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Honor In Beowulf

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Throughout the Epic poem of Beowulf, Beowulf shows his honor and his strength in each of the three battles that takes place. In each battle, a different technique is used which shows that Beowulf is a strong man and he is someone who is not to be messed with. Beowulf proves his loyalty to Hrothgar by helping protect his people against Grendel and Grendel’s mother. This says more about Beowulf’s character than anything else that happens in the epic. In the first battle with Grendel, the two meet in Herot. Before the two come in contact, Beowulf decides to only fight with his hands and to use no weapons. After Grendel eats his first victim of the night and is picking up his second, Beowulf decides to fight back. During the fight, Grendel
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In the fight, Beowulf is the only person who doesn’t use weapons, and he is the sole person who is able to slay Grendle (Beowulf 34.) When Beowulf doesn’t use his weapon, it does not mean much to us, but it is a huge thing to the Anglo-Saxons. Beowulf not using his weapon is a sign of reputation. A warrior killing a monster with a sword is not a big deal, but a warrior slaying a monster with his hands? Beowulf being able to slay Grendle with his hands brought him huge fame and reputation, which is what his goal

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331 Words | 2 Pages

   Heroism is shown throughout the poem. Beowulf was heroic in the fight with Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. “Behind some broad linden shield: my hands alone shall fight for me, struggle for life against the monster…” (lines 172-174). In those lines, Beowulf is saying he will fight Grendel alone and without any weapons. “Then Beowulf rose, still brave, still strong…” (line 633).

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785 Words | 4 Pages

Honor and family are two values that are relevant in the history of cultures that motivate the actions of epic heroes in stories as well as the monsters.. The poems “Dream of the Rood” and Beowulf demonstrates these concepts while tying in the cultural importance of that time period, in this case the Anglo-Saxon culture during the Middle Ages. The meaning of honor is to fulfill one’s destiny to fight for the king and succeed in the rules set forth in the culture. Family is important because in Anglo-Saxon culture, warriors’ reputation is based on who their family was and their successes or failures. The definition that describes human and monsters would be humans have the capacity to feel empathy as well as respect the culture while monsters

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Throughout the poem, Beowulf fights three different monsters and in each of these situations he chooses to begin the fight without their help. He enters into combat with his men by his side, but when the actual fighting begins he defeats the monsters with very little help from them. Beowulf’s strength and physical prowess was unlike any other man in comparison to his height and incredible grip. Furthermore, Beowulf can be categorized as an outcast based on his personality traits. The main character is set apart from the other warriors because of his courage and humility.

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Beowulf defeats Grendel with his bare hands, ripping his arm off. Grendel then flees, and eventually falls, becoming surrounded by animals that once feared him. As he dies, Grendel promises, “Poor Grendel’s had an accident. . . . So may you

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1044 Words | 5 Pages

He carefully strategized his plan to defeat Grendel. He waited for Grendel to come to Heorot, then surprise attacked him. Grendel put up a fight, but Beowulf was stronger and more intelligent. Beowulf ripped the arm off of the beast, sending him away to die. Not only did Beowulf have to defeat Grendel, but Grendel’s mother came back for revenge, so Beowulf set out to the darkness where Grendel and his mother lived.

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702 Words | 3 Pages

In the book he attacked while everyone was drunk and passed out sleep. When Grendel attacked Beowulf was laying on the table naked. The soldiers tried to use weapons on Grendel; however, his skin was magically treated so no weapon could harm him. In the movie Beowulf stabbed him with a knife, but he soon realized he had special skin; however, Beowulf dropped the knife and fought Grendel with his hands. In the book Beowulf didn’t use any weapon on Grendel at all.

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Alexander Hamilton once said, “There is a certain Enthusiasm in liberty that makes Human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.” Beowulf is an epic poem in which the main character Beowulf did acts of service, but he fought for those who couldn’t fight. The overall theme of good versus evil in Beowulf had Beowulf dealing with challenges that no ordinary man would be able to handle unless they were a true epic hero. Throughout the poem Beowulf proves to be an epic hero by his strength, bravery, and sacrifice.

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Chivalry is a code of conduct associated with the medieval institution of knighthood which developed between 1170 and 1220. Between this time period many authors wrote about knights and warriors and how they represented the values of being loyal, courageous and their willingness to give one’s life for another or in other words being a chivalrous warrior. Some examples of these tales are Beowulf and Le Morte d’Arthur. Beowulf and Wiglaf from Beowulf and King Arthur from Le Morte d’Arthur each have two examples of them reflecting the values of being a chivalrous warrior.

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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.

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959 Words | 4 Pages

Beowulf says, "No Weapons, therefore,/ for either this night: unarmed he shall face me/ if face me he dares"(55. 683-685). This passage shows that Beowulf is fighting Grendel for the pride of killing the greatest monster, instead of fighting Grendel to save the Danes. If Beowulf's top priority is to save the people, he would have known that his best chance would be to wear armour and use weapons, but because he wants the pride and fame he goes into battle without armour or weapons. Beowulf was the best chance for the Danes to be safe again, and if Beowulf went in with no armour and no weapons, and died, then Grendel could continue killing men, women, and children every day until he finally dies.

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1135 Words | 5 Pages

Beowulf’s exact words were ‘’Alone shall fight for me, struggle for the life against the monster’’ (Beers 173-174). For proof of his accomplishment Beowulf decided to take,snap, and brake Grendel 's arm apart even his shoulder was missing. Although Grendel escaped going back to the hole he crawled from death soon followed him.(Beers 370-375).Beowulf became famous and was given glory for saving King Hrothgar’s kingdom, but some still questioned despite the arm if Grendel had really been killed. Following after Grendel’s death ,his mother came to avenge her son’s death.

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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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447 Words | 2 Pages

Not only have we seen brute strength, honorable courage, and admirable loyalty shine through beowulf, Beowulf also possess a great trait not many others have; his will to fight to the death, or self sacrifice. Not once throughout the story did Beowulf ever turn down a battle. Not once did he fear or flee his enemy. Not once did he ever give up even if death had him by the throat causing his mind to flood nothing but fearful thoughts and feelings throughout his body. Every battle Beowulf fought, he fought as if it was his last and that is what truly makes him the great warrior he is.

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656 Words | 3 Pages

Beowulf risked his life multiple times by battling Grendel and Grendel’s mother to save the people of Denmark. He also embarks on a battle with a dragon as an old man ascending on the Geats Throne. Each battle Beowulf fought has all been for the safety of his people. Although the Knight did not battle as a deed for his people, he also is viewed as a humble person his battles were for a purpose greater than himself. The knight never talks about his brave and valorous deeds.

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