...Grendel Grendel is a lonely creature who tries to discover the true meaning of being human and the existence of humans. Through out this book the only thing Grendel has ever try to do was to understand the humans and how to connect with them. He doesn't want to be a lonely creature anymore. His tired of hearing his mom moaning,tired of talking to himself and tired of not knowing anything. Grendel is represent different in John Gardiner eyes. Grendel is very intelligent smart and before he acts he thinks. His big and very strong. From the time he can see and walk he started to observe the Human race. He started to understand us. He started to figure out are life. How we talk, how we speak with one and other. How we build, how we survive. From time to time he became more and more intelligent. He wanted to know more and the only way he can learn is by observing and listening to us.But their was one problem he can’t just come up to us and listen or speak to us because his language was different from us. He's a monster and he looks like a beast and he knows what happens to beast who goes to Human village. That gets him mad but that doesn't get mad enough to brutal kill someone. The things that get him to kill someone or to be brutal is what the humans do. The one thing that motivates him into brutal killing is the Human Race. He doesn't like what the human do. He hates how this one tribe whose ruler name is Hrothgar. He hates how the tribes devastate the land how they destroy...
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...wanted to grow up to be just like. As we grow and mature, we still find people to look up to and emulate. This craving to admire somebody is a societal trait that has been around since the beginning of time. It is a human archetypal trait to put somebody on a pedestal and to idolize them. This trait is even seen in futile societies. This idea is commonly seen in literature. Works of literature dating back long before even the 1800’s can sometimes best demonstrate this idea. A good example of the human trait of admiration in literature is Beowulf, the Epic Poem translated by Seamus Heaney. In Beowulf, the plebs and soldiers are in constant admiration of the Epic Hero Beowulf. They look at him like a savior, shower him in gifts, and give him a burial that eternalizes his spot on the pedestal. The epic poem Beowulf highlights the human trait of admiration through the...
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...Beowulf vs. Achilles “They were combat causalities, brave men and women who risked their lives to safeguard our freedom. And they paid for our liberty with their lives” (Cannon). So many people die for the freedoms that the American person values. As society grows and becomes different the true heroes are becoming less recognized. What modern day people would say about today's heroes would be far from the brave, and courageous war soldiers. A very long time ago, there were two brave and courageous warriors, Beowulf of Denmark and Achilles of Greece. These two individuals reached the highest expectations and excelled at successfully leading their people in battle. Both amazing leaders and determined fighters, but they came from different backgrounds,...
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...great traits that make them standout from the rest of the people in a story. With the epic hero possessing many traits, it shows why they are the chosen one. In Beowulf, the epic hero is Beowulf. In the story the character Beowulf portrays the trait of being capable of deeds of great strength and courage. He portrays this by killing Grendel, killing Grendel’s mother, and killing the sea monsters. Beowulf characterizes the trait of having strength and courage by killing Grendel. During the colossal fight, Beowulf is able to rip off the shoulder off Grendel, and hangs them up in Geats. A quote from the story to support this is, “A prince of the Geats, had killed Grendel, Ended the grief, the sorrow, the suffering Forced on...
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...Throughout the story of Beowulf, external battles like the one of Beowulf versus Grendel, not only reflects a sense courage and pride, but also reflects the internal battle of human tendencies Beowulf struggles with throughout the poem. The internal battle between Beowulf and himself reflects every other human being, showing that everyone can be like Beowulf in the way that he is courageous and proud, while some people possess the tendencies of Grendel such as, betrayal, cowardice, and fear. In the beginning, Beowulf’s sole purpose was to gain glory and pride within the Anglo-Saxon community. In order to maintain his glory, Beowulf travels to Herot to destroy Grendel. There are significant differences between Grendel and Beowulf. Beowulf represents courage, strength, and pride. As an Anglo-Saxon warrior, battling during day and with warning is everything a fighter needs to be; whereas Grendel comes at night, and without warning in order to kill the men. As Grendel approaches the Herot Hall once again, in lines 368-371 “All of Beowulf’s band had jumped from their beds, ancestral swords raised and ready, determined to protect their prince if they could…” The purpose of this line was to prove that Anglo-Saxon men are not “wimps” and instead stand up for their Lord and are willing to lose their lives for him. Also, it yet again points out the differences between Beowulf and Grendel. Just as Grendel sees Beowulf, “Grendel’s one though was to run from Beowulf, flee back to his marsh...
