...Hero A hero is one who places himself or herself at great risk while performing acts of courage. Not only is Beowulf a hero because of his physical strength, but rather than basking in the resulting glory, he gives the glory to God. Beowulf is the ultimate hero who put his life on the line for an entire kingdom. Beowulf's heroism can be seen when he takes 14 of the bravest in his land to go help Hrothgar. Hrothgar was Beowulf's father's close friend who had been plagued by attacks for twelve years that threatened an entire kingdom. Beowulf did not have to offer Hrothgar's kingdom help, but does so because he wants to uses his God given strength to the best of his ability. As soon as Beowulf heard of the troubles in this land he set sail immediately. Beowulf continues to show his thankfulness by thanking God for giving them safe travel across the sea. Beowulf is lead to Hrothgar and offers him is services. Beowulf is asked by the warriors to tell of his past defeats while eating in Hrothgar's palace. Beowulf is already a hero to the people of this land for he is about to rid them of their enemy. As an ultimate hero, Beowulf decides, to be far, he will not use weapons in his battle against Grendel since Grendel reputedly does not use them. "I do not consider myself a lesser fighter than Grendel does himself; therefore I will not kill him with a sword, and deprive him of life in that way.... No, this night we two will abstain from swords..." That night...
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...Hero: a four lettered noun; the dictionary definition of the word 'hero' states that a hero is a person noted for courageous acts or nobility of character. Most times when people think of the word hero, the first thing that comes to mind is superhuman fictional heroes such as Superman, Spider-Man, and Wonder Woman, but a hero does not need supernatural abilities to be considered a hero. There are two types of heroes, fictional or nonfictional, and there are a plethora of different heroes in each category. Greek mythological heroes like Achilles and Oedipus Rex would be an example of fictional heroes and Vietnam War Veterans and Holocaust victims and survivors would be an example of nonfictional heroes. Although the two differ in realness,...
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...In the epic poem “Beowulf” the protagonist, Beowulf, portrays a tragic hero in a variety of ways. Although Beowulf was not a perfect being, he embraces many characteristics of a tragic hero. Beowulf’s ego put him into many difficult situations. For example the battles he fought against Grendel, Grendels Mother, and the dragon. Other then his enormous ego along with his cockiness that put him into bad situations, he also embraced the characteristics of a great leader that many looked up to. In many parts of the poem Beowulf performs many courageous tasks that no one else would even try, making him one that should be idolized. To start off, Beowulf plans out his battle with Grendel. In the very beginning Beowulf tells his people and Hrothgar that he wants to battle and kill Grendel with his owns hands. This part shows his over confident ego because he thinks he is so mighty and strong. While Grendel made his way to attack Herot, Beowulf pretended that he was asleep just as Grendel would see. As it says in lines (739-746) Grendel snatched at the first Geat… (Line745) He then stepped to another still body, clutched at Beowulf with his claws. Beowulf suddenly leaned up against Grendel’s arm attempting to get back at him. Grendel was very fearful and at that very moment he didn’t even want to kill, he wanted to get away. Grendel struggled until he was free, but he ran free without his arm. Beowulf ego once again ties into this because he claims that it was “fate” that he got away...
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...Michelle Moore Ms. Jennifer Child English 1302-4 26 December 2011 What it takes to be a Hero The definition of a hero has changed profusely throughout the evolution of society. In the days of Beowulf and the Vikings, a hero was a man who was strong and courageous, willing and able to protect his tribe and provide for his people. But today, since our culture has vastly changed, so has the meaning of this word; now it is used for the brave and selfless people of the world. Though Beowulf may have acted in ways that were not so heroic, he should be recognized as a hero. Many people recognize Beowulf as the hero of Anglo-Saxon times. Beowulf was the first poem told in Anglo-Saxon England sometime between the 8th and 11th centuries, but it's not actually set in that time and place. It's actually set several hundred years earlier, in the 5th or 6th century. Beowulf does not take place in England, instead, the action happens in the land of the Danes what is known as the nation of Denmark and the land of the Geats which today is known as the nation of Sweden. The main action of the story is set around 500 a.d. Judging by Beowulf’s many feats and strengths, Beowulf’s heroism is not hard to believe. When Beowulf slays the monster Grendal in the classic tale," he was considered a great hero. The slaying of Grendel required courage, bravery, intelligence, perseverance, and mental and physical strength. Certain passages in the story support the opinion that Beowulf has all these qualities...
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...Beowulf Essay The ideal hero, thats funny to think about, because they seem to always let you down in the end. The true meaning of a hero is someone that you can follow, not a ‘“don’t do what I do but do as I say” kind of man. A hero/heroine refers to characters who, in the face of danger and adversity or from a position of weakness, display courage and the will for self sacrifice that is, heroism for some greater good of all humanity. This definition originally referred to martial courage or excellence but extended to more general moral excellence. Roma Chatterji has suggested that the hero or more generally protagonist is first and foremost a symbolic representation of the person who is experiencing the story while reading, listening or watching, thus the relevance of the hero to the individual relies a great deal on how much similarity there is between the two. One reason for the hero-as-self interpretation of stories and myths is the human inability to view the world from any perspective but a personal one. The word hero/heroine is sometimes used simply to describe the protagonist of a story, or the love interest, a usage which can conflict with the superhuman expectations of heroism. The larger-than-life hero is a more common feature of fantasy (particularly sword, wizards and epic fantasy) than more realist works. Christianity traditionally has emphasized humility as its main form of heroics. To illustrate that no virtue can possibly be perfectly acquired or continue...
