...Gilgamesh vs Beowulf: Joseph Campbell once said, "When we quit thinking primarily about ourselves and our self-preservation, we undergo a truly heroic transformation of consciousness." Gilgamesh and Beowulf have a great power to release their strengths when needed. Therefore both Gilgamesh and Beowulf are examples of an epic hero due to battles they fight within themselves and seeking accomplishments in life; however, Beowulf is a better example because he is selfless. Gilgamesh has had many battles to make him think he is the best. A major battle Gilgamesh has had was against himself. Gilgamesh hid his battle so abundantly that not a single person realized his toughest battle. That battle was him not believing he is mortal, “Only Gods are immortal anyway” (58.2). These two heroes have fought tremendous battles, but nobody sees their biggest battle that they have because it is within themselves; even though, Beowulf too had many battles in his life, but his battle made him the best. Beowulf had a major battle within himself as well as Gilgamesh did. Beowulf’s battle was to prove that he was great, he was doubted by Unferth. Unferth told Beowulf “You’ve been lucky in your battles, Beowulf, but I think your luck may change if you challenge Grendel” (27.258-259). With Unferth doubting him, Beowulf knew that this is the time to prove that he is worthy enough by helping the Danes out. Beowulf responds greatly by saying “I fought that beast’s last battle, left it...
Words: 840 - Pages: 4
...Hodges 1 Erin Hodges 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...
Words: 1360 - Pages: 6
...In the story Beowulf he shows many different things but the things I thought stuck out that he showed were Courage, Strength, and Heroic Deeds/Heroism. Beowulf fought 3 different battles and was very successful in most of them. Beowulf showed Courage because he believed he could battle and save all of these people. He gave other people courage that believed in him and he wanted to prove that he could do it. Beowulf came here to do something and he wasn’t leaving until he was finish with it. Beowulf had enough courage he needed, he never backed down and he always got back up on his feet. He had the courage to go fight huge monsters and couldn’t let being afraid get in his way with any of the battles. Another theme Beowulf showed was strength. Beowulf proved that just because he was smaller and not a monster he could do just as much as them if not more. He killed with just his bare hands which showed so much strength and gave everyone else strength because if he can do it they can at least try. Beowulf had strength when he went to every battle, he had the strength that when he went to every battle he was going to succeed and he didn’t let anything get in the way. The last thing that I thought was a good theme was Heroic Deeds/Heroism. Beowulf went in there to do a job and save lives and he did. Beowulf is a hero to so many people because of his actions and what he has done. Beowulf killed the bad people that they couldn’t kill their selves. Beowulf was just a small...
Words: 345 - Pages: 2
...Beowulf’s Battles: The Progression of Beowulf’s Wisdom as a Warrior Beowulf, an epic tale from the Anglo-Saxon era, depicts a hero that goes by the name Beowulf. Beowulf is a Geatish warrior who lives to later on becomes a king. On this journey from a young warrior of the Geatish nation, to a king amongst the people, Beowulf experienced many battles and ended up victorious to his last breath. Out of the many battles Beowulf had, three specific battles stand out to show how Beowulf evolved as a warrior. These battles are; the battle with Grendel, the battle with Grendel’s mother, and the battle with a dragon. The progress achieved in each battle proved to be constructive to his wisdom as a warrior. The first battle took place in the land of the Danes with, “This grim spirit called Grendel, / mighty stalker of the marches,” (Beowulf 103-104). Grendel terrorized the mead hall named “Heorot.” This terrorizing of the mead hall, by Grendel, took place for twelve long winters in the Danish land. Word of this terrorizing reached the ears of Beowulf which caused him and his army to travel to land of the Danes. Grendel’s terror consisted of sneaking upon sleeping soldiers in the mead hall and fulfilling his bloodlust and hatred by slaying the Danish soldiers. As said before this slaying took place for twelve winters. At this point, Beowulf is a young and naïve soldier. This is shown by his battle with the monster Grendel. Instead of going into battle with armor, weapons, and anything...
