Sir Gawain
Beowulf: The Ultimate Hero A hero is one who places himself or herself at risk for another by performing great deeds of courage. Often in our society today, athletes are looked up to as heros. Brett Favre is an excellent example of a modern day hero. He is looked up to by many for his strength, leadership, and success. While on the football field, he is willing to risk his "life" by running the ball in when there is no one else to go to. Favre also gives all of the glory to God. Whenever he has conquered another team, or made the winning play, all praise is given to God. In the poem Beowulf, translated by Constance B. Hieatt, Beowulf is an epic hero. An epic is a "lengthy narrative poem which genealogizes and embellishes the origin of a tribe or nation". (Edward A. Bloom) Not only is Beowulf a hero because of his physical strength, but like Favre, gives the glory to God. Beowulf is the ultimate hero who put his life on the line for an entire kingdom. Beowulf's heroism can be seen when he takes 14 of the bravest in his land to go help Hrothgar. Hrothgar was Beowulf's father's close friend who had been plagued by attacks for twelve years that threatened an entire kingdom. Beowulf did not have to offer Hrothgar's kingdom help, but do
The early English epic Beowulf is filled with a marvelous hero , ghastly villains , far off lands , and deeds of great valor. These are some of the reasons why Beowulf is a great example of an early English epic. Beowulf is an epic because it has action that consists of deeds of great valor , the setting of Beowulf is in vast scope covering great lands and far off places , and the hero of the story , Beowulf , is of imposing stature of international and international importance. One reason that Beowulf is an epic is because the action consists of deeds of great valor. Beowulf told a story of when he killed nine sea-beasts with his sword. He also said," I returned from a fight when I destroyed five a family of giants ," which proves the great strength that Beowulf had. When Beowulf talked about going to fight Grendel , he denied himself the use of a sword because he wanted a fair hand-to-hand fight with Grendel. When one of Hroathgars' coast guards set eyes upon Beowulf he said ,"I have never set eyes on a more noble man , you are no mere retainer." Although the action in Beowulf consists of great deeds , the setting of the story is vast scope covering great lands and far off places. Beowulf said that his father was favored far and wide because he was a very noble lord. "The swift current , the surging water carried me to the far off Land of the Lapps ," said Beowulf as he told a story to one of Hroathgars' retainers. When Beowulf talked of where Grendel lived he said ,"These two live in a little known country with wolf-slopes , windswept headlands where a mountain stream plunges." The protagonist of Beowulf , Beowulf , is a figure of national and international importance with great historical and legendary significance. "Then he who feared no man , the proud leader of the Geats," said the author about Beowulf before he went to seek Grendel. Another example the narrator uses to show the importance of Beowulf is ,"Truly , the leader of the Geats fervently trusted in his own strength and in Gods grace." Once more the narrator said this of Beowulf ,"One of the Hygelacs thanes , Beowulf by name , renounced among the Geats for his great bravery." Since Beowulf contains action that consists of deeds of great valor , the scope is in vast setting covering great lands and far off places. Also the hero of the story is a figure of imposing stature of national and international importance , we can conclude that Beowulf is a great example of an early English epic. es so because he wants to uses his God given strength to the best of his ability. As soon as Beowulf heard of the troubles in this land he set sail immediately. Beowulf continues to show his thankfulness by thanking God for giving them safe travel across the sea. Beowulf is lead to Hrothgar and offers him is "services." "-Now sit down to the feast, and, in due time, listen to lays of warriors' victories, as your heart may prompt you. (15) Beowulf is asked by the warriors to tell of his past defeats while eating in Hrothgar's palace. Beowulf is already a hero to the people of this land for he is about to rid them of their enemy. The warriors are anxious to here what he has done and what he plans to do to Grendel. Here Beowulf "puts on his running shoes" and runs through his battle plan mentally just as any great athlete would do before a big meet. As the Banquet continues, Hrothgar thanks Beowulf, and promises him great treasure if he succeeds in defeating Grendel. As an ultimate hero, Beowulf decides, to be far, he will not use weapons in his battle against Grendel since Grendel reputedly does not use them. "I do not consider myself a lesser fighter than Grendel does himself; therefore I will not kill him with a sword, and deprive him of life in that way....No: this night we two will abstain from swords..." (19-20) That night, even after hearing of all of Beowulf's heroic defeats, the warriors still feel that no man on earth will be able to stand up to the evil Grendel carries.
Some topics in this essay:
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Grendel Grendel,
Biblical Paganistic,
Hrothgar Beowulf's,
Hrothgar Higlac,
Grendel's Mother,
King Higlac,
Beowulf Canto,
Honor Paganistic,
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grendel's mother,
wealth honor,
speech beowulf,
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international importance,
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Approximate Word count = 3190
Approximate Pages = 13 (250 words per page double spaced)
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