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Examples Of Loyalty In Beowulf

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Beowulf is a poem that exploits the theme loyalty within its characters. Beowulf himself is a complex character who possesses the trait loyalty to his followers and also his own country. Beowulf, who is the main hero of the poem, shows great loyalty through his actions. An example of loyalty was when the Geats showed Beowulf loyalty by following Beowulf’s last request before he had died. “Then the Geats built the tower, as Beowulf had asked, strong and tall... For ten long days they made this monument.” A contemporary example of this could be when a loved one passes away you show loyalty to them by following their last request. “And so Beowulf’s followers rode, mourning their beloved leader, crying that no better king had ever lived, no prince …show more content…

Another example that is found in Beowulf is being loyal or disloyal to a friend. In the poem Beowulf Wiglaf is talking to the other men that served Beowulf. Wiglaf begins to remind the other men of the times when Beowulf showed the men loyalty and kindness. When you continue reading Wigalf is actually disappointed in the other men for not fighting alongside with Beowulf. An everyday life example of this can be when someone hurts someone emotionally and you can be so loyal to that person and that person doesn’t show an act of loyalty back. “Then Wiglaf went back, anxious to return while Beowulf was alive, to bring him treasure they’d won together.” This quote Wiglaf is showing Beowulf loyalty. Wiglaf could of left Beowulf to die and taken his treasures for himself, although instead he showed loyalty to Beowulf and brought the treasures to him. A example of this could be say you’re working on a project on the same subject and your teacher gives the highest grade to the other student and you got a lower grade and everyone loves the other students project but you did the same exact thing but someone in the class gives you just as much praise as the other student

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One example is when Johnny saves children from a burning church. Johnny had been hiding in this church and left. He came back to find it had caught on fire, and children who were nearby at a picnic went inside and had become trapped. Feeling as if the fire were Johnny’s fault, he risked his own life for them. Johnny writes in a letter to Ponyboy, “I don’t mind dying now.

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An example of this is when Agnes says, “I have loved you all my life” (Dickens 370) Agnes taught David a very important lesson despite the fact that she does not directly teach him the lesson. David learns that some of the best things are right in front of you and you just have to acknowledge it. Agnes was always there for David from the beginning, and even though she loved him she would still listen to his problems about other women. In the end, David marries Agnes because he realizes that she is the one that is always there for him and that she is the one that he was meant to be with, but he never realized it all this time.

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794 Words | 4 Pages

A perfect example is when Odysseus had to hear the siren song out of pure curiosity, he put the whole crew and voyage in danger. As well when Odysseus confronts Polyphemus, this is not because it had to be part of their journey, Odysseus just had to know for his own good. He is standing in his own way of getting home, which is his ultimate desire, so his obstacle would have to change from pride to whatever was keeping him from the homecoming. Idefinatiny, pride was consuming him, yet Odysseus was able to be shown a path by realizing that he can't control and make every decision for his future. "Many cities of men he saw and learned their minds, many pains he suffered, heartsick on the open sea, the recklessness of their own ways destroyed them all".

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613 Words | 3 Pages

An example is when almost all of Odysseus’ crewmen are turned into pigs by Circe - “Eurylochus tells Odysseus what has happened and begs him to sail away from Circe’s island. Against this advice, however, Odysseus rushes to save his men from the enchantress” (Homer 387, lines 46-48). Odysseus, despite Eurylochus warning him to turn back home, rushes back to save his men from the wretched hands of Circe.

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One such example is in the prologue when Antigone says, “I am not afraid of the danger; if it means death, It will not be the worst of deaths-death without honor,” (Sophocles, 80-81). This shows in the very beginning of the play that

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978 Words | 4 Pages

The most prominent example of this could be seen in Julius Caesar written by William Shakespeare. Cesar was a very ambitious leader, he set very high goals and standards for himself; he wanted to be a ruler. Throughout this process, though, he became very haughty and boastful of himself. He was no longer a good leader and only cared about himself and not his people. This act ultimately led to his downfall and death (1098-1082).