Words: 1397 - Pages: 6
...The Three Battles of Beowulf’s The three battles in the Epic Poem of Beowulf show the brutality and shear power of the great warrior Beowulf. The battles are individually significant but are also equally connected in many ways. The arrival of Beowulf from his home tribe of the Geats in the tribe of the Danes is due to a cry for help from the king of the Danes, Hrothgar. This great king has done everything in his power to defeat the beast named Grendel who ravages there mead hall at night. The second battle is between Beowulf and Grendel’s bloodthirsty mother who is out for revenge. The epic poem of Beowulf ends with the final battle between Beowulf and the Dragon who lives in the remains of a forgotten tribe. These battles will show the attributes of courage, sacrifice, leadership and honor displayed through Beowulf’s actions. The first battle takes place between a beast named Grendel and Beowulf in a quick but gruesome battle in the mead hall. The mead hall is the central meeting places of tribes during this time period. The mead hall that this battle takes place in, the mead hall of the tribe of the Danes, is the greatest mead hall of the time. Named Heorot, it was grander and more magnificent than any other. It is a sacred place to the tribe of the Danes, a place of celebration and sanctuary. Grendel made it a place of death and with the strength of killing 30 men, Grendel is a force of destruction. The king of the Danes, the Great King Hrothgar, has tried to defeat...
Words: 1725 - Pages: 7
...In the epic poem “Beowulf”, written by a Christian monk in the 18th century, the ruler and warrior, Beowulf is conveyed as an inconsistent individual that posses many Christian and pagan values throughout his life. At the beginning of his life, Beowulf is called to defeat a monster named Grendel in foreign lands. Being the pagan warrior he was, Beowulf stepped up to the challenge and declared to fight Grendel alone and without armor or weapons. After this, Beowulf begins to realize that if he acts out the pagan values as he did before, then he will end up being overconfident and less successful in his future. In result, Beowulf starts to show more and more Christian values in his next phase of life. For example, in his next fight, he realizes that his prior preparation for the fight against Grendel wasn’t affective, so he prays and shows humbleness by wearing armor and using a sword. In the final phase of his life, he finds a middle ground between Christian and pagan values, and applies it to his last battle. In Beowulf’s first fight, he is called to seize the invasions of Grendel. Beowulf steps up to the challenge, and shows up on the beach of the foreign lands, and is over confident in himself before he even hears about what he is getting into. When he is finished with the briefing of the mission at hand, Beowulf is confronted by a man named Unferth. Unferth challenges Beowulf’s worthiness of heroism. Beowulf shows strong pagan values, and challenges him back because...
Words: 800 - Pages: 4
...Olsen Snow English 12 21 September 2015 Beowulf Essay Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon Epic, narrative poem. Meaning that it is a story of the battles between warriors and monsters consisting of long and descriptive speeches from each character. It follows the great and honorable Beowulf in his numerous conquests as he instills hope through the destruction of many a foe. Beowulf was passed down orally before being written down and ultimately becoming the national epic of England as it is today. Beowulf itself can be described as a story of dual ordeal, that showcases both an internal battle with human weakness and an external fight between a champion and evil monsters. Right from the beginning of the story part of the external half of the dual ordeal is outlined in these following lines: “A powerful monster, living down in the darkness, growled in pain, impatient.” (Beowulf 1-2). These couple lines showcase the first of several monstrous threats that the heroic warrior will have to soon face. Grendel is described as powerful and in darkness. This depicts that the hero, Beowulf, will have a worthy opponent to face in the battle between good and evil. Later on in the poem when Beowulf arrives to do battle with Grendel he faces Grendel unarmed to maintain his honor due to the fact that Grendel does not use weapons. The outcome of said battle is described in Beowulf, lines 330 through 338. “Grendel's one thought was to run from Beowulf, flee back to his marsh and hide there: This...
