Sacrifice In Beowulf

Beowulf, now an old man, says in his final boast, “I’ve never known fear, as a youth I fought in endless battles. I am old, now, but I will fight again” (lines 607-609). Beowulf realizes the dangers of going into battle as an old man, and despite still knowing that his strength and fighting skills were not what they used to be still goes into battle against the ferocious dragon in order to protect his homeland from the villain. Unfortunately, as Beowulf was fighting saw that “for a time (the shield) held, protected Beowulf as he’d planned; then it began to melt, and for the first time in his life that famous prince fought with fate against him, with glory denied him. He knew it, but he raised his sword and struck at the dragon’s scaly hide/And the Geats’ ring-giver did not boast of glorious victories in other wars” (lines 666-671/678). As Beowulf fights the dragon, he comes to realize that he is not going to win and is going to meet his fate. All the battles he had previously fought had him fighting alongside fate, not against it, but now he realized that this is the battle he would not win. Still, Beowulf fights on knowing he would die. He, as stated in the quote, does not seek any pride nor has he in any of his battles and would valiantly fight until his death. These actions Beowulf has portrayed ultimately

His primary motive behind going into battle is his desire to boast of his accomplishments and make a name for himself. A key point in the story where Beowulf discusses the importance of glory in life is after the loss of Esher. “Each of us will come to the end of this life on Earth; he who can earn it should fight for the glory of his name; fame after death is the noblest of goals.” To Beowulf, creating a reputation for himself of bravery and success was the best way to prove his character. Also, the idea of leaving a legacy behind after death was a priority for him, so it affected his reasoning as a warrior and as a king. He values glory so greatly that he chooses to fight the dragon even in his old age, because he feels that even if he dies this way, he will be remembered as a noble warrior, who died for his country. Since he is king, and has chosen to risk abandoning his people completely, with no heir to the throne, his character becomes questionable. It seems as if the author wants the reader to question Beowulf’s motives, and realize that he is more concerned with his legacy than with the wellbeing of the

During Beowulf’s time, a trait many Anglo-Saxons valued was loyalty. This trait was necessary in the pagan warrior culture that Beowulf lived in and was a key factor in many actions he did. For example, he participated in many events that were grueling for any person, but for Beowulf he would do it in the name of his nation. This is shown when he states, “They had seen me boltered in the blood of enemies / when I battled and bound five beasts, / raided a troll-nest and in the night-sea / slaughtered sea-brutes. I have suffered extremes and avenged the Geats” (419-423). Beowulf is willing to put himself through long lasting hardships in order to represent his nation. Also, it may appear Beowulf originally kills off Grendel for the Danes (his other fights have been strictly for the Geats) but really, he is paying off a debt to the Danish king for protecting his father’s life and ending a feud started by his father. The king briefly explains this occurrence when telling Beowulf, “There was a feud

According to Richard Schrader, “God sent the young man[Beowulf] to prevent a recurrence and gave him glory which spread widely.” (Schrader, 493). Everything that a knight does is for the glory of his land, people and most of all for God. English Literature tries to convey that if a person acts within their duties and perform righteous acts, then he will be blessed. And even as Beowulf becomes a king, these attributes are not lost to him. He displays honor and valor as the lord of his own realm. His subjects follow him because of this and honors his image (Beowulf, 101). And as a hero, these qualities must follow him always.

In heroic novels or poems, there is always some sort of ulterior motive for the hero. Maybe they are doing what they do for someone else, or for a prize as in some sort of money. In the epic poem Beowulf, he is doing some things that you don’t really understand why he is doing them. There is a monster that is attacking a town in another country and he decides that he wants to help. He hears of the attacks so he heads over to meet the king of the country that is being attacked. It seems a little out of his way to sail to another country to fight a monster that isn’t even terrorizing him. You really begin to question what is driving him to do such a thing, he is completely putting himself at danger with the situation that he is about to take on. He knows that the monster Grendel is an extremely strong and dangerous monster, yet he wants to be the one to take him down. A little later on he tells you that he is doing it for three reasons: it’s his duty, he wants vengeance, and he wants the fame.

