... is the quintessence of the Anglo-Saxon man of that era. He displays many qualities that show some of the conflicts of the era. Proud and humble, Christian and pagan, Beowulf's character encompasses many seeming contradictions. One of the oldest stories still known to man, handed down orally from generation to generation, ... told though being that self-assured was not a bad thing. Where as today anyone boasting that their "days of youth had been filled with glory" and that they could single-handedly do what armies of other men couldn't would have been thought arrogant Beowulf merely garn...

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... in. (The fact where Satan proves that destruction is something that he prides in is discussed later.) This argument is very weak showing his cowardly character and unwillingness to sacrifice which were not very heroic qualities. The next few lines starting from 130-134 describe Satan's ambition to corrupt man-kind. Milton uses ... somehow make up for his loss in Heaven referring to when he assaulted the throne of God. His corruption of man will also give him glory among the infernal powers is what Satan says in lines 135-136. This also affirms the previous argument that Satan finds pride...

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• Grade Level: High School

... him with my hands empty"" (677-84). He again showed his courage as he plunged into the lake where Grendel's mother dwelled. He says, "I shall shape glory with Hrunthing / or death will hurry me from this earth! " / "As his words ended / he leaped into the lake / would not wait for anyone ... no match for Beowulf's strength. "He twisted in pain / and the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder snapped / muscle and bone split and broke. / The battle was over /Beowulf had been granted new glory"" (815-19). Theses two quotes show the power that Beowulf had. He was able to rip off Grendel's ... ...

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... protagonist is usually a person who is an average member of society and is looking to benefit the whole community. Greek tragedy usually begins with harmony and concludes with conflict. The protagonist in such plays is usually someone with supreme power over the community and one who is trying to gain a personal benefit and rise above all others This person may usually be characterized by a certain ... 'll die, the worst of all if we violate the laws and override the fixed decree of the thrown, its power- we must be sensible."" (62 70-74). Antigone did not try to persuade her sister Isme...

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... its pulse. The most successful fighter receives the most power over the society and in many ways becomes its ruler. Homer's epic poem, The Iliad, is about Achilles, however this is not far from saying The Iliad is about the Greeks and what it is to be Greek. Given the importance ... the Iliad it is evident that the heroic values the warrior upholds are social and religious as well as personal. Social values include achieving honor, military glory over family life. Religious values include upholding the laws of hospitality and carrying out proper religious burial, as well as valuing the ...

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... alone to tell Penelope that her son has returned. When father and son are alone in the hut, Athena, who has many characteristics relating to the heroic mode, appears to Odysseus and calls him outside. When Odysseus reenters the hut, his old man disguise is gone, and he stands in the pristine glory of his heroic person. At first, Telemachus cannot believe his eyes ... , but then the two embrace and weep. Odysseus recounts his trip which confirms his courage, honor and bravery, all being needed for the Phaeacians. Together they begin plotting the overthrow of the suitors ... having a fune...

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... tearing at his hands."(line 464-466) Beowulf's unusual and courageous method of killing Grendel demonstrates his bravery and physical strength. Before, Unferth had taunted Beowulf about his foolish bravery but when he and all the rest of the Geats saw that Beowulf's strength and power were worth boasting about, they were humbled. To prove ... only would Grendel have survived but the brawl would not have such a significance in the history of the Geats. Beowulf would not seem as brave, and even if Beowulf had died, the battle would not have been as legendary. There would be no arm, shoulde...

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... who it was. Many people, including myself, believe that it was a monk. The Beowulf poet took the pagan epic traditions for kings, heroes, and monsters and fused it with Christian beliefs to create a poem that would still interest the people of the time while showing them the Christian ways. The Beowulf poet ... History of the English People, is a similar shelter to the halls of the early Middle Ages: Another of the king's chief men, approving of his words and exhortations, presently added: "The present life of man, O king, seems to me, in comparison of that time which is unknown to us, l...

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... hero who wants to save or help others; he is only in it for himself. A hero is any person, generally a man, admired for courage, nobility, and bold exploits. Odysseus definitely does not meet the expectations of a true hero when he claims, "I sent some crew ahead to learn who lived there" (Homer 233: ... hero once more when he is speaking about his efforts to get off the island safely. However, Odysseus only proves that he is very self-centered and only cares about getting home. For Example, Odysseus then explains to the Phaeacians, "But while they killed them off in the harbor depths ...