Words: 693 - Pages: 3
...one who does not fear death. Beowulf, set in the Anglo-Saxon time period, was an epic that told the story of a legendary hero, who seized all obstacles as if he were immortal. Up until the end of Beowulf's life, he constantly wanted to be the hero. However, his mortality was exposed by his death. Beowulf in many ways exhibited all the qualities and characteristics needed to be a true hero. Heroes, whether from the Anglo-Saxon time period or present day, all share the characteristic of their willingness to die, in an effort to accomplish a true act of heroism. Several critics argue that through Beowulf’s superhuman strength, generosity, loyalty, bravery, and...
Words: 1072 - Pages: 5
...Beowulf Beowulf | first page of Beowulf in Cotton Vitellius A. xv. | Author(s) | unknown | Language | Old English (West Saxon and some Anglian) | Date | unknown, sometime between the 8th and 11th century | State of existence | manuscript suffered damage from fire in 1731 | Manuscript(s) | Cotton Vitellius A. xv | First printed edition | by Thorkelin (1815) | Genre | narrative heroic poetry | Verse form | alliterative verse | Length | c. 3182 lines | Subject | the battles of Beowulf, the Geatish hero, in youth and old age | Setting | Denmark and Sweden | Personages | include Beowulf, Hygelac, Hrothgar, Wealhtheow, Hrothulf, Æschere, Unferth, Grendel, Grendel's mother, Wiglaf, Hildeburh. | Beowulf (/ˈbeɪ.ɵwʊlf/; in Old English [ˈbeːo̯wʊlf] or [ˈbeːəwʊlf], literally "bee wolf" i.e. "bee hunter", a kenning for "bear") is the conventional title of an Old English heroic epic poem consisting of 3182 alliterative long lines, set in Scandinavia, commonly cited as one of the most important works of Anglo-Saxon literature. It survives in a single manuscript known as the Nowell Codex. Its composition by an anonymous Anglo-Saxon poet is dated between the 8th and the early 11th century. In 1731, the manuscript was badly damaged by a fire that swept through a building housing a collection of Medieval manuscripts assembled by Sir Robert Bruce Cotton. The poem fell into obscurity for decades, and its existence did not become widely known again until it was printed...
Words: 2396 - Pages: 10
...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...
Words: 607 - Pages: 3
...Lynn Wells Dr. Brandy Lowery ENGL2322 16 September 2015 Title “Beowulf” is the universal story of life’s journey from adolescence to adulthood and to old age. The hero grows in wisdom about himself and about the world through the pain and triumph of personal experience. In the mythical poem “Beuowulf” the audience is able to see how he grows in wisdom about himself and about the world with each monster he faces. Beowulf is a hero who battles three different monsters, Grendel, Grendel’s mother and the Dragon. Each monster he faces represents different meanings to him. In times of battle, Beowulf experience many hardships and victories. Grendel is a strong evil water-monster who went to Herot Hall and slaughtered many of Hrothgar’s men. When Beowulf is called to fight Grendel he depicts himself as a man with no fear. Beowulf knows that he is a young strong warrior and is the only one who has the strength to defeat this evil monster. He accepts the challenge and announces that he will fight barehanded which concludes that he is fully confident in himself. He announces, “I have also heard the thrust of a weapon no threat to his threws. Thus I foreswear my sword and strong shield. Instead I shall grab and grapple with Grendel, fighting for life with that fearsome foe” (Gardner 40-41). Beowulf proves his expertise to defeat Grendel by keeping Grendel’s arm. As described, “ As a token of triumph, the troop leader hung the shorn-off shoulder and arm by its hand: the grip of Grendel...
