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Analysis of beowulf
Beowulf character analysis essay
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The archetype of hero is a literary character that is all-round good. He or she will save other people, do the right thing, protect that is good and they will fight any monster that comes to his or her way. They are one of the basic paradigms in tales and mythology from across the world, but especially in European culture. For example, the hero archetype starts from Achilles until Beowulf via superheros such as Superman and other 1980s action
In the early medieval ages, the spread of Christianity greatly influenced the Germanic ideals. One can see this drastic transition in character while reading and comparing the books of Beowulf and King Arthur. Although the story archetypes remain the same for the most part, the archetypes reflect the different ideals of the different time periods. Archetypes such as the hunting group of companions and quest still hold significance, but reflect different ideals. The ideals of the Germanic peoples of Northern Europe drastically change as Christianity moves across the region, and the traditional story Archetypes reflect this change in cultural ideals.
An archetype refers to a recurring symbol in art, and literature. It can display a hero, villain, warrior, a mentor, and so on. These figures are those whose actions are able to continuously affect our emotional connection to a piece of literature. In Beowulf, there can be found to be many types of archetypes, such as Grendel representing the devil per say, and Hrothgar being a mentor for Beowulf. The one I believe that everyone enjoys the most is the hero, who is Beowulf.
In this poem the epic qualities that are evident is the plot is center around a hero, involves a deed which needs either super strength or valor, is set in multiple locations, involves some type of supernatural or powerful forces, is able to sustain the style, and the narrator is able to see from all perspectives. The poem is center around Beowulf, from it telling the reader of his family tree to where he came from. The deeds that Beowulf gets accomplish of defeating Grendel does require Beowulf to be stronger that the average person and to have more courage or valor. The conquest that Beowulf is most remember for is defeating Grendel and that is set in Heorot halls, however that location is not the only place of the epic. Beowulf had to
Beowulf as a Quest Beowulf is a quest epic poem, that was written somewhere between the late 10th century and the early 11th century. It contains a story about an Anglo-Saxon warrior. The warrior, Beowulf, goes on a quest to save the Danes and the Geats. In order for a story to be a quest, it has to archetypes. Beowulf is a quest, because it has archetypal characters, symbols and situations.
An archetype is a character or motif that appears in many types of literature, one of these is an epic hero. The epic hero is a character that appears in many old english poems, the most famous being Beowulf. Beowulf is set between 449-1066, but the exact date in unknown. During this time period many Anglo-Saxons took a part in mead hall, these mead halls and the people who were in them became their families. They were extremely loyal to them, and socially were switching from Paganism to Christianity.
In the story Beowulf, Beowulf portrays himself as someone who illustrates the characteristics of an epic hero. No one wishes to take on the heroic deeds that Beowulf accomplished, which made him someone to look up to. Beowulf’s accomplishments in defeating monsters made him known far and wide, making him the man for the job. A hero like Beowulf would need an exceptional amount of strength and shows this when he rips off Grendel’s entire arm. “He twisted in pain,/And the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder/Snapped, muscle and bone split/And broke” (Beowulf. 337-339).
This code of honor in Beowulf can be seen in the battle between Beowulf and Grendel. The “powerful monster” was quick to attack unsuspecting men in Herot and wouldn’t stop as “No savage assault quench his lust for evil.” Beowulf, despite having heard of Grendel’s power, still decides to fight Grendel equally, without any weapons. “I have heard, Too, that the monster’s scorn of men/ Is so great that he needs no weapons and fears none. Nor will I.”
The battles that Beowulf took part in, in Beowulf, reflect how the hero of an epic performs courageous, sometimes even superhuman deeds that reflect the values of society. When Beowulf Beowulf was battling with Grendel, a powerful monster, Beowulf ripped apart Grendel’s body with his bare hands. For doing this deed, the people of the kingdom saw Beowulf as a paragon, he fought for honor, and to show his bravery. Beowulf then had to battle Grendel’s mother, who was attempting to avenge her son’s death. Beowulf used a weapon to slay her that no ordinary man could lift.
Masculine Ideals in Anglo-Saxon Society The concept of a hero is prevalent through all generations because it presents a template for ethics and behavior. Beowulf is a pivotal epic told by poets throughout early european society and mirrors the manly nature of their ideal hero. The patriarchal values of the Anglo-Saxons are displayed through the epic Beowulf. The characters’ loyalty to their leaders as well as their conventional sense of masculinity indicate that the values of a society determine the values of an individual.
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.
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.
These epic heroes are built through their conflicts and tones to become the archetype everyone loves. In Beowulf, “Horses, high-spirited stallions, and rode them Slowly toward Herot again, retelling Beowulf’s bravery as they jogged along.” (Beers, lines 145-147). Beowulf’s archetype of an epic hero is seen as he is one that is retold and remembered past his death. The people speak of his story and bravery, a method of passing down the epicness of Beowulf and helping to develop the archetype for such.
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.
Beowulf’s traits help make Beowulf the epic hero of this myth. Beowulf’s bravery helps him defeat the mystical creatures. When Beowulf fights Grendel’s mother, it seems like all hope is lost before he kills her with the magical sword. Even though the odds were not in his favor, he never gave up.