...patterns within the “Monomyth,” as revealed in The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell. In Beowulf, for instance, Beowulf is the hero; meanwhile Grendel is his nemesis until his death. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain is also the hero, but he is not the trickster in the story. Therefore, similarities both of these works do have, but contradictions also exist. . Certain similarities and differences, however, stem not from age-old Monomythic patterns, but rather from differences in worldviews, varied paradigms held by cultures separated by roughly 350 years of development. Thus, some values...
Words: 1216 - Pages: 5
...Beowulf and Grendel are both two healthy strong fighters. Although they are very different, both of them are considered epic heroes. But Grendel is seen as a villain to everybody in the community because of the past terror the he has caused. But humans kind of see Beowulf as a villain too because both of them are very strong and powerful men. They both have their monster like ways and kill with no remorse or motivation. Beowulf is really classified as a hero because of what he does for the community. He took broken cities from their ruler or king and captured the cities and brought in Christianity to even or balance out the pain and suffering of the families and innocent people of the community or city. Grendel on the other hand likes to evade...
Words: 597 - Pages: 3
...thinking of a hero include: superhuman abilities, courage, and selflessness. In the epic poem Beowulf, Beowulf displays all of these heroic traits. While some could argue that Beowulf is not a hero due to his desire for glory, his heroic qualities outweigh this one fault. Overall, Beowulf’s effectiveness as a hero can be seen through his courage and selflessness to take on extraordinary monsters and his superhuman ability to take on these creatures. The story begins by introducing a community and a monstrous creature that plagues the citizens. The creature, Grendel, is exceptionally power as he is able to kill thirty warriors with little effort: “He slipped through the door and there in the silence snatched up thirty men, smashed them unknowing in their beds and ran out with their bodies” (4). This would surely scare most men but not Beowulf. Beowulf welcomes the challenge and prepares to fight him as soon as he hears about the creature: “In his far-off home Beowulf, … heard how Grendel filled nights with horror and quickly commanded a boat fitted out” (6). Beowulf’s readiness to fight Grendel exemplifies his courage and selflessness. The fact that Beowulf lives in a far-off land further...
Words: 650 - Pages: 3
...their community, fearless of death, and they are loyal to an individual or a cause. The epic poem Beowulf, written by Burton Raffel, depicts the life of Beowulf, the most heroic person during Anglo-Saxon times. Beowulf is fearful of no monster and seems to conquer every obstacle as if he were immortal. He possess many of the characteristics that make up an epic hero including: courage,physical strength, loyalty,confidence, and wisdom. During Anglo-Saxon times, tales were often told about epic heroes who put their own lives in danger for the greater good. These stories about fearless and honorable warriors provided the common people with a sense of security and provided lessons to young men that they should display honor in every act. Beowulf willingly put himself in danger when he accepted the challenge of fighting the monster, Grendel. He did this only to help the Geats and out of loyalty to the Danes. His actions defined his life and are recounted throughout the epic poem. Beowulf was never afraid of death. Before every battle he would explain his death wishes and request that his assets be delivered to his people. "And if death does take me, send the hammered mail of my armor to Hilgar" (Beowulf 18). Beowulf boasts about his courage and how he never backs down from a battle and fears nothing. No monster is too evil or has more strength. Beowulf exhibits his courage by protecting the kingdom and going up against Grendel. During his battle with Grendel, Beowulf shows his...
Words: 738 - Pages: 3
...A number of topics present themselves as themes in the text, Beowulf. The role of a theme in a text more often than not is to assist in bringing out the underlying message and consequent value of any piece of literary work. This is notwithstanding whether it is ancient or not. Furthermore, this serves to enhance acute comprehension of a text in a multi-faceted way that ensures total appreciation and due association. The themes in the text, Beowulf include, among others, courage, mortality, the supernatural feat, religion, traditions, identity establishment and customs and good vs. evil. Nevertheless, the most dominant theme is the war/combat as presented throughout the whole text, Beowulf and is undeniably a focal point of concern. Hence; it is in light of this that this essay looks at the topic of war/combat as evidenced in the text....
