defeated, Wiglaf assists him while the other soldiers run away. In lines 766-7668, Wiglaf is frustrated that his fellow soldiers are not honoring the loyalty of Beowulf, "All of swore to repay him,/ When the time came, kindness for kindness/- with our lives, if he needed them." (HRW …show more content…

As Beowulf arrived to Herot to defeat Grendel, the city welcomes him with great honor and sing songs upon his arrival. Weahltheow, Hrothgar's wife, honors Beowulf with mead to thank him for agreeing to help her people during their horrific state. "She saluted the Geats prince, thanked God for answering her prayer,/ for allowing her hands the happy duty/ of offering mead to a hero who would help/ her afflicted people" (HRW 31). Beowulf's generosity continues to prosper as he has defeated Grendel and brought happiness unto the residents of Herot. "Beowulf,/ A prince of the Geats, had killed Grendel,/ Ended the grief, the sorrow, the suffering/ Forced on Hrothgar's helpless people" (HRW

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(33) Beowulf and his men went to fight grendel not to make himself a bigger hero but to honor his father and pay off his debt to Hrothgar. This is a demonstration of loyalty because beowulf chose to go into battle not because he wanted to but because he wanted to show his loyalty to his father by paying off his debt. Wiglaf later, shows his loyalty to beowulf his king by following him in to battle when other men stood back stating

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