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...JENIFFER. AÑO: 2016– V Ciclo TRUJILLO – PERÚ COMPARISON ABOUT BEOWULF CHARACTER IN A FILM AND THE POEM The story of Beowulf is a timeless tale that many people have heard before. Beowulf is the great Anglo-Saxon hero who represents all that is good in the world and fights to protect the innocent. Beowulf goes out to battle monsters like Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the firedrake to keep the people safe. This part of the story will always remain the same and will never change. However, when comparing the poem to the film there are in fact both similarities and substantial changes. I have considered appropriate to compare the similarities and differences of Beowulf’s personality and physical appearance. In the lines below, I will develop this issue. When comparing Beowulf’s personality and physical appearance in the poem and the film, there a few similarities between the two. Both the character in the poem and in the film possesses the same basic traits. In both the poem and the film, Beowulf is described as being the best and bravest of the Geats. Besides, it can be read and seen that Beowulf’s physical strength is above all others. In addition both the poem and film show the courage that Beowulf possessed in traveling a great distance to battle Grendel for the Danes. “When Beowulf had heard all the stories about the dreadful deeds of the frightful monster, he determined...
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... Dr. Harris English 2210-006 1 March 2011-Revised Beowulf as an Epic The Anglo-Saxon tale Beowulf was most likely written by a single poet from a Christian background. The poem as a whole exhibits the poet’s empathy for epic heroes like Beowulf, and for how they lived and died without the hope and consolation of the Christian faith (“Beowulf” 30-31). Beowulf is an epic poem that describes various characters and events from the sixth century, in particular the story of a brave warrior named Beowulf, his many heroic adventures, and his ultimate death. This poem originated from both legends and myths from other cultures that originally were passed down orally from generation to generation and then eventually recorded. By definition, an epic poem is a “long narrative poem in an elevated style that celebrates heroic achievement and treats themes of historical, national, religious, or legendary significance.” Some common characteristics of an epic that are obviously evident in Beowulf are the use of specific types of figurative language, the fighting of heroic battles against supernatural creatures, the unusual behavior of god-like heroes, and the array of geographical settings which are often included in a long journey (“Epic”). One characteristic of epic poems is the use of certain types of figurative language. One type of this elevated language is an epic simile, “an extended simile often running to several lines used typically in epic poetry to intensify...
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...A hero is someone who is defined by their courage, nobility, and outstanding achievements. To be considered a Greek hero, one had to be brave, strong, and a child of an immortal parent. A hero, as defined by the Anglo-Saxons, possessed extraordinary strength, bravery, loyalty, and leadership, and was favored and assisted by supernatural beings. Comparing Beowulf to Percy Jackson based on their culture and heroic characteristics involving bravery, leadership, strength, personality traits, fighting style, and their motivation to fight. Focuses on the two different aspects of heroism as defined by Greek and Anglo Saxon culture. Beowulf and Percy Jackson share the heroic traits of leadership skills, superhuman strength and bravery. Beowulf is the leader of the Geats,...
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...An epic hero is defined as a brave and noble character that is admired for great achievements and known for being a warrior (dictionary.com). There have been plenty of heroes over the course of time, but many believe the most popular Anglo- Saxon hero, Beowulf, most perfectly fits into this category and truly defines what it means. At all times, Beowulf is never afraid to put his life on the line for the sake and protection of his people, which helped him gain approval from the people of his area. Throughout the course of the adventure and journey, Beowulf exemplifies what it means to be an epic hero showing loyalty, courage, intelligence, and selflessness in his efforts to save his people and achieve immortality. Beowulf proves that he is a great Anglo-Saxon epic hero through his loyalty. Loyalty was held paramount by...
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...According to Joseph Campbell, “a hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than him or herself”. Joseph Campbell includes many observations about a hero. I believe Beowulf fits Joseph Campbell’s definition of a hero due to many of his outstanding qualities. Beowulf gives his life for something bigger than himself, undergoes tests and trials, and goes through transformation. Based on Beowulf’s poem, Beowulf sacrifices his life for something above himself. “Proclaiming that he'd go to that famous king, would sail across the sea to Hrothgar, now when help was needed”(lines 114-116). In lines 165-166, Beowulf states, “That I, alone and with the help of my men, may purge all evil from this hall.” Not only does Beowulf demonstrate...