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... his body that caused him to inevitably die. Beowulf's loyalty to those in his life is a great and sets him apart by far from those of his day. Power and authority is the one thing people strive for and will die for. Beowulf shows his loyalty throughout the story. He first shows his caring nature to Hrothgar ... 50 peaceful years of rule, Beowulf had to face his final battle with a dragon that terrorized his countryside. Following the battle with the dragon it lay dead and Beowulf lay fatally wounded. There he spoke to Wiglaf: "Now is the time I would have wanted to bestow this armor on m...

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... hero who wants to save or help others; he is only in it for himself. A hero is any person, generally a man, admired for courage, nobility, and bold exploits. Odysseus definitely does not meet the expectations of a true hero when he claims, "I sent some crew ahead to learn who lived there" (Homer 233: ... hero once more when he is speaking about his efforts to get off the island safely. However, Odysseus only proves that he is very self-centered and only cares about getting home. For Example, Odysseus then explains to the Phaeacians, "But while they killed them off in the harbor depths ...

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... Beowulf fights with Grendel's mother, the sea-hag, he upholds the tradition of avenging for an unpaid death wage, again fighting for the kingdom's sake. And finally, in his later years, as a king himself, Beowulf still shows the bravery that is needed to fight the dragon, even if he is unsuccessful ... and the loyalty to their cause, is to have heroes amongst us. I am of the opinion that heroes can also be those who display characteristics which seem to be opposite of those that Beowulf projects. I believe that the Texas State Democratic Senators are heroes in their own right. Within th...

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... lives, they can be considered heroes. Or in Sosa's case, he makes kids from the Dominican Republic believe they can come to America and be successful and also donates money to his home country for good causes. Some people would argue these sports stars are idols, but my definition of an ... Brutish, good-looking men like Odysseus from Homer's Odyssey are the poster shots of an ancient time hero. Odysseus lied, deceived, and cheated his way to glory but he was probably seen as one of the greatest heroes in Greek times. In today's standards, Odysseus would find many people ... saying he...

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... follower tearing at his hands. The monster's hatred rose higher, but his power had gone. He twisted in pain, and the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder snapped, muscle and bone split and broke. The battle was over, Beowulf had been granted new glory." Beowulf's second battle is against Grendel's mother. Beowulf is asked by ... Hrothgar, the king of Herot, to kill the vicious beast. Beowulf continuously tries to defeat the monster. He attempts to pierce her skin and stab her ... with the sword, but no man-made object can kill a creature as horrid and ... Beowulf is fortunately wearin...

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... , Beowulf's main strength is his physical stature, but his discerning actions complement him as he ends up victorious in his battles against Grendel, Grendel Dam, and the dragon. A large portion of the poem is centered on a monster named Grendel, who terrorizes the great Danish mead hall of Herot. After Grendel ... other Danes could not defeat Grendel for twelve long years, Beowulf easily mutilated Grendel in one short night. Even though Beowulf's accomplishment is remarkable, his glory is short lived. Grendel's mother, in retaliation for her son's fatal wound, kills the closest friend o...

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... that, giving freely while his father lives so that afterwards in age when fighting starts steadfast companions will stand by him and hold the line. Behavior that's admired is the path to power among people everywhere." (20-25) This selection, which illustrates the emphasis on the loyalty of the warriors, has a ... honor towards chivalry, he was looked up to by all men. Most people would have accepted the throne in a heart beat, but Beowulf was strong and honored his king's family until the death of Hygelac. When Beowulf died after the defeat of the dragon, he was honored by the Geats. Th...

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... angel ruined", a fallen angel. Once called Lucifer, he was one of the most powerful angels in Heaven. Now he is the leader of the fallen, and he burns in eternal pain in the depths of Hell, a place of pure torture created by God before the rebellion, to hold all those that followed Satan ... immediately rules out giving up, peace or switching their ways. He says no place can hold their collective "vigour" - their hate, their aggression, their power. They will fight back, and heaven is not "lost". He then almost calls himself a hero, outlining why. He says that his position is not to be e...

• Word Count: 992
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• Grade Level: High School