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Roles of women in beowulf
Roles of women in beowulf
Beowulf the hero
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More handpicked essays just for you.
Roles of women in beowulf
Roles of women in beowulf
Beowulf the hero
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Beloved Beowulf…” Pg81, King Hrothgar to Beowulf These two quotes are essential to the story of Beowulf, as it describes Beowulf’s sincere character, his valor and loyalty to those he meets. The quotes above carry themselves throughout the story, as our protagonist proves again and again that his good nature, and incorruptible character is faithful to the end. Beowulf retained that personality, while still remaining a noble warrior in the battlefield, slaying hundreds upon hundreds of those who threaten his homeland. And when the dragon awoke from his slumber among riches, and terrorized people of Beowulf’s land with torrents of dragon fire, Beowulf took it upon himself to end the dragon where it stood, instead of having further
Fiddlesticks “’Fiddlesticks, that’s what I said,” he repeated. “Why not frighten them? Creature, I could tell you things…”’ (Gardner 61) Written in 1971, John Gardner takes a character from the epic poem of Beowulf and fully develops him from a new point of view: Grendel, the monster.
Beowulf, the epic tale of a Danish society plagued by evil beasts, reveals many thought-provoking and admirable character traits of the main character and hero, Beowulf. Firstly, he shows chivalry through his interactions and actions towards the king of Heorot, showing him the respect and honor he deserved. Secondly, he demonstrates bravery in all battles above and beyond the standard of the times and the standard of his fellow fighters. He owes his bravery in part to his seemingly immeasurable strength, having more power in each fist than that of thirty men. Lastly, he demonstrates a trait that applies to people for his time and ours, pride.
Beowulf is brave and grendel is spiteful. They both act out pride because Beowulf is an epic hero and most epic heros let the pride eat then. In other words it gets to their heads, which then hurts them in the end. Grendel has more of a vengeful pride. He killed Herot men for fun and because he was annoyed by their stories.
However, epic heroes also meet their downfall in the end. Beowulf is no different. When he grew older, his bravery stayed with him, even when his strength was diminishing. So when the dragon terrorized his people, he was the first to step up and take the challenge head on. This was a battle he was fated to lose.
In this story I (Grendel) am going to tell you how I an ogre died because of misjudgment. They judged me without knowing me and turned me into a monster someone I never thought I would be. It was a warm sunny day in the swamps I took off to wonder like any other day. I would play in the forest and sometimes I would also get hurt while playing. Other times I would get lost and get really scared but, mama would always come and find me.
Sadly, Beowulf died in the firefight against the dragon. The true warrior who stood by Beowulf’s side rebuked all the soldiers who left, “Then a stern rebuke was bound to come from the young warrior to the ones who had been cowards. Wiglaf, son of Weohstan, spoke disdainfully and in disappointment: ‘Anyone ready to admit the truth will surely realize that the lord of men who showered you with gifts and gave you the armour you standing in-when he would distribute helmets and mail-shirts to men on mead-benches, a prince treating his thanes in hall to the best he could find, far or near-was throwing
Beowulf had fell to his pride for a awhile through the story but the thing with Beowulf is that his pride made him what he is. Beowulf is known to be a great warrior since the begin of the story and also a good king later on down in the story. Beowulf self confidence make him a guy with a lot of pride and that same pride also lead him to is demise. A great dragon was sleeping beneath the earth guarding a treasure until a thief stole a gem and the dragon woke up starting to burn places to the ground looking for it.
I am old, now, but I will fight again, seek fame still, if the dragon hiding in his tower dares to face me” (2511-2515). In conclusion, Beowulf is an epic hero. Although he made risky decisions, he did them for his people. He possessed the qualities of a hero; bravery, loyalty and fearlessness.
As the story progress, Beowulf became king of the Geats for 50 years when suddenly a dragon emerged from slumber began to burn down villages. However, Beowulf didn’t pay the slightest attention, but instead ignored what was happening. Finally, when the dragon burns down Beowulf’s throne room Beowulf decided that he needs to deal with the dragon. In Beowulf 's eyes, the lives of his citizens couldn’t even compare to his throne room. When Beowulf prepared to fight the dragon he said, “Now I am old, but as king of the people I shall pursue this fight for the glory of winning” (lines 2512-2514).
John Gardner’s Grendel is the retelling of the epic poem Beowulf from the point of view of the antagonist, Grendel. The main difference between the two literary works is represented by the values behind their writing. The ancient epic poem is the perfect example of the tales of a hero, Beowulf, the storyline is flat and characters are static because they are constructed around the heroic code to fulfil a specific role. Grendel, in the homonym novel, is a dynamic character with a post-modern, existentialist vision of the world in the constant search for his sense of life. Despite some similarities with humans that make him in some way relatable to us, Grendel present some significant differences with human beings.
As king, Beowulf stepped up and fought the malevolent dragon in his last battle. In his last boast he uttered, “ I’ve never known fear, as a youth, I fought endless battles. I am old, now, but I will fight again, seek fame still, if the dragon hiding in his tower dares to face me.” (62). Beowulf was very confident for the circumstances.
We are all held in a single honour, the brave with the weaklings. A man dies still if he has done nothing, as one who has done much.” (9.318-320). Similarly, Beowulf, a bold and fearless warrior, gains fame after he defeats formidable monsters. With great pride, Beowulf continues to pursue glory during his life and finally faces his lifetime enemy, a dragon.
Near the end of his life as a king, Beowulf found that his citizens were being terrorized by a dragon. Although he was old and grizzled, the king took it on in battle. He showed tremendous courage even when knowing the odds were not in his favor. Previously, during his time in Denmark, Beowulf killed Grendel’s mother with the sword made for a giant. This showed his superhuman strength because as an ordinary human being Beowulf was able to handle and control the giant’s sword.
Beowulf had done the unthinkable—he had killed a demon that no warrior of Denmark could have done. This opened several new doors for Beowulf, including one that promised of honor, glory, and riches. Beowulf had achieved his goal of fame, a goal which had created a poem of a hero that birthed and shaped a story to be told even years later. Furthermore, Beowulf’s fame was set in stone by Hrothgar, the king who owed Beowulf his everything, including his thanks. After giving Beowulf the speech to further glorify his prominence, Hrothgar declares, “Glory is now yours/