ipl-logo

Warrior's Quest In Beowulf

756 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Concept of hero in beowulf

A warrior’s utmost quest is acquiring glory before death. In Beowulf, the hero of this epic does not let obstruction hinder his pursuit of glory. Throughout the poem Beowulf, fights and defeats two monsters and a dragon with the help of no one. The thing that matters the most to Beowulf is accomplishing sempiternal glory and fame. Although glorified Beowulf seemed to have a ultimate longing for supreme glorification as seen through his three valiant battles.
The first encounter Beowulf came across was Grendel, a beast “conceived by a pair of those monsters born / of Cain”(6). Grendel savagely comes in the dark to raid Heorot, the mead-hall where all the warriors repose for the night. Once the horrid stories of Grendel reach Beowulf he sets …show more content…

The monster kills only Esher, Hrothgar’s closest advisor and friend, and removes his body and her son’s body parts. Once the king got a hold of this knowledge they ran to Beowulf and asked him for help in finding and killing the mother of Grendel. Before his departure Unerth, “Lent him a famous weapon, a fine, / Hilted old sword named Hrunting” showing his honor he has for Beowulf as he goes to fight another monster(64). Beowulf ventures into the mother’s underwater lair to defeat Grendel's mother, the sword Unerth gives Beowulf does not function down there. Using a magical sword he finds in the giants’ hideaway Beowulf kills her with it. He discovers Grendel’s body and severs the head to take as a trophy. As he returns Hrothgar declares with gratitude, “This prince / Of the Greats, Beowulf, was born a better / Man! Your fame is everywhere, my friend, / Reaches to the ends of the earth and you hold it / In your heart wisely, / Patient with your strength and our weakness”(73). Admiring what a great man his is, Hrothgar praises then later warns Beowulf about the dangers of pride. The glory and fame Beowulf is receiving will wither away just like his strength and youth as time

Show More
Related
1903 Words | 8 Pages

He defeats the enemy and then decapitates Grendel’s corpse. While trying to get back to shore the sword melts; leaving just the hilt. So he returns to Hrothgar’s hall with Grendel’s head and the hilt of his sword. Because of his great accomplishment, he displays Grendel’s head in Heorot. To conclude, Beowulf is so honored that he presents the sword-hilt to

Read More
1160 Words | 5 Pages

Chapter 11: “The Great Geat” In chapter 11, Grendel feels some sort of feeling and sensation of somebody arriving which eventually happens to be Beowulf. Grendel watches as Beowulf and his men arrive and hears their intentions of their arrival while Beowulf is talking to the Danish coastguard. Later on Beowulf arrives to the meadhall, and Grendel listens to Beowulf’s plan on helping Hrothgar kill Grendel. As Grendel continues to eavesdrop, he learns more Beowulf’s characteristics and his stories that express him being a hero and a man of pure courage.

Read More
1250 Words | 5 Pages

Mythological or Archetypal philosophy has been around for centuries and is used across numerous cultures. Carl Jung, a close colleague of Sigmund Freud, defined the word archetype as “a figure...that repeats itself in the course of history wherever creative fantasy is fully manifested.” Archetypes can come in various forms: characters, images, and situations. Though many different forms of archetypes appear in the tale of Beowulf, specifically, the archetypal character roles of the hero and the outcast are major aspects of the story. The role of the hero is a popularly recognizable element of many stories.

Read More
1002 Words | 5 Pages

In the story of Beowulf, the hero, Beowulf, does not know about the issue until the call. In Beowulf the call is the acts of Grendel. Grendel is a descendant of the cursed son of Adam and Eve, Caine. In the bible, Caine kills his brother resulting in a curse brought upon by God. Due to this, Grendel lives a life of seclusion and rejection.

Read More
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.