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Flaws by Contrast Comparisons and contrasts play a huge role in literary works, especially between characters. Not only do they show similarities and differences between various characters, but they also bring out specific qualities that make a character unique and help guide the readers towards a common conclusion. In the popular Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf, the protagonist and hero, Beowulf, is emphasized for his extraordinary greatness. Throughout his story, he, as an advocate of good, encounters many opposing forces in the form of other characters. In a society where heroism and bravery are honored as essential aspects of culture, the contrasting values of these characters, or foils, help define Beowulf as the model hero.

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In Beowulf, the most prominent theme is the duty. A duty to be fulfilled by the person that is assigned to. It gives characters in the poem unique identity because of their devotion to duty. This means the warrior must fulfill his obligations to protect the people of the land and risk his life for their king. It also applies to women, in Beowulf, a woman's duty is to entertain the men as well as to serve a symbol of peace.

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Loyalty, fame, and glory; that is what Anglo-Saxons strived for and to this day, it’s what many of us endeavor. A thane who successfully achieved all three of these beliefs is known as the almighty Beowulf. This Anglo-Saxon gained loyalty, greatness, and honor in countless ways. He bravely fought vicious dragons, monsters, and obtained superhuman strength, but he is portrayed much differently in the movie than in the poem. Although the Beowulf movie and poem share many similarities, the different portrayals of Beowulf, the individual gender roles, and the themes presented in both versions unveil the values of the societies that created them.

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1103 Words | 5 Pages

Beowulf was also unfortunate to have to meet some of the greatest outcasts during his time. The motives that make Beowulf the hero he developed into in the poem would be his burning passion to live up to his peers highest expectations, and to look past the difficulty of any task to take on the challenges thrown his way. Beowulf’s first challenge is the battle against Grendel. Then, he defends his honor by taking on a fight with Grendel’s mother.

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693 Words | 3 Pages

One such example is the search for peace exhibited by the tiger’s wife. After being forced to marry her sister’s fiancé because of her sister’s sudden suicide, (alliteration ☺) the tiger’s wife found herself married to a man who abused her constantly. Not only this, but the tiger himself is also looking for peace. After escaping a zoo that had caught on fire, the tiger searches for some sort of solace in the rural mountain area that Natalia’s grandfather and the tiger’s wife live in. The tiger and the tiger’s wife find themselves relating to each other more than one would think: “The tiger saw the girl as she had seen him: without judgment, fear, foolishness, and somehow the two of them understood each other without exchanging a single sound” (Obreht 220).

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427 Words | 2 Pages

An example would be when Ishtar sent Bull of Heaven down to kill Gilgamesh. To protect his friend Enkidu used his knowledge of animals to kill bull but unfortunately, it took his life. It is clearly showed the true friendship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu. A true friend can give up his own life to save his friend’s life. Overall, the story portrays the short-lived friendship of Gilgamesh and

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812 Words | 4 Pages

Throughout the text of Beowulf, the Anglo-Saxons translated their beliefs when they passed this epic tale generation to generation. Loyalty existed as one of the strongest beliefs of the Anglo-Saxons. They believed that loyalty to the authority would lead normal people to greatness and rewards. Another belief expressed in Beowulf was the establishment of the epic hero. These heroes could do more than regular men could, as they defined themselves as strong, loyal, and well known people.

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506 Words | 3 Pages

An example of this can be seen through Macbeth, a character who was willing to do anything to gain his rightful place in the throne. Thus, knowing that Macbeth was of a higher class, but the urge to gain the respect that he merited was the one thing that bridged the gap between him and the audience. Alas, he died never being able to seize the

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567 Words | 3 Pages

Another example is, “Cinderella”. After Cinderella’s mother died her father remarried a cruel and harsh women with two mean daughters. Cinderella obeyed every command she was told to do. After one night of going to the ball the prince feel in love with her, the stepdaughters wanted to marry the prince even though there foot didn’t fit. Cinderella taught them a lesson by trying on the shoe and marrying the prince, leaving her stepmother and sister to work hard the rest of they’re lives.

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