In the epic poem Beowulf, the theme good vs. evil guides Beowulf through his many endeavors and conquests. This theme shows the different values of Beowulf and helps supplement the reasons for Beowulf’s actions throughout the poem. The author uses situational, symbolic, and character archetypes to enhance the plot of the poem and to provide justification for the themes of the epic poem. The situational archetype and theme good vs. evil is a major driving force behind Beowulf’s actions in the poem.
Beowulf had done the unthinkable—he had killed a demon that no warrior of Denmark could have done. This opened several new doors for Beowulf, including one that promised of honor, glory, and riches. Beowulf had achieved his goal of fame, a goal which had created a poem of a hero that birthed and shaped a story to be told even years later. Furthermore, Beowulf’s fame was set in stone by Hrothgar, the king who owed Beowulf his everything, including his thanks. After giving Beowulf the speech to further glorify his prominence, Hrothgar declares, “Glory is now yours/
Lastly, in Beowulf, he showed greed when he went into the cave to defeat Grendel’s mothers by stealing from her cave. Beowulf shows signs of an epic hero but he let greed get the best of him. He had his mind set on just killing Grendel and being done with his work. But once he killed Grendel, he had to defeat Grendel’s mother. When he went into the cave to defeat Grendel’s mother, he saw treasures everywhere.
In the epic poem “Beowulf” the character Beowulf is the foundation for all of our modern heroes, but was he really a great hero? A hero is classified as a person who is admired for their bravery, achievements, or nobility. Although Beowulf displays all these qualities, there are several reasons he is not a hero, mainly him being egotistical and arrogant. This is why Beowulf is not a heroic person. Beowulf is often caught bragging about himself and his great accomplishments.
He has true honor and respectfully distributes treasure and gifts to those whom he believes rightfully deserves them. Beowulf’s loyalty to the Danes helps shed light on his true character. He expresses that he believes he may die in battle between Grendel, but that does not dissuade him from fighting the beast. Another example is when Hygelac dies, Beowulf is asked to take the throne. In doing so, that would mean the the son of Hygelac would be stripped of his own inheritance, which is dishonorable in Beowulf’s eyes, and thus he declines the offer.
Beowulf makes known that “no man but [himself] could hope to defeat this monster, [and] no one could try.” Beowulf wants to have this fight all to himself, so he can take all of the glory. He is too selfish to conclude that only he could defeat the monster alone. Beowulf cannot be thought of as a hero because “Beowulf only longed for fame.” Beowulf does not perform heroic deeds just to save the citizens, but to receive more admiration from the citizens.
Beowulf attempted to comfort Hrothgar and the warriors by exclaiming, “Let your sorrow end! It is better for us all to avenge our friends, not mourn them forever”. He then aims to convince Hrothgar that “for the glory of his name, fame after death is the noblest of goals”. Beowulf believes it is worth dying for a good
In the epic poem Beowulf, the protagonist, Beowulf, faces three “monsters” at different times in his life. The poem begins with Grendel, a monster who attacks only in the dark of night, tormenting the kingdom of Hrothgar. The last two sections of the epic detail the conquering by Beowulf of Grendel’s mother and the dragon. The battle between the monsters and Beowulf represent the theme of good versus evil in the poem, as well as the fusion of pagan and Christian ideals in the changing Germanic society. Grendel’s mother’s actions directly juxtapose the role of a woman in this time period, and the greediness of the dragon with his treasure contrasts with the virtues of what would be considered a good king.
From the moment we step out of our bed, and on the very moment we opened our eyes, temptations had always been there, roaring like a lion and seeking for its prey. It’s the thing that we can’t run for, for it needs to be met, sometimes it’s the thing that we want, our deepest desire, the thing that we longed for, and wish to have, by hook or by crook. For temptation seduce, like a lovely maiden with a golden hair, how can one resist? The story of Beowulf simply implies the failure of the man with his struggle against temptation.
M Showing that all that really matters in this society is gold, nothing else. N In the end the lust for gold is what put an end to the tale of Beowulf CONCLUSION O The way that gold consumed the minds of the upper class during this era shows a real disconnect with human emotion that was more present during the time of Rome before this epic was composed.
Similitudes between the text and the motion picture are set up to stay consistent with the topic of Beowulf, a topic in which a hero vanquishes incredible chances and shows what the exemplification of humankind can accomplish; this topic is vital to the improvement of any genuine epic. The most noticeable similitude between the two is the qualities allowed to Beowulf, the key attribute being egotism. Egotism is a critical characteristic of any epic hero, in the film this
The story of Beowulf is all about the strength, fearless and a weakness of a man. Beowulf is a brave man he fights for his kingdom with honor. But he forgot on how to be a man to himself. Beowulf tends to fights and kills the monster which is Grendel.
The monster, Grendel, in the poem symbolizes greed and highlights its consequences. Firstly, Grendel represents greed since all his life he is been doomed to live in exile and, thus, craves prosperity, joy and power but cannot achieve it as is evident when the speaker says that he, “haunted the glittering hall after dark,/ but the throne itself, the treasure seat,/ he was kept from approaching; he was the Lord’s outcast”(Lines 167-169). This need for power and joy can be defined as a type of greed as it consists of a selfish desire. Also, the speaker describes Grendel’s hatred for humankind by saying that, “it harrowed him/ to hear the din of the loud banquet” (87-88).
The Battle Motivations! A discussion about Beowulf's motivations. Throughout literature all stories have specific characters that have motivations for what they do.
Beowulf is associate degree epos that, above all, offers the reader a concept of a time long past; a time once the foremost necessary values were courageousness and integrity. The sole factors that would bestow shower fame upon an individual were heroic deeds and family lineage. Beowulf, because the paradigm of pagan heroes, exhibited his need to amass fame and fortune; to do so was to revenge the death of others. This theme of retribution that's ever gift throughout the literary composition appears to paint the identities of its characters. Revenge is conferred each as associate degree honest motive and a rhetorical manoeuvre in Beowulf.