Read More
603 Words | 3 Pages

In the epic poem Beowulf, the protagonist, Beowulf, faces three “monsters” at different times in his life. The poem begins with Grendel, a monster who attacks only in the dark of night, tormenting the kingdom of Hrothgar. The last two sections of the epic detail the conquering by Beowulf of Grendel’s mother and the dragon. The battle between the monsters and Beowulf represent the theme of good versus evil in the poem, as well as the fusion of pagan and Christian ideals in the changing Germanic society. Grendel’s mother’s actions directly juxtapose the role of a woman in this time period, and the greediness of the dragon with his treasure contrasts with the virtues of what would be considered a good king.

Read More
1086 Words | 5 Pages

The poem, Beowulf, illustrates an epic hero who defeats many beasts and overcomes intricate obstacles. The battle’s that he experiences are different from each other, although they also have very similar aspects. In addition, they respectively symbolize an important lesson to Beowulf and the reader. By comparing and contrasting each fight, one will be able to have a better understanding of the overall theme of the poem and have a deeper appreciation for the gallant warrior.

Read More
1285 Words | 6 Pages

Personal loss is a pervasive element throughout the epic poem Beowulf, serving as a poignant reminder of the transitory nature of life. The poet writes, “I risked my life often when I was young. Now I am old, but as king of the people I shall pursue this fight for the glory of winning.” (Beowulf 18.250-21). Beowulf's use of repetition with the phrase “I risked my life” emphasizes the extent to which he was willing to put himself in danger for the sake of his people, even from a young age.

Read More
338 Words | 2 Pages

As Beowulf has a bond to Hrothgar because of his relationship to his father Ecgtheow, he chooses to journey to her realm which is under gloomy monster-infested waters and face her. Beowulf is a warrior who is bold, brave, and unafraid of challenges. In this grueling battle Beowulf comes close to perishing, as his sword Hrunting fails him. However he finds an ancient sword in the cave and uses it to kill her. He was setback by the loss of the sword but he prevailed and defeated the troll-dam.

Read More
532 Words | 3 Pages

Even though the monster’s hall was flooding with luxurious treasure, “all that Beowulf took was Grendel’s head and the hilt of the giants’ jeweled sword” (lines 266-268). Beowulf “sought Hrothgar to salute him and show Grendel’s head” (lines 299-300). 17) After being given the golden hilt of the sword from Beowulf, Hrothgar notices inscriptions written on it. He realized that written on there was a story of ancient wars between good and evil. The inscriptions state, “The story of ancient wars between good and evil, the opening of the waters, the flood sweeping the giants away, how they suffered and died” (lines 342-347).

Read More
163 Words | 1 Pages

There is only one man that is not afraid to confront this enormous beast, Beowulf. Beowulf is fearless and eventually rips the arm off of Grendel and brings it upon King Hrothgar. The people are overjoyed and feast in the great hall. Grendel’s mother however is furious about the death of her son. Beowulf kills Grendel’s mother with his sword.

Read More
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).

Read More
1005 Words | 5 Pages

When Herot was put under the darkness of its own devious monster, Beowulf, the bravest warrior of all, came to the rescue. Throughout this poem Beowulf exemplifies his courage and strength by risking his own life to protect the town from evil and to return happiness and joy to the land. With God and his warriors by his side, Beowulf shows that good always triumphs over evil. The strong, brave, and courageous Beowulf could not be trounced, for he had God’s love and good will in his heart. Beowulf and his comrades voyage across the sea, from Geatland, to the Danish shores, in quest of Hrothgar, king of Herot.

Read More
353 Words | 2 Pages

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/

Read More
558 Words | 3 Pages

Glory is the prime motivation for Beowulf in his story. Beowulf wants to be remembered for the great deeds he has done in his lifetime, like Hrothgar. Hrothgar, the king has earned his glory in his youth. “To Hrothgar was given such glory of war, such honor of combat, that all his kin obeyed him gladly…” (Part 1) Hrothgar is now old and unable to protect his kingdom, and Beowulf decides that he will step in and help because of the glory it will give him.

Read More

More about Warrior's Quest In Beowulf

Related Topics

Open Document