Beowulfs Quest for Glory - 1632 Words

Before the story of Beowulf was written down, the tale was spoken through the oral traditions characteristic of Anglo-Saxon Literature. This oral ritual was mindful not only of the particular event and time in which it was recited, but also of the receptive nature of its audience. Moreover, these stories contained repetitions of key elements and themes as a way to stress their significance. Ultimately, however, all the stories told through the oral tradition usually mirrored the principles and ideals of the Anglo-Saxon culture at the time they were told. This tradition remains ever-present within the modern text of the medieval poem of Beowulf. Two notable tales of character in the poem gain deeper nuance when placed in Beowulf’s†¦show more content†¦Hrothgar reminds Beowulf that Heremod’s â€Å"rise in the world brought little joy to the Danish people, only death and destruction.† (1711/1712) Because Heremod â€Å"vented his rage on men he caroused wit h† and â€Å"killed his own comrades† in his â€Å"bloodthirsty† pursuit, he â€Å"suffered in the end for having plagued his people for so long† and his life consequently â€Å"lost happiness.† (1713-1722) Through Hrothgar’s discourse, Heremod fully emerges as a vilified character. Now, Beowulf has been provided with the opportunity to hear Heremod’s story twice. Beowulf’s lack of response either to the mention of Heremod seems indeed to mark him as the â€Å"undaunted hero.† (1816) While Beowulf might not respond to this rising forewarning, his impending honorable actions toward Geatland begin to speak for themselves. Beowulf’s immense sense of loyalty and respect toward the Geatish Kingdom upon his return from the Danish Kingdom validates his desire to espouse Hrothgar’s advice. Beowulf’s outward manifestation of his allegiance to the Geatish race first appears through his kind gesture of gift givi ng. His first demonstration of this becomes apparent when he presents the watchman of his ship with â€Å"a sword with gold fittings† with the intentions of making that watchman â€Å"a respected man at his place on the mead-bench.† (1901-1903) Furthermore, Beowulf relays his respect to his uncle, Lord Hygelac,Show MoreRelatedBeowulf Analysis997 Words   |  4 Pagesgreat deeds often appear to be for other’s benefit, yet Beowulf’s final conquest exposes his lust for glory and fame, thereby showing his lack of concern for anything else. This lust for immense glory and fame feeds his ego and causes his death and the imminent downfall of his great people the Geats. Throughout the poem, Beowulf’s deeds seem marvelous and good, yet in the end we can see the real motive behind his actions was his lust for glory. The first indication of this occurs when Unferth interrogatesRead MoreBeowulf Selfish Hero Essay996 Words   |  4 Pagesmany great deeds often appear to be for other’s benefit, yet Beowulf’s final conquest exposes his lust for glory and fame, thereby showing his lack of concern for anything else. This lust for immense glory and fame feeds his ego and causes his death and the imminent downfall of his great people the Geats. Throughout the poem, Beowulf’s deeds seem marvelous and good, yet in end his deeds are shown to be done solely out of lust for glory. The first indication of this occurs when Unferth interrogatesRead MoreCompare and Contrast Characters in Beowulf and The Niebelungenlied1630 Words   |  7 Pagesgreatest desire is fame and glory, and he performs whatever difficult tasks he believes will bring him closer to that goal. Beowulf’s quest for power drives him to seek fame by challenging Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and finally a giant dragon that causes his death. Though Beowulf’s strength and courage lead him to power and its accompanying responsibility, the power that he accumulates has negative consequences for those who rely on him. This very thirst for power is Beowulf’s fatal flaw, causing himRead MoreTimeless Beowulf, Tireless Executives810 Words   |  4 Pagesthe story are considered timeless because comparisons can be drawn from Beowulf’s life to the lives of the people of today. Consider the fact that Beowulf lives a detached life, which validates him being a wise and strong leader. This also leaves him a man who must face his death grasping the fact that he has foolishly abstained from having a devoted relationship with another person. In his tenacious quest for fame and glory, Beowulf is evocative of concurrent young executives in that they classifyRead MoreBeowulf, the Epic Hero1431 Words   |  6 Pagesmany grand stories about great warriors, and champions; those about epic heroes however, are the truly exceptional tales. One such tale, over a thousand years old, stands out from all the rest: Beowulf, the tale of a great warrior, on his quest to achieve eternal glory, defeating great opponents. Throughout the whole story, Beowulf demonstrates most –if not all- of the qualities that an archetypal hero possesses. He embodies the highest ideals of his culture, travels to find adventure, and is not emotiona llyRead MoreComparison Of Beowulf And The Rancher Dan Evans1462 Words   |  6 PagesDan Evans’ in numerous ways. Being the traditional, valiant hero, Beowulf’s bravery is unmatched among the thanes of Heorot and he leaps at the chance to slay the terrible monster Grendel. Described as a â€Å"brave thane of the Geats† (Beowulf 2), Beowulf’s strength and daring spirit is demonstrated with his admirable feats of bravery, including â€Å"[destroying] five a family of giants† and â€Å"[slaying] monsters on the waves† (372). Beowulf’s daring exploits leads him to challenge Grendel in single combat inRead MoreEssay about Beowulf The King1001 Words   |  5 Pages by relying solely on the strength of one man alone, he ultimately leaves his kingdom defenseless. By first examining how Hrothgar ensures a future for his people, and then by analyzing Beowulfs actions and motivations as king before he fights the dragon, this essay will define good kingship and expose Beowulfs failings as a king. Above all, Hrothgar sought to have a reciprocal relationship with his people. This intention is manifested in the building of Heorot. After proving himself in warRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of Beowulf As An Epic Hero765 Words   |  4 Pageshas superior qualities and risks personal danger to pursue a quest. Beowulf is a great epic hero because he performs many brave deeds such as risking his life for the greater good of society, and is significant and glorified by all people. Beowulf boasts and boasts about all of his great doings, but in the end he proves to everyone that he is as great as he claims to be. First, Beowulf shows that he will do anything for the fame, glory, and the greater good of society. He risks his life in many ofRead MoreTheme Of Death In Beowulf1097 Words   |  5 PagesBeowulf is an anglo-saxon epic that details the life of Geat warrior Beowulf and his dealings with 3 monsters. The society surrounding this epic is one that values lineage, glory, and success. Although these values are perceived as positive, they are often the root causes of the more malicious aspects of this society: blood-feud and tribal war. It should be duly noted that the poem is bookended with two very meaningful deaths. At the beginning of the poem the death of Scyld Sheafson, founder of theRead MoreBeowulf and Siegfried1462 Words   |  6 Pagesweb of parallelism between the two heroic characters. Both glory-seeking and nigh invincible warriors from noble origins, the two warriors blasted through adversities in pursuit of their ultimate goals. While both eventually fulfilled their desires, Siegfried’s satisfaction was cut short by an untimely death. Although Beowulf also eventually met his end whilst in combat with a dragon, evidence suggests that this played well into Beowulf’s plans and as such only Siegfried truly met a downfall. The