Similarities Between Beowulf And The Seafarer

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,

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