Words: 934 - Pages: 4
...Beowulf The Monster Heroes are praised for their great deeds, their incredible abilities and for fighting for what is right. Rarely mentioned are the attributes that are considered to be wrong or evil. In the epic, Beowulf, the protagonist is depicted as a hero who defies the odds and defeats multiple monsters while at the same time saving various peoples from further harm. Beowulf portrays the typical characteristics of an epic hero; confidence that edges on the side of cocky, an undying loyalty to those close to him, and a bravery that could be matched by no other soul. His heroism combined with his many personal victories results in much praise from the people of his kind. Those in opposition of him did not see him as a hero but rather as an enemy; one who carried out actions similar to a ‘monster’. Although he may demonstrate the traits of a heroic person, Beowulf can also be similarly paralleled to each of the powerful monsters that he slays, namely Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the Dragon. Beowulf expresses many similarities to the monster who wreaks havoc on the mead hall of King Hrothgar. The creature, Grendel, makes his home in the swamps that are not too distant from the grand hall Heorot. (I, 104) Grendel continuously causes much fear and suffering, to a point where the great hall that the king had built “stood empty” (II, 145). Similarly, Beowulf causes terror among the monsters of the sea. He vanquishes copious amounts of water beasts, and in doing...
Words: 973 - Pages: 4
...of literature many scholars have different views on how they would classify the genre of a piece. For example the story of Beowulf that is over 1000 years old has had controversy over calling it an epic piece or not calling it an epic piece of literature. An epic piece of literature is a long narrative poem that is composed dealing with a hero’s trials and accomplishments. Some scholars call Beowulf a folk epic or a mythological piece. This is because of the how Beowulf is almost running with history throughout the poem. There are divine intervention trials and triumphs and the mythological portion with the slaying of dragons and monsters in Beowulf. The story is really all about what it takes to be a hero but it starts off in a mythical fantasy kind of way. For example he fights monsters bare handed and he has strength that is almost divine. He saves the entire nation that is in fear of many mythical type creatures that no one in the land is willing to fight but him showing tremendous courage. But aside from his mystical fights with terror the poem really highlights the qualities in what makes him this fearless leader. For example he is courageous, generous, strong, cunning, fearless, selfless, wise, and has good morals. This is almost a heroic code that has followed all heroes in literature and in our culture today and throughout time with the same kind of qualities that deems the hero in the story. In the time period when Beowulf was written there were many things that line...
Words: 1006 - Pages: 5
...themselves for others in order to teach a lesson. The major theme is the triumph of goodness over evil. Beowulf and King Arthur, the epic heroes of grand tales, stand out for all that is good, brave and proper, while the villains stand for evil. However during the course of the stories the two heroes die tragically in a triumphant battle over vice and evil the course of the tale. The characters only perish after the evil is vanquished and destroyed. Sir Thomas Mallory brings forth a courageous character King Arthur, utilizing weaponry and leadership, to enlighten the kingdom of the unique characteristics of a true hero While Beowulf depicts the Anglo-Saxon era to tell a story of one who fights to better society. It is a known fact that heroes over time and overseas all heroes have something in common; which is true in the case of King Arthur and Beowulf. It is obvious that they are similar in the fact that they are both heroes, but what makes them an idol of their time and in their culture are poles apart. There are many things that are different about Beowulf and King Arthur, but the ones that stand out the most are what kind of hero they are and what actions they did to make them heroic. Both heroes possess qualities that others do not have, but it is what they do with those abilities that prompts someone to write a story about them and idolize them in time. King Arthur and Beowulf are both heroes whose stories originated in the England area. They were written at different times...
Words: 1760 - Pages: 8
...A hero is described as someone who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. In the poems of “Beowulf’ and “Head of Humbaba” both have epic heroes, Beowulf and Gilgamesh, but these two heros do not have the same intentions for the battle(s) they fight. “Beowulf” originates from sixth century Denmark and Sweden, Beowulf, from the geats, is from the Sweden and the city of Heorot is in Denmark. Many of the characters in Beowulf are thought to be real although, Beowulf himself might not be. The manuscript was found to be from 1000 A.D, although the author was thought to have written the poem between 700 AD and 750 A.D. is believed to be from Northumbria. “Beowulf” is an example of a literary artwork, told...
Words: 475 - Pages: 2
