The poem, Beowulf, by Seamus Heaney, depicts Beowulf as a perfect hero. Beowulf is the mythical son of Edgetho and later becomes the king of the Geats. In the poem, Beowulf's shows heroism in two different phases of his life, youth and old age. Throughout the poem, Beowulf faces three difficult conflicts with Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon. Throughout the novel Beowulf is a noted and respected warrior from Geatland. During Beowulf's youth, he is considered to be a great warrior, portrayed by his strength, courage, and bravery. Beowulf begins his legacy in Denmark with an evil monster, Grendel. Grendel is ruining King Hrothgar's kingdom and is ritually tormenting him. The monster breaks into the castle and eats as many of …show more content…
He kills Grendel's mother by cutting of her head. When the fight is over Beowulf swims back to through the lake to his men. The men rejoice with Beowulf and they all go back to Hrothgar's battle hall. When they arrived back Beowulf shows, "Grendel's head dragged across the floor . They stared in awe. It was an astonishing sight" (113). Hrothgar rewards Beowulf with gold and important advice about being a king. Beowulf's defeat of Grendel and Grendel's mother certifies his reputation for bravery and establishes him as a full hero. When Beowulf returns to Geatland the narrator focuses on the very end of his life. In Beowulf's later years he is crowned King of Geatland, and considers himself to be both a warrior and a king. When Beowulf encounters the dragon, the responsibilities of being king are shown. He must act for the good of the people and not just for his own glory. During Beowulf's ruling a runaway slave finds a hidden tower in Geatland. An evil dragon lives in the tower to guard the golden treasure. The slave steals a golden cup and "a dragon on the prowl from the steep vaults of a stone-roofed barrow where he guarded a hoard..." (151). The dragon leaves the tower and the next night the dragon begins burning villages, people, and Beowulf's castle. Beowulf hears about the dragon and meets him with many of his warriors by his side. He fights the dragon but is losing because he has gotten older. Wiglaf, one of his warriors, runs to
When he struggles and struggles finally Beowulf strength is too much and Grendel’s arm is ripped from its socket. He knows his horrible fate which is to bleed to death in the horrid fen.Although soon after the She demon, Grendel's mother comes back for revenge. Beowulf is prepared and more ready then he’ll ever be.He defeats the She demon triumphantly and comes home strong with pride. Soon Beowulf becomes homesick and returns to his homeland of the Geats, he fights strongly with his uncle until he dies, Beowulf is asked to be the king of the Geats but kindly declines. It is only when Heardred, Beowulf cousin dies that he accepts the position of king and rules wisely. Beowulf grows old and creates the golden age for the land but when the fire drake an evil monster who guards treasure burns down most of the land, Beowulf is ready for one last fight. Using the bees to sting it to death Beowulf and his companion Wiglaf face the beast and kill it. Beowulf's last battle is one to remember and shortly after Beowulf dies of old age but everyone knows that his spirit will live on and create peace for the land of the
One of the strongest men on the face of Earth was Beowulf—savior of souls, and annihilator of evil. Beowulf is an epic poem that originated in the Anglo-Saxon period, told in Anglo-Saxon English. The poem depicts the odyssey of a man, Beowulf, who comes from the land of Geats to defeat a hellish creature, Grendel, which has been spawning terror upon King Hrothgar and his men, who live in the land of the Danes. On the way to King Hrothgar’s land, Beowulf encounters many monsters, and upon his arrival to the land of Danes, Beowulf vows to destroy Grendel in order to return peace and safety to King Hrothgar and his men. The poem often characterizes Beowulf with two distinct traits: pride and selflessness. Beowulf shows several moments of motivation
Later in life, when Beowulf is crowned King, he asserts himself greater by chasing after the Dragon, to protect his kingdom.
Beowulf is an old Anglo-Saxon story of a terrifying monster Grendel, Grendel travels to the Danes mead hall Heorot and while the danes expect it least he attacks killing countless men purely for the joys of doing so. Hrothgar king of the Danes calls for a warrior to fight this unruly beast. After 12 long years of grendel attacking Hrothgar's calls are answered and the great warrior Beowulf comes to kill Grendel. Beowulf travels to the land of the Danes from across the seas and in the first night he kills Grendel. Sadly for Beowulf Grendel has a mother that now seeks revenge for her son's death and Beowulf is asked to kill Grendel’s mother as well. Beowulf goes to where Grendel’s mother is staying and battled her to the death , Beowulf wins
Grendel’s mother is a swamp-hag who lives in a desolate lake. She comes to Heorot seeking revenge for her son’s death. She murders Aeschere, who is one of the king’s best friends and most-trusted advisers. After murdering him, she sinks back down into the lake to return to her house. Beowulf decides to pursue her into the lake to fight her in the underwater house. Beowulf kills her with a sword that was made for a giant. After killing her, he discovers Grendel's body in her underwater house. He cuts off Grendel's head and brings it back to the king as another prize to hang in the mead-hall as a
Beowulf would be king, and reign for fifty long years over Geatland. A dragon would soon begin to menace King Beowulf’s kingdom. As an old man, Beowulf would have to suit up once again to slay the monster. Beowulf would not fight alone as Wiglaf and his men would join the king in battle. Beowulf and Wiglaf would slay the mighty dragon, a dagger to its fiery heart would end its life. Even though the mighty dragon had been slain, the same fate to came for old Beowulf. As he lies there, in the last minutes of his life he asks Wiglaf to bring the dragon’s riches to him. As Beowulf passed he asked Wiglaf to build him a tower. A tower to remember his greatness, his courage, and his fame. The task would be completed. A mighty tower would be built, filled with the dragon’s riches along with his other possessions.
