Beowulf Essay, Research Paper

The Anglo-Saxon Hero as defined by the Battles of Beowulf Within the narrative of

? Beowulf? four character traits can be found which define the Anglo Saxon

Hero. The first is trueness, as demonstrated by the relationship between Lord and

thane. Harmonizing to page 23 of the? Beowulf? debut, ? a relationship

based less on subordination of one adult male? s will to another than on common trust

and respect. ? The 2nd and 3rd features are strength and bravery.

The importance of these specific traits to the Anglo-saxon people is clearly

presented during the reciting of Sigemund? s narrative within Heorot. As the vocal

provinces, ? He was adventurer most celebrated, far and broad through the states, for

title of bravery? he had prospered from that before, the defender of warriors

? after the war-making of Heremod had come to an terminal, his strength and his

bravery? ( 38 ) . The concluding piece which comprises the Anglo-Saxon hero is the

impression of celebrity. The merely after life a warrior could of all time draw a bead on to hold was

immortality through celebrity. One once more this is explained by the debut to the

narrative, ? Beowulf? s head wages is heathen immortality the memory in the heads

of ulterior coevalss of a hero? s heroic actions? ( 24-25 ) . By understanding

what defines a hero it is a simple affair to grok why Beowulf is

considered by some to be the greatest of all. He posses unfaltering trueness to

his male monarch and Alliess, and salvage for his concluding conflict his thanes show the same

devotedness to him. His strength is alone, as he is able to get the better of each of

his oppositions and execute efforts of odd endurance. Beowulf? s bravery,

though motivated chiefly by his ain impression of destiny, is, none the less,

unwavering. And as a hero he achieved his desire for immortality through the

verse form itself. Each of the four heroic traits can be identified within the three

conflicts in which Beowulf participates: His conflict with Grendel, his undersea

battle with the Grendel? s Mother, and his concluding battle with the firedrake.

Before traveling off to make conflict with Grendel, Beowulf gives a address that may

appear conceited to the modern reader, but is in actuality a simple device used

to see his immortality through celebrity. Beowulf provinces, ? I claim myself no

poorer in war strength, war plants, than Grendel claims himself. Therefor I will

non put him to kip with a blade? and so may wise God, Holy Lord, assign

glorification on whichever manus seems good to him? ( 35-36 ) . Now whether he wins or

looses the battle Beowulf will ever be remembered as the brave warrior who

battled the animal without the assistance of a arm. This transition besides shows

Beowulf? s unconquerable bravery. It is of import to observe, nevertheless, that this

bravery does non come from A strong head, but instead from an unquestioning

belief in destiny, which in bend, is wholly at God? s bid. His bravery,

therefor, comes wholly from his belief that he has done good in the eyes of

the Godhead. Armed merely with his strong belief in the goodness of the Lord Beowulf

onslaughts the evil Grendel ( ? enemy of God? harmonizing to page 37 ) and shows

his amazing strength. When Beowulf foremost grasps the arm of his opposition he is

described as? he who of work forces was strongest of might in the yearss of his

life ” ( 37 ) . He so proceeds to rend Grendel? s arm from his organic structure while

? more than plenty of Beowulf? s earls drew blades, old heirlooms, wished to

protect the life of their beloved Godhead, celebrated prince nevertheless they might? ( 37 ) ( a

perfect illustration of the importance of trueness in the lord-thane relationship ) . In

his 2nd conflict Beowulf once more epitomizes the Anglo-Saxon hero by once more

exhibit

ing the aforesaid traits. After Grendel? s Mother swarms the palace

in requital for the slaying of her boy ( taking to pay war alternatively of

accepting wergild ) Beowulf is determined to make off with the descendant of Cain.

? He was resolute, non decelerate of bravery, mindful of celebrity? ( 47 ) . He is

exceptionally strong since, in order to make the home of Grendel? s

female parent, he must swim for about a twenty-four hours to make the underside of a lake. This is of

class no great ordeal for a adult male who can swim for seven yearss with his companion

Breca and conflict a host of sea monsters all while have oning concatenation armour. During

the conflict Beowulf? s work forces remain loyal to their leader and remain by the side of

the lake even after the Sycldings left the hill. They wait for hours even though

they believe their Godhead to be dead. And when Beowulf does eventually resurface he

has non merely killed Grendel? s female parent, but has come back with Grendel? s caput,

every bit good. Beowulf? s ultimate conflict occurs over 50 old ages after his conflict

with Grendel? s Mother. Beowulf is now swayer over the land of the Geats. He

is forced to protect his Kingdom from a fearsome firedrake after a servant cholers

the animal by stealing an ornamented cup. Before prosecuting in the conflict

Beoqulf remains confident of triumph by telling his past feats ( once more

attesting a place of celebrity ) . Although he is armed for the conflict he wishes

that he could? cope with the monster, as [ he ] did of old with Grendel?

( 59 ) . Beowulf remains every bit merely brave and as famished for celebrity in his senior

old ages as he does in his young person. Like the old conflicts Beowulf once more behaves

like the Hero, with one striking difference. This is the one conflict in the verse form

where Beowulf looses the trueness of his work forces. As the conflict between Beowulf and

the firedrake becomes progressively violent all the thanes flee. The lone exclusion

is Wiglaf, boy of Weohstan, who rapidly jumps into conflict to help his Godhead.

Before making so, nevertheless, he scolds his fellow thanes for abandoning their

leader, explicating that it is better to fall in a battle. As Wiglaf himself

provinces, ? God knows of me that I should instead that the fire enfold my organic structure

with my gold giver? ( 61 ) . Here it is Wiglaf who possesses the heroic traits.

He is loyal to his Godhead, he is brave and has desire for celebrity, all that he

deficiencies is great strength. During the conflict the firedrake is vanquished, but Beowulf

suffers mortal lesions. Having no inheritor he passes his land on to Wiglaf, who

Beowulf describes as the last of the race of Waegmundings. Although Beowulf

dies, he does accomplish the end of the hero? to be imortalized. A shrine is

constructed to honour the legendary hero? and so Beowulf? s celebrity continues to

live on. Wiglaf, howver, although the new Ruler is destined for adversities since

he lacks the sheer strength which would do him a true hero. Strength, bravery,

trueness, and celebrity. If these truly are the specifying factors in each great hero,

how so are the heroes different from the scoundrels. Doesn? T Grendels female parent

have all of the same qualities. She was strong brave, loyal to her boy, and

though she dies, celebrated through her conflict with Beowulf. In the terminal the

Anglo-Saxon hero is non simply defined by his traits, but by his visual aspect

through the eyes of his God ( or at least how the people perceive God? s

vision ) . The Godhead sees Beowulf as good, therefor he is a hero. The grendel

household, every bit good as the firedrake are seen as abominations by Godhead, so they are

immorality. Hero? s are therefor nil more than good looking scoundrels who posses

societal graces. And yet they still inspire us to be good. And so Beowuld remains

a hero? and an immortal.