The idea of a hero is explored differently in the ancient Anglo-Saxon text Beowulf and John Gardner’s Grendel. During the time period of both of the stories being a hero is very important to everyone. Beowulf is not a true hero, even if he tries to make himself out to seem like a true hero, based on modern ideas of the Hero. In the poem Beowulf being a hero is very important to the main character Beowulf.
When looking at the bigger picture, Wiglaf and Beowulf were heroic in their actions. “Two wrongs may not make a right, but three lefts do.” This captures the idea that people should not commit a wrong doing to another wrongdoer, but that when lives are at stake, what needs to be done must be
Medieval literature shows the change of heroes throughout centuries. For the English medieval times, two story’s heroes stand out: Le Morte d'Arthur’s Lancelot and Beowulf’s Beowulf. Lancelot, the patient, humble, and chivalrous knight, is contrasted by Beowulf, a boastful, proud, and rowdy viking. It clearly shows how stories have changed in their depiction of protagonists. Both Beowulf and Lancelot are great warriors and leaders but that is where their similarities end.
Modern society is far from the time of Beowulf, but consists of many similarities. Many values and acts of Beowulf are still present in us today. Wiglaf represents loyalty, courage, and honor. I compared the United States Army to Wiglaf, because they show and hold the same values.
Brian Baglioni Professor Tague BRL: Epic to Novel-01 10-23-15 The Notion of a Hero: Comparison and Contrast of Beowulf, Gawain and Portia A “hero” can mean many things; it is subject to interpretation especially when taken into account that what defines a person as a hero is dependent on his or her relationship to the society in which he or she lives. In general, heroes strive for some form of perfection, to be something greater than they already are. They wish to help the people around them in whatever ways they can, often sacrificing their time and effort to do so.
The hero in the epic poem Beowulf is the main character, Beowulf. He demonstrates heroic qualities as soon as the readers are introduced to his character. Beowulf proves himself to be courageous and brave by voluntarily fighting the “undefeatable” monster, Grendel. He is greatly admired by both the Danes and Geats for his courageous acts. Although his motivation is altered to only benefit himself with the title of the greatest warrior, his plan to save the Danes is greatly appreciated by all in the land.
When going into war you want the best men, you want the meanest and toughest guys, you want the men that won’t give up no matter how bad or one sided things may get. For Beowulf, Wiglaf was that man, he fought with great heart and tons of passion. He had Beowulf’s back and Beowulf had his, they counted on one another when times of war got tough. Wiglaf was the only man out of many to help Beowulf defeat the dragon, proving to Beowulf that he was a good successor. Wiglaf was no doubt our favorite character other than Beowulf for many reasons in our eyes this man was just a great as Beowulf, because just because he wasn’t the leader or warrior that Beowulf was but the reason we think he is so great is because his heart is so big, and
The definition of a true hero is very subjective as people have their own opinions on what makes someone a hero. Some people might consider someone who does the right thing a hero, for some it may be people who fight for their country. The characteristics of a hero might vary, but in the epic “Beowulf,” Beowulf is sought out to be the hero because of three main traits; his noble cause, code of honor, and his strength and courage. Each of these traits makes up the hero he is portrayed to be. One of the first qualities described in the epic is the act of a noble cause.
Wiglaf stays faithful to Beowulf, Herot, and his tribe. He recognizes all the influential actions his leader did for him, along with the many gifts Beowulf gave him. This presents the powerful bond of brotherhood between them, fraternity. Wiglaf could have easily fled from the scene with the rest of the warriors, but he stays as Beowulf’s most devoted soldier. Due to the fact that fraternity is extremely valuable to the Anglo-Saxons, Herot could have ended up in flames without the help of
Beowulf is telling us that he doesn’t value the lives of his citizen, but instead values glory and is willing to fight for it. In the end, Beowulf slays the dragon but paid his life as the price. In conclusion, Beowulf would be considered a great warrior, but not a hero. Although Beowulf accomplished many heroic deeds he never did any of them for the right reasons. Therefore, Beowulf is not a hero, but only a warrior who values renown and rewards.
In the Epic poem of Beowulf, there is more than one epic hero. Although hidden, this courageous follower soon shows his loyalty to his lord and leadership amongst his comrades. Out of the fourteen men Beowulf had chosen to assist him on his courageous journeys, only one was his true friend and follower. This young man was known as Wiglaf. Wiglaf, once a Swedish boy, was the son of Wexstan.
“Beowulf,” written by Richard Wilbur, was published in 1950 yet utilizes the general plot and background of the fifth-century epic work of the same name. This significant difference in time periods greatly influences the overarching theme of the poem: the author implores his audience to question the accepted definition of heroism by translating the ideas present in the original to his own post-modern work. Wilbur explores the themes of isolation, monotony, and heroism based on transactions (rather than good will) to achieve this goal. The depiction of a hero as misunderstood and withdrawn is at great odds with what historians know about Anglo-Saxon culture, and the similar ideas explored in Beowulf, the epic.
In today’s society, anybody can be considered a hero. A hero is a selfless person who is admired for their courageous achievements. A mother, celebrity, or even a mailman can be a hero to someone. In Beowulf, the epic poem translated by Burton Raffel, Beowulf is recognized as a hero who craves too much glory. In today’s world, Beowulf is viewed as an irrelevant hero since he displays poor qualities of arrogance and selfishness.
Beowulf possessed the poised demeanor necessary to defeat all evils by the arrogant swing of his sword. The commitment shown by lending his life to the welfare of his people was imperative in order to be called a flawless warrior. Beowulf embodied the determination that Anglo-Saxons saw as unmeasurably valuable. If nothing more than just fiction, Beowulf is the ideal hero of the people from who he originated. “They said that of all the kings upon the earth he was the man most gracious and fair-minded, kindest to his people and keenest to win fame.”
Once upon a time, there was a marvelous warrior that was a hero to so many and king to some. In the story of Beowulf, the hero, Beowulf, must follow and go through the hero’s journey. The hero’s journey has twelve stages, or three acts. The stages go in the order: 1) The Call to Adventure, 2) Assistance, 3) Departure, 4) Trials, 5) Approach to the Inmost Cave, 6) Crisis, 7) Treasure, 8) Result, 9) Return, 10) New Life, 11) Resolution, and 12) Status Quo (Winkler). Since Beowulf is facing three different monsters, there is not only the story’s significant journey, but also multiple inside it.