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...If someone asked you to compare Beowulf and Walter Payton, you would have a lot of trouble. They are completely different in every aspect from their life, to what they did. Beowulf was a fictional hero from long ago who slated monsters. Payton was an amazing football player from the 1970s-80s. Although being so different, they both have similar traits such as perseverance, great strength, and honor. The first trait is perseverance, which both heroes are known for. Beowulf persevered through thick and thin fighting monsters. He kept fighting each monster never giving up until they were dead. Payton persevered through different situations in his sport. Although being only 5’10”, Payton powered through every opponent he could. His motto was to...
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...Beowulf is an epic poem passed down and told orally for many centuries. This epic poem took place during the Anglo Saxon time period. This story tells of a heroic man by the name Beowulf who took on extraordinary quests to protect the kingdom of Hrothgar. This epic poem was partially based on Christianity, which is believed, due to its time period it took to have taken place. Therefore, the poem had several comparisons of the incredible leader of the geats, Beowulf, to the savor of the Jews, Christ. Beowulf displayed traits of leadership to the Geats, like an epic hero would to show them and safety. For example, “Then he said farewell to his followers” ( ln 611 pg). Therefore, interpreting Beowulf , he was seen as a king to the people who seeked...
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...Real Hero: Beowulf vs. Grendel The story of the famous battle between Beowulf and Grendel are told in two stories in The story of Beowulf by an unknown author and Grendel by John Gardner. The story of Beowulf is told in 3rd person by someone recounting the events and Grendel is told in a 1st person view of Grendel himself. There is lots of controversy whether which of the two is the real hero, so here is the gist of both stories for you to decide: There is a small town full of people that is being tormented by a monster who comes only to kill and bring terror among the people, the attacks continue and after a short while comes a famous warrior named Beowulf. He comes to defeat the town’s monster to save the people and end the mindless killings of Grendel. Both stories result in Grendel being killed and Beowulf being praised for his actions and he eventually becomes a great, fair king that all the people adore and love. The Anglo-Saxon definition of a hero is typically a man who is strong, brave and an intelligent warrior. They had to be willing to fight to the...
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...A “hero is a person” who is appreciated or idealized for bravery or outstanding success. A “hero displays traits,” a hero “saves others”, and a hero “is culture.” Beowulf displays a hero trait by either showing all his strengths and powers, but hero’s traits can also show weakness. Hero’s usually show a positive trait, because not everyone wants to show their weakness. Beowulf is an act of a time and place so that’s why he is considered a hero in culture. Every hero has a journey to follow so they can be able to get to the title “hero.” The hero’s journey was recognized by Joseph Campbell and it tells is the typical adventure of the archetype which is known the hero. In Beowulf, the call to adventure was when Beowulf hears about the monster and how his is attacking Herot’s people. Beowulf is to go and save the land from Grendel who is the monster....
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...hero was found in the literary piece “Beowulf”. An epic hero is defined as a larger - than - life figure, who pits his courage, skill, and virtue against opposing, often evil forces. Beowulf is clearly the epic hero in “Beowulf” because he displays bravery and strength, as well as demonstrates that he is a smart Anglo-Saxon leader. The first trait that Beowulf showcases that makes him an epic hero is bravery. Driven by honor, Beowulf confronts Hrothgar with a proposition to fight the monster...
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...Mirror for Princes is a literary genre that offers a particular set of traits that an ideal prince would follow. These traits would include things such as strength, courage, generosity and loyalty; all of which are interweaved throughout Beowulf. One particular trait that is embodied through the entire epic is loyalty. At the start of the epic, it shows Beowulf coming to the aid of the Danes to make up for the debt that is owed to Hrothgar. This can be shown in lines 456 - 461. Hrothgar spoke, protector of the Scyldings: “For past favors, my friend Beowulf, And for old deeds, you have sought us out. Your father struck up the greatest of feuds. When he killed Heatholaf by his own hand Among the Wylfings. After Beowulf defeats Grendel,...