Words: 1486 - Pages: 6
...their community, fearless of death, and they are loyal to an individual or a cause. The epic poem Beowulf, written by Burton Raffel, depicts the life of Beowulf, the most heroic person during Anglo-Saxon times. Beowulf is fearful of no monster and seems to conquer every obstacle as if he were immortal. He possess many of the characteristics that make up an epic hero including: courage,physical strength, loyalty,confidence, and wisdom. During Anglo-Saxon times, tales were often told about epic heroes who put their own lives in danger for the greater good. These stories about fearless and honorable warriors provided the common people with a sense of security and provided lessons to young men that they should display honor in every act. Beowulf willingly put himself in danger when he accepted the challenge of fighting the monster, Grendel. He did this only to help the Geats and out of loyalty to the Danes. His actions defined his life and are recounted throughout the epic poem. Beowulf was never afraid of death. Before every battle he would explain his death wishes and request that his assets be delivered to his people. "And if death does take me, send the hammered mail of my armor to Hilgar" (Beowulf 18). Beowulf boasts about his courage and how he never backs down from a battle and fears nothing. No monster is too evil or has more strength. Beowulf exhibits his courage by protecting the kingdom and going up against Grendel. During his battle with Grendel, Beowulf shows...
Words: 737 - Pages: 3
...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...
Words: 491 - Pages: 2
...marvelous quality or limit. An unfathomable show of valor and what it really means to be a holy person was gotten in a long verse, Beowulf, which was close being lost in the midst of a fire in 1731 in the Cotton Library (Foster). Most of the attributes in which a holy person should have are controlled by Beowulf, for instance, devotion, courage, and quality. Beowulf shows a trip of a warrior that progressions himself into an uncommon holy person. The epic of Beowulf brilliantly got and arranged for all legends. The key credit to an OK holy person is being steadfast to the overall public around you, paying little mind to the condition. In the most punctual reference purpose of the verse we see the...
Words: 1700 - Pages: 7
...Beowulf, heroic poem, the highest achievement of Old English literature and the earliest European vernacular epic. Preserved in a single manuscript (Cotton Vitellius A XV) from c. 1000, it deals with events of the early 6th century and is believed to have been composed between 700 and 750. It did not appear in print until 1815. Although originally untitled, it was later named after the Scandinavian hero Beowulf, whose exploits and character provide its connecting theme. There is no evidence of a historical Beowulf, but some characters, sites, and events in the poem can be historically verified. The poem falls into two parts. It opens in Denmark, where King Hrothgar’s splendid mead hall, Heorot, has been ravaged for 12 years by nightly visits from an evil monster, Grendel, who carries off Hrothgar’s warriors and devours them. Unexpectedly, young Beowulf, a prince of the Geats of southern Sweden, arrives with a small band of retainers and offers to cleanse Heorot of its monster. The King is astonished at the little-known hero’s daring but welcomes him, and after an evening of feasting, much courtesy, and some discourtesy, the King retires, leaving Beowulf in charge. During the night Grendel comes from the moors, tears open the heavy doors, and devours one of the sleeping Geats. He then grapples with Beowulf, whose powerful grip he cannot escape. He wrenches himself free, tearing off his arm, and leaves, mortally wounded. The next day is one of rejoicing in Heorot. But at night...
Words: 600 - Pages: 3
...Beowulf has the strength of four men. He was able to kill two beasts, one with his bare hands and the other with a sword cloaked in giant’s magic. He was able to breathe underwater for a lot longer than any man. Beowulf could carry the head of the one of the beasts and swim with it, whereas it took four of his men to carry that same head. He was also able to tear the arm off the other beast. Beowulf never gave up. He always kept fighting, even when it seemed as though he might lose. He travelled from the land of the Geats to Herot to fight off two beasts that terrorized the land. He was courageous and persistent in this sense. He was loyal to the people in Herot by defeating these beasts without anything in return. He had a sense of justice. He killed the beasts for those the beasts had killed. He sought revenge for those people. He always came out on...
Words: 462 - Pages: 2
...Gawain Versus Beowulf Strength can be described as the audacity to fight until the last breath. In the case of both Sir Gawain and Beowulf these were the ideals that these men followed. In the poems Sir Gawain and The Green Knight and Beowulf, the main characters, Sir Gawain and Beowulf, show the physical attribute of strength and valor. However, Sir Gawain and Beowulf are different in the form of strength and qualities. One represented a king who fought for the people and the other who showed loyalty towards the kingship. Beowulf was regarded as an ideal hero by the Anglo Saxon community. The main trait that regards him as the perfect hero was his courage and strength that he shows at the very end of his life. Beowulf shows his physicality throughout the story. "Beowulf, Higlac follower and the strongest of the Geats - greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in the world"(Beowulf 46). This quote exemplifies the fact that Beowulf is considered the best warrior in the region. He is also considered by many people to have superhuman abilities and superhuman strength when he ferociously rips the arm off of Grendel in the poem. Beowulf portrays the ideals of an epic hero as well as the elements of Germanic tribes which gave him super human strength and super human qualities. He is also " A man of great strength " (Helen web). This also reinstates the detail that shows the agile nature in Beowulf and also physical toughness of him as a whole. As a result, Beowulf is a sign of...