Beowulf is an epic poem that was written in Old English in between the 8th and 11th century. King Hrothgar who rules the Danes, is being tormented by this beast called, Grendel. For some time now, Grendel has been attacking Heorot Hall, a mead-hall, and has been killing off many of the Danish soldiers and sometimes even devouring some. The king didn’t seem able to protect the people in his village from this great demon. Until, one day, Beowulf shows up and actually offers to help King Hrothgar by volunteering to find and kill this dreaded monster.
Beowulf is an epic poem being cited as one of the most important works of Old English literature. Beowulf is an Old English epic poem. The poem is set in Scandinavia. Beowulf, a hero of Geats, comes to the aid of Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, whose mead hall in Herot has been under attack by a monster named Grendel. After Beowulf slays him, Grendel's mother attacks the hall and is then also defeated. Victorious, Beowulf goes home to Geatland and later becomes king of the Geats. After a period of fifty years has passed, Beowulf defeats a dragon, but is mortally wounded in the battle. After his death, his attendants cremate his body and erect a tower on a headland in his memory. Beowulf is clearly a hero because of his brave deeds, he is a strong and responsible leader, and his courage. Beowulf is a hero because of his brave deeds. Throughout Beowulf, Beowulf does many deeds which are considered to be brave during the Anglo-Saxon period.“Grendel is no braver, no stronger/Than I am! I could kill him with my sword; I shall not,Easy as it would be. This fiend is a bold And famous fighter, but his claws and teeth.../ Beating at my sword blade, would be helpless. I will meet him With my hands empty-unless his heart /Fails him, seeing a soldier waiting /Weaponless, unafraid. Let God in His wisdom /Extend His hand where He wills, reward /Whom he chooses!”. In his first battle, Beowulf fights Grendel. He fights without any armor. Also, Beowulf kills Grendel’s mother. He then
The debate over whether or not Beowulf is a hero can be taken many ways. My thoughts are that Beowulf is a true hero. Beowulf always shows characteristics of being a hero, he is seen as a leader to his people and never backs down from a challenge or the opportunity to further his legacy. Beowulf was always revered as a great warrior and ruler to his people. He would travel great distances to help other people and to fight off legendary beasts like Grendel, also Beowulf would travel to unknown landsand to the deepest depths of the ocean to battle great beasts that wreaked havoc to villages and kingdoms throughout the known world at that time.Beowulf displayed a great show of bravery and loyalty to protect people when
Grendel’s mother kills Hrothgar’s closest advisor and took Grendel’s arm, which the Danes had hung on the wall as a symbol of victory. Beowulf takes this threat very personally and vows to defeat Grendel’s mother or die trying. Finally, Beowulf answers the call one last time, many years later in Geatland. Fifty years after defeating Grendel and Grendel’s mother, Beowulf had been king of Geatland for many years and happily rules over the Geats. A dragon destroys Beowulf’s mead hall while seeking revenge on an escaped slave who has stolen treasure from the dragon. Beowulf was an extremely prideful person and would not let the dragon go unscathed for destroying his mead hall. This is the third and final time Beowulf answers the call to his Hero’s Quest.
He was defenseless and the dragon attacked him. He fell to the ground and was a beaten warrior. His elven warriors ran except for Wiglaf, was the only warrior to go back to his king. Beowulf and Wiglaf kill the Dragon. Beowulf was badly injured; he told Wiglaf to take the treasure and lead his people.
Beowulf’s battle with Grendel concludes with Beowulf breaking Grendel’s arm; the narrator states, “He twisted in pain… his shoulder snapped,” Beowulf takes Grendel’s arm and keeps it as a trophy. In Beowulf’s battle with Grendel’s mother, he is able to defeat her using a sword held within her lair, it is the only sword that is able to penetrate her skin. Once Beowulf is able to obtain the sword, he is able to “[catch] her in the neck and cut it through.” Beowulf then takes another trophy as a representation of his win. Lastly, in Beowulf’s old age he is still able to, as the narrator states, “succeed in killing the dragon” with the help of his most faithful man, Wiglaf.
The dragon went on a rampage killing and destroying everything in sight. Beowulf went to go fight the dragon and unfortunately gave up his life. All of Beowulf’s men cowered but one named Wiglaf. He stayed to help and they defeated the dragon together. Beowulf then bled out due to the dragon biting his neck .
Finally, Grendel’s mother attacks the Danes, but Beowulf follows the monster back to her lair and kills it. Beowulf goes back home to the Geats and becomes their King. After Fifty years and his last battle with Grendel’s mother Beowulf is forced to fight a dragon after a slave steals a golden cup from it lair.
After Hygelac and his men are killed in combat, Beowulf is embellished to become king of the Geats and succeeds to rule for fifty years. “Was there a warrior worthier to rule over men” (Line 420). Here Raffel foreshadows in the beginning of the poem that Beowulf will someday become king. He then hears of a veracious dragon, and suspects the he will die fighting it. Beowulf tracks the dragon to its lair and fights it with the help of Wiglaf.