Examples Of Flaws In Beowulf

Beowulf is a classic tale of a hero who undergoes certain trials and tribulations and proves his bravery. However when one glances under the surface, it is clear that the story is about so much more. Over the course of the poem Beowulf has to learn to balance two opposing sides of his personality-his monstrous, angry, berserker-like side with more restrained and civilized character. In Germanic culture in general, a dichotomy lies between the reverence of famous berserkers, who when enraged become the most fearsome of warriors, and the values of self-restraint placed on people, specifically in the feasting setting. Beowulf is all about the navigation of that tight line of cultural tension between the two options.

Also, I think it 's important to note the similarities between Odysseus and Big Dan too. Both men are pursuing what they think are the best for them, and often act carelessly, not afraid of the consequences. Although the most popular comparison is Big Dan compared to the Cyclops, due to the mentioned undebatable resemblances (size, one-eyed, angry, aggressive), in my opinion there are many features to compare and contrast Big Dan and Odysseus. The men in these works are often labeled as heroic figures, however, it could be important to point out what does this term actually mean. A heroic figure is “a person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble

Beowulf instead praises up for God and regrets about missing Grendel’s death (Beowulf 471-484). Beowulf’s loyalty makes him humble and being a real hero of Dane. This Beowulf’s trait also fits adequately to Anglo-Saxon’s hero archetype as

Though one real and one fiction, Beowulf and Alexander Hamilton both can be viewed as ‘heroes’ through their abilities to embody the values of their time, such as generosity, dedication, and bravery. Anglo-Saxon values varied widely, but Beowulf very clearly demonstrated generosity throughout the epic. He willingly goes to the Land of the Danes to fight the monster that plagued them, a very brave and generous action. When facing the potential for death before fighting Grendel’s mother, Beowulf asked that, “If the combat kills me, take care/of my young company; my comrade

Reputation is defined as someone having a widespread known belief or exhibiting a particular habit or characteristic. Characters come and go, when a character sticks in the mind of the reader it is related to the reputation of the character that the poet has created whether it be good or bad. King Hrothgar, Beowulf, and Wiglaf all possess characteristics of bravery, kindness, and strength that build their reputation in Beowulf and cause them to be admired. The king of a kingdom is looked up to and respected by the people.

It was my fault.'" (White 589) His regret and sorrow show that he wants to change his contradictory ways, so at least he wants to be dynamic. But despite any of his grievous deeds, he is still considered a hero. Overall, his character shows that a hero can be static, but does not have to be, and can change while staying

Heroes. They are here for us when we need them. Without fail, they come to our rescue and save us from our sinful desires and offer an escape from the sin filled world we live in. At least that is the hero we think of when it comes to modern-day thoughts on a hero. One thing is true about a hero, that they have distinct qualities that set them above normal people.

Heroes are influential figures as they acknowledge the significant issues that affect people and endeavor to resolve complications. Beowulf and Terry Fox share the common heroic epic ideals of bravery and altruism. Bravery is one of the heroic epic ideals that Beowulf and Terry Fox reveal. Initially, Beowulf, the hero of the poem, voluntarily travels to the land of the Danes to defeat monsters that harm the people of king Hrothgar such as Grendel and Grendel’s mother. Proving his courage to civilians, Beowulf becomes the king of Geatland and a dragon begins to terrorize his homeland fifty years later.

Odysseus is a leader that portrays both non-heroic and heroic traits throughout the story. These traits reflect his way of thinking and what actions he takes. These traits fluctuate from bravery to overconfidence. Nonetheless, the traits all contribute to the hero and as a result, they contribute to the story. As a hero, there are many admirable stereotypical character traits Odysseus possesses.

An epic hero is an individual who must evoke a sense of heroism through legendary and inspiring deeds (Merriam-Webster). These heroes of tragedy have the ability to determine their own fortune due to the amount of admired characteristics they possess. However, the ideals of an epic hero are constantly fluctuating due to the ever changing ideals of society. Although the characteristics of an epic hero are under constant modification, Beowulf is still an effective modern-day hero due to his acts of courage, compassion, and dedication in relation to his people. Courage can be defined as any individual possessing moral or mental strength in the face of physical pain or indescribable hardship (Personalitytutor).

The Illusion of a Perfect Hero Actor Anson Mount once made an insightful observation, “all of us have a hero and a villain in us.” This is something that has been confirmed over time, across cultures, and is also corroborated in famous literary works such as Seamus Heaney’s Beowulf and William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Key characters in these epics often rose to the occasion and made a positive impact on the society with their exceptional bravery, selflessness and moral courage. There were also instances where the same characters didn’t exercise the best judgment. Although Beowulf had many more heroic moments than Macbeth and Macduff, each of them had their virtues and flaws that surfaced at different times and under different circumstances,

“He keeps on coming. I am suddenly annoyed, no longer amused by his stupidity. The mere belongs to me and the firesnakes. What if everybody should decide the place is public? “go back down, goat!

Compare and Contrast In both Grendel and Beowulf, Beowulf is perceived as a warrior who ultimately ended Grendel's life. However, there are different standpoints of the way Beowulf acted and how he took Grendel's life. From both books, you can see the likeness and also the differences in which Beowulf made himself out to be in the book Beowulf and how he was actually seen by Grendel in Grendel.

Beowulf, the epic tale of a Danish society plagued by evil beasts, reveals many thought-provoking and admirable character traits of the main character and hero, Beowulf. Firstly, he shows chivalry through his interactions and actions towards the king of Heorot, showing him the respect and honor he deserved. Secondly, he demonstrates bravery in all battles above and beyond the standard of the times and the standard of his fellow fighters. He owes his bravery in part to his seemingly immeasurable strength, having more power in each fist than that of thirty men. Lastly, he demonstrates a trait that applies to people for his time and ours, pride.