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Similarities Between Beowulf And The Seafarer

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Madisen Charles 9-21-16 British Literature Beowulf and The Seafarer Beowulf and The Seafarer are both stories that can be characterized by God and how big of a role he plays in both of these stories. However, in order to characterize the stories, take a look at what God does and how he affects the main characters journeys. God provides many things that keep the main characters safe. The role of God in Beowulf and The Seafarer can be compared because in both poems he provides protection, success, and hope. God provides protection to both Beowulf and The Seafarer in many ways. The first example is that Beowulf never lost in a fight, despite the disadvantages, such as where the fights took place and size. Beowulf was able to defeat Grendel, …show more content…

Success is something that Beowulf comes to know very well, as he has three great battle successes. Beowulf's first success is when he defeats Grendel. He went to fight Grendel, because the monster was destroying a village called Hereot. Grendel was destroying the castle, that King Hrothgar lived in, and he was killing anyone that got in his way. Later, after Beowulf defeated Grendel, he was faced with the task of defeating Grendel's mother. Grendel's mother went to Hrothgar and began antagonizing the people that lived there because they killed her son and she was very angry. Beowulf went after her to the lake and killed her, even with the disadvantage of being underwater. After Beowulf kills Grendel's mother, he says "if God had not helped me" (Seamus Heaney, Line 1657), which means that he could have possibly not been successful if God had not been there to support him during the battle." Fifty years later, Beowulf reaches success again as a king by defeating a greedy dragon that lived underground and started burning houses because someone went into his lair and took some of his possessions (Seamus Heaney, Line 2220-2334). The Seafarer reaches success by completing his voyages across the ocean and getting a better life. He also reaches success in surviving his voyages, which he possibly would not have done without the presence of God. "Grace of him who honored us" (Seafarer, Line

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1092 Words | 5 Pages

Grendel had being killing and terrorizing Hrothgar’s people. The news of Grendel had travel to the land of the Geats and Beowulf had come to provide assistance to Hrothgar. One day after Beowulf and Grendel’s fight, where Beowulf tears off the demons’ arm, the monster’s mother came to vengeance her son’s death. She was also defeated and killed by Beowulf, for which he received many gifts and praise by Hrothgar and his wife Wealhtheow.

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870 Words | 4 Pages

Soon after, Grendel’s mother wanted vengeance for her son and begun to kill more men in Herot. Beowulf found the mother’s home and killed her and Grendel at once. Towards the end of the epic poem, he also defeated a dragon with the help of Wiglaf. Other soldiers went to the cave with Beowulf but when he needed their help, they all cowered away while Wiglaf went to help his king. The scene showed how not everyone can face the same bravery as Beowulf once did.

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1082 Words | 5 Pages

Beowulf won all three of his battles but he did lose his life in the last one. Beowulf had no weaknesses during the fight with Grendel. Then, the fight with Grendel’s mother, Beowulf showed a little bit of weakness where he almost died. Finally, the fight with the dragon, Beowulf did get bite in this fight, but right after he stabbed the dragon. The bite from the dragon was the only weakness Beowulf showed, but he lost his life after it.

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556 Words | 3 Pages

His loyalty could be supernatural, relating to his unknown supernatural powers. Therefore, Beowulf tries to prove himself a hero through his three conflictual battles; the Battle with Grendel, the Battle with Grendel's mother, and the final battle with the Dragon. Beowulf proved himself a hero in the Battle with Grendel by showing immense strength. He was so confident in himself that he said, “Why would I let my sword go where my feet are afraid to,”(170); therefore, he was courageous enough to fight the powerful monster with his bare hands.

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550 Words | 3 Pages

Beowulf is a very strong man. In order to fight and defeat Grendel he must show how strong he is. Beowulf states, “The truth is this: when the going was heavy in those high waves, I was the strongest swimmer of all." (532-534) This quote shows how Beowulf believes that he should always show his strength even when he does not have a heroic act to be accomplished; therefore, even if there is not a demon or dragon to fight, he wants to show his strength in different ways.

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“Jumping to the ground, the Geats Pushed their boat to the sand and tied it In place, mail shirts and armor rattling As they swiftly moored their ship. And then They gave thanks to God for their easy crossing” (Raffel Pg. 7 224) If God were not present Beowulf’s men would often stray off during their voyages, and the result could potentially be dramatically changed for Beowulf. God is all knowing and has the ultimate plan for all beings who have faith in

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1044 Words | 5 Pages

Beowulf took on both Grendel and his mother with the intentions of saving the Danes, whether he survived or

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702 Words | 3 Pages

Beowulf went through so much to prove he was worthy enough to protect their kingdom and defeat Grendel. The story Beowulf was a great story to read and a great movie to watch; however, the battles were very eye catching and had a lot of extravagant and heroic doings of Beowulf. The first scenario that I’m going to discuss in the movie and story of Beowulf is The Battle with Grendel. In the movie Grendel attacked Beowulf in the Heriot while everyone was dancing and singing.

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The significance of being a hero in real life or in literature is the development of certain elements of their characters that bring out the qualities that allows those around them to follow faithfully; without doubt or question. Beowulf and Odysseus both have their own individual paths that they have taken in their quests; during these quests they are able to establish to those around them through their acts the establishment of their hero status. Odysseus, also known by the Latin name Ulysses, was a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer's epic poem the Odyssey (Encyclopedia Britannica). Beowulf is an epic poem from Old English relating to the hero exploits of Beowulf and his battles.

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Beowulf is part of another tribe and is willingly offering to help the Danes. This shows that providing protection and safety to the people, even those of another

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698 Words | 3 Pages

In spite of this Beowulf goes through an awesome journey of all these creatures and a great fight to eliminate the problem of Grendel and his mother. This caused Beowulf to make the Geats and the Danes allies which is great as a leader. He also brought riches to his people through the help of the generous Hrothgar. “And risked the voyage received a bounty, some treasured possession. And compensation in gold, was settled for the Geat Grendel had cruelly killed earlier.

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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.

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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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This make the hero face a challenge and the beginning of change. When Beowulf had heard about Grendel he got a ship and sailed

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The story of Beowulf is a well known story and is used in many schools as a teaching model and in many schools around the world. The movie The Lord of The Rings is a very popular movie that many people have watched and know about it. The creator of The Lord of The Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien, was a huge fan of Beowulf and used many of the ideas from the story into The Lord of The Rings. There are many similarities and differences between the two stories. The similarities and differences between the characters and the settings in both of the stories.

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