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...A Circumstantial Hero: An Analysis of Heroism The word hero commonly provokes the image of a superhuman in one’s mind. A power stance coupled with a cape beautifully flowing in the wind somehow makes up a hero who is bigger, stronger and overall greater than the average man. However, if one looks beyond this fictional description, he can find the more realistic qualities of an everyday hero. These real-life heroes tend to be people who are brave and courageous; they take action when action is needed for the greater good of their surrounding people. With this being said, it is ignorant to declare one singular definition of heroism as every person, community, culture, and generation can classify a hero in a very different way. The qualities and characteristics of a hero are entirely circumstantial, and therefore are forever in flux. One of the many heroes of American history is Rosa Parks, often referred to as “the first lady of civil rights.” Many know Parks as a hero due to her act of defiance in 1955....
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...The epic story of “Beowulf” is a story about Beowulf, the man who is the true definition of bravery and heroism. This story recaptures Beowulf's quest as he destroys monsters that terrorize the kingdom of Herot and the people who subside within it. Throughout the story vivid imagery and detailed monologue help upholds the story to an epic quality. But, for for it to truly to be an epic it must have a few needed elements such as references to god and battles between good and evil. A moment in Beowulf that truly captures this epic mentality can be found near the end of the story. Beowulf is out of his youth and is living in his old age as king. He along with some of his geats are set up outside the cave, where a diabolical dragon awaits to destroy anyone in sight. Beowulf stands up and begins his great final speech to his geats, unweary what there future holds.(2510-2510) This moment adds so much momentum to the story and so the way it embodies Beowulf as a story and a character. This moment shines above the rest and fully demonstrates the elements of bravery, self-sacrifice, and overall heroism. Of all the things Beowulf is, Beowulf is the true definition of bravery. He demonstrates this in many different ways through the text but it is the most apparent in his...
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...Beowulf Beowulf is an epic poem from the Anglo-Saxon time period and is roughly 4,000 lines long (The History Behind Beowulf). An epic poem is defined by Oxford Dictionaries as “a long poem, typically one derived from ancient oral tradition, narrating the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures or the history of a nation” (Definition of Epic in English). Many television shows and movies have been made based on the poem but one of the most recent is a movie from 2007 that shares the same name. Even though this movie version follows the majority of the original plot line of the poem, it does deviate on a couple key points which change the scope of the movie and make the journey of Beowulf markedly different from the poem. In both the poem and the movie Beowulf assumes kingship after the passing of King Hrothgar, kills Grendel and the dragon, and dies from wounds sustained from the battle with the dragon. However there are clear artistic liberties that were taken when making the film to make it more marketable as a film. For instance in the movie Beowulf sires the dragon with Grendel’s mother instead of killing her which leads to the dragon seeking out Beowulf for retribution. One of the greatest changes from the poem to the story is the slaying of Grendel’s mother. In the poem Beowulf engages in a heroic fight against Grendel’s mother ending with her death: He grasped then the sword-hilt, knight of the Scyldings, Bold and battle-grim, brandished his ring-sword...
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...Pamela Katrina G. Lim July 21, 2014 9-Patriotism ENGLISH “Life Learnings from Beowulf” Our greatest strength comes within ourselves not from other means. It’s not from using harmful weapons. Thus, bravery is more than facing danger, it’s about knowing your strength and using it wisely for your advantage. These are just one of the values executed and shown in the folk epic “Beowulf”. This folk epic is marked by the true definition of bravery and heroism. Each character possesses different personalities that will also leave a lesson unto us. Qualities that will serve as life-lesson to the reader. Firstly, Beowulf exemplifies the true traits of being a hero. A hero is someone who is completely unselfish, who will willingly help someone in need, who doesn’t aim for popularity or any recognitions, rather for the safety of the people in his kingdom or place. It is more than wielding a sword, it is using your brain together with your heart. Beowulf’s action is considered as a true act of heroism. Grendel’s heart on the other hand is full of hatred and anger. He is considered weak. In the real world, those people who live with jealousy and hatred to others are considered weak as well for they can’t appreciate life’s true beauty thus, they don’t treat themselves as special. Considering all of these, they are the ones who are not contented. We must appreciate ourselves for we are unique and that’s what makes us special. Grendel’s mother shows her unconditional...
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...To Be a Human- Then and Now Throughout the span of time humankind has asked the question: What does it mean to be human? Some of the world’s greatest men have contemplated over this question and there are a vast number of theories on what makes a human. A scientist might take a more literal opinion of the question, thinking that we are human because we are higher on the evolutionary chain; we are physically, emotionally and mentally complex. While others might take a more philosophical position on the matter, like René Descartes who originally spoke the famous phrase: “I think, therefore I am”. A philosopher would value the fact that humans can intelligently communicate their thoughts, and these thoughts can change the very existence of man as a whole through invention and innovation. Religious groups would base their opinion of humans on their faith; we are human simply because we are not God. At times science, philosophy and religion can confuse a person opinion on what it actually means to be human. Maybe the concept of being human is much simpler then some may think. Being human could simply mean that we as a collective race are imperfect. The idea of human imperfection is not easily explained by science, philosophy or religion. They can all sometimes be too complex to understand. Science exemplifies the human race as a species, philosophy praises human race as thinkers and religion looks at the human race as sinners and how we all must be perfect to please God...
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