Words: 983 - Pages: 4
...Eng 201 September 7, 2012 Analysis of Christian and Pagan Themes in Beowulf The heroic poem, Beowulf, written circa ninth century after the Common Era (C. E.), presents a bloody chronicle of a king’s role in the violence and tumultuous Germanic tribes shortly after the Roman Empire’s expulsion from the low countries of Northwestern Europe. Evolving from oral narrative’s, Beowulf’s origins, while traceable to a general place and time in history, remains obscure, and comes to modern readers through a manuscript written around the year one thousand C. E.. Written in the language of the Anglo-Saxons, Beowulf, namesake for the title, defeats three monsters, Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and finally after many years of ruling his lands, a dragon. While fictional, the author weaves the main plot centering on defeating these vicious adversaries with a mixture of both pagan and Christian customs. Beowulf illustrates numerous biblical references and Christian influences, while simultaneously reflecting a core of Germanic pagan customs. Christianity and its religious elements, alongside, pagan customs and practices, play a fundamental role in the heroic poem, Beowulf’s narrative. Grendel, the monster that terrorizes Hrothgar’s great Hall of the Hart, traces his lineage back to Cain, one of the two sons of Adam and Eve. Cain commits the first murder according to Christian teachings, slaying his brother, Abel (The Holy Bible, Genesis 4-8). Grendel sprang from, “Cain’s clan, whom...
Words: 1012 - Pages: 5
...Beowulf portrays many characteristics that are shown throughout his actions in the story. There are many different archetypes that can be used to represent Beowulf, but hero is by far the most prevalent archetype he shows. He endures many daring quests which back up the hero archetype, such as when he left his own land to protect the Danes and kill Grendel or when he slayed Grendel’s mother. Grendel was an evil monster who was hated by all of the people under king Hrothgar. Slowly Grendel started killing the common people of the Danes because of the rage he felt toward them for refusing to accept him into their community. They feared Grendel because he was a fiend out of hell (line 99-101). Eventually, Grendel started to construct his own types of raids on the mead...
Words: 643 - Pages: 3
...Looking at the Mirrors of Two Heroes Throughout each tale there has always been a hero, each completely different from another with their own flair. In the old times it was held that hero were the role models, the perfect courageous beings within their community. It’s no different that both Beowulf and Thomas Malory’s Sir Gawain were written upheld with these expectations, both deemed great heroes in these times the Angle-Saxon and Medieval period, respectfully. However, these men vary so greatly from each other especially from the attachment they have with the reader, along with their faith, traits, role in society and views. Although both males were deemed perfect by their peers and community for their deeds the characteristic shown in each occasion split them apart in traits. When the Green Knight emerged before Arthur’s court, unlike Beowulf who welcomed the task of vanquishing Grendel, Sir Gawain offers himself up because ‘his life would be least missed’ of any (Allen 231). In contrast to Beowulf, who not only gloats about his superior greatness but also has others who spoke and knew full well of his strength, having been perceived as the ‘strongest than anyone anywhere in this world’ (Allen 42). The boasting of his own feats seem to be a natural quality of a warrior, while knights were expected to excel at modesty and humility. The example of Sir Gawain’s humbleness is something the king of Geats would never present. Furthermore during the encounter...
Words: 671 - Pages: 3
...Gawain and the Green Knight and Beowulf, a hero battles his respective villain to uphold his values, and as such, save his world. Challenged by a green knight, Sir Gawain must receive blows to the neck by the creature after staying in the house of a Sir Bertilak. All the while, he must try to conciliate two differing moral codes. Beowulf, on the other hand, must defeat various monsters to protect his people and his allies. Although both must prove their worth, Sir Gawain must resist temptation to sin, while Beowulf must protect his people and their allies. A giant, green warrior rides into a hall full of King Arthur’s men. Sir Gawain stands up, in place of King Arthur, and delivers a decapitating blow to the Green Knight after Sir Gawain promises to find him to receive a blow in return. As Sir Gawain searches for the Green Knight, he finds shelter in the castle of a local lord, Lord Bertilak, and his wife, Lady Bertilak. In the Church, desires of the flesh are considered evil, and should be avoided. In the chivalric code, one must always obey authority. These two values come in contradiction when Sir Gawain is asked by Lady Bertilak to give a kiss to her. “‘One gracious as Gawain is rightly held to be, with courtesy contained so clear in himself, could not lightly have lingered so long with a lady, but he craved a kiss out of...
Words: 920 - Pages: 4