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...Tyler Harris Mrs. Threet English 7 November 2014 Why do certain character traits make some villains, while those same traits make others heroes? Many people may say that it depends on how the character uses the traits, which is very true. The background of the character determines how the character will use whatever special powers they have. In the epic poem of Beowulf, there are many events where supernatural strength is used by not only Beowulf himself, but as well as Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and a few other characters throughout the poem. The story starts off with the battle with Grendel, and both Beowulf and Grendel have supernatural strength, and so does Grendel’s mother. Beowulf and Grendel are both larger than life and they are both strong, and they have supernatural strength. In this poem, Beowulf does what is best for his people. He defends them and he eventually becomes king and is praised very frequently for his heroic duties. That is mainly what makes Beowulf larger than life, or what some may call famous. He takes care of his people and in exchange they take care of him. Grendel is an enormous, creature that was a decedent of Kane and he had been holding Denmark hostage for 12 years before Beowulf arrived. years. His demeanor is what really made him an outsider and people didn’t accept him. Beowulf’s first battle was with Grendel. The twelve foot beast rudely interrupted a celebration in the Hall that King Hrothgar had built for his people to come and fellowship...
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...The stories of Beowulf and Achilles In the book Beowulf, Beowulf is a hero of the Geats, he comes to the aid of Hrothgar who is the king of the Danes, who is under attack by the monster Grendel. In the other book Achilles, Achilles is the Greek hero of the Trojan War and is one of the greatest warriors of homers lliad. They both are heroes in their own book and are both trying to accomplish the same goal. First similar trait that both of the heroes hold are they have the greatest power of all in their books. They are the most powerful human who has to battle the enemy like Beowulf has to fight Grendel and Achilles has to battle in the Trojan War. The second trait that they both carry is they both die in battle. Achilles dies when he is shot...
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...Wallace Literature 201 Beowulf- Character Analysis For this analysis I chose to contrast Beowulf with The Odyssey’s, Odysseus. Both of the protagonists in these stories have very similar traits and cultural ideals, while maintaining subtle differences. They are both strong and intelligent. They are both boastful, but never without just reason. They are both an ideal representation of the attributes that were praised by their individual societies. However, there are many notable differences in their modus operandi. One of the most notable being their libidos, or absence of. Odysseus was a great leader whose shrewd intellect enabled the Greeks to defeat the Trojans in the war. Beowulf was known to be a great warrior and acute thinker to his fellow Geats and proved to be just as shrewd in assisting the Danes. At the very beginning of the story of Beowulf we are immediately introduced to a shared ideal amongst the Germanic and Greek culture; the importance of family lineage. Much like it is vital for the author to explain the back story of Hrothgar’s lineage and often times refer to Beowulf as “son of Ecgtheow”, it is also vital for Odysseus to give his father’s name when confessing himself to Polyphemus and the loyalty Telemachus shows to his father. One area of difference between the two would be whether are not they exhibit values of “fair-fighting”. While they were both very witty and intelligent, their tactics for using it differed slightly. Beowulf was a much more in your...
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...“A Selfish Hero” Many people recognize Beowulf as the hero of Anglo-Saxon times. Judging by his amazing resume of feats and strengths, this is not hard to believe. Beowulf exemplifies the traits of a perfect and valiant hero, or so it seems. However, Beowulf, written by an unknown author, illustrates the great length the character goes through to succeed. Beowulf does anything in his power to prevail, leading him to become a selfish individual. Examining Beowulf's speech, thoughts, and actions, it becomes evident of the selfish hero within. Firstly, Beowulf's speech proves that he would do anything to prevail, illustrating his inflated ego. Although defeated in some battles, Beowulf manages to carry out every mission in order to justify his loses and make himself look successful. Unferth, who attempts to criticize Beowulf’s battles says, "Then winter churned through the water, the waves ran you as they willed, and you struggled seven long nights to survive. And at the end victory was his, not yours” (22;6;248-51). However, upon hearing this, Beowulf accuses Unferth of being drunk in order to make people believe he never understands what he says. "Ah! Unferth, my friend, your face is hot with ale, and your tongue had tried to tell us about Brecca's doings” (22;6;263-65). After hearing this, people are lead to believe Beowulf never takes this criticism seriously, for Unferth‘s drunkenness hazes his rationality. Thus, Beowulf makes Unferth, appear envious, while making himself...
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