Which is seeking fame and protecting is people. Beowulf has always had a sense of duty in all his battles, and it is no different in his last battle. A man had stolen a golden cup from a dragon and the dragon is underway to threaten Beowulf’s people and he would and could not stand for that. He had the duty as his people’s king to protect them and that is his main motive in his final battle. However, there was also the motive to seek fame in his last battle. Beowulf says to his men “I am old now, buy I will fight again, seek fame still, if the dragon hiding in his tower dares to face me.” (Lines 625-628) In his final battle he wishes to have fame, or in other words he is looking to be remembered, and is. He fights his final battle for his people and for

In the reading Beowulf, conserved by Burton Raffel, one can learn that in this Anglo Saxon tribe believe heavily in loyalty. Beowulf shows loyalty to his people by presenting his loyalty to the king. Beowulf one the strongest of the Geats heard about Grendel and his evilness and wanted to take action to put a stop to him. “Heard how Grendel filled nights with horror, And quickly commanded a boat fitted out” (Raffel 23) Beowulf noting that his people needed protection from the evilness of Grendel he immediately set out to go fight and show his loyalty to them by battling with Grendel. Setting out to sail across the sea to meet with the King Hrothgar when help was needed and fighting evilness protecting his people is a vast way Beowulf represents his loyalty. Risking his own life to protect his king, even if the

From how he is portrayed one would think of him as a large, hefty, and very muscular man. The question of duty is always brought up. Some say that “Beowulf’s life ultimately reflects a sense of duty” (Smith, Beowulf: Age, Honor and Duty). Beowulf even said himself that his “duty was to go to the Danes” (Beowulf 150). But what is duty? I might say that the definition of duty is one’s moral obligation. At the same time they both have to and want to do their duty. In a sense they kind of need to do their duty. Some would say that Beowulf’s duty is to help the Danes get rid of Grendel because he has skill sets that they need to rid their land of Grendel. Beowulf forgets himself and does his duty and kills Grendel and Grendel’s protective mother. One of Beowulf’s motivations for helping The Danes with Grendel was doing his duty to

When Beowulf arrives to the land of the Danes, he comes to help king Hrothgar defeat

Beowulf was a great story written about heroism.Beowulf was a model figure of a hero. He did all those great things for the village to receive accolades and rewards, for instance one of the last things he said before he died was ¨ I sold my life for this treasure, and i sold it well¨ (Beowulf). He is trying to say that killing the monsters is what he was good at and so he put it to use so he could receive treasures and fame.

Beowulf’s heroic loyalty is best exemplified in his promise to help Hrothgar by defeating Grendel. Before Beowulf’s time, Hrothgar helped Ecgtheow, (Beowulf’s dad), by paying some of his debts. “ We belong by birth to the Great people and owe allegiance to Lord Hygelac.” (260-264) This likely the reason that Beowulf gave him his loyalty and served as hero for his people throughout his lifetime. He further expresses valued qualities of Anglo-Saxon culture in victory battle with Grendel’s mother. Even more courage and bravery is needed in this battle. For Beowulf had to travel to her hell hole layer to fight, only to have his men leave him right before the battle. With no extra help he relies solely on God to help him receive a victory. Surprisingly, even the great heroic Beowulf showed some evil qualities. Still angered after his victory, he goes back to the Grendel to decapitate his head in want of

In Beowulf, the hero Beowulf’s greatest value is his displays of courage and bravery. He exhibits these qualities in everything he does. For example, he decides to face Grendel without a weapon deciding that using one for protection would make the battle too easy. He feels that when it comes to fighting he is just as dangerous as Grendel. Reckless and impressive actions such as these throughout the poem demonstrate his heroism. Even as an old wise old king he still demonstrates these traits. When fighting the dragon, he does not stop even as flames engulf him. Nothing could deter him from saving his people.

Beowulf starts by asking for permission to be able to go fight Grendel with no armor or weapons; with the king living in fear of Grendel the monster, he obviously has no choice but to willingly approve Beowulf at his attempt to take on Grendel. The people of Beowulf’s tribe believed that if you have the ability to do something, it is your duty to actually do it. This shows because Beowulf goes to a place he has never been to slay the monster in order to save the people of Denmark. In lines 244-246 its say, “My people have said, the wisest, most knowing and best of them that my duty was to go to the Danes’ Great King.” This shows the kind of dedication they have to fulfilling their

Beowulf is valiant and brave man ready to die in a way that is considered right in warrior culture, fighting until the end, loyal to his men and people. He dies exactly as king Hrothgar told him who he should be, both man and hero not relaying on his past glorious

shows how noble and loyal Beowulf was to his people. Even at his old age he risked his life