ipl-logo

Examples Of Immortality In Beowulf

101 Words1 Page

Beowulf desires immortality through fame. When he risk his life to battle, Grendal, Grendel's mother, and the dragon, they all contribute to fame. Beowulf is seen as the hero of the hour after defeating Grendal. The songs and legends they speak of in Mead Hall represent this bravado. Christian beliefs on immortality are focused on Heaven and God rather than personal exploits. Hrothgar teaches Christian philosophy by saying that wealth given from god should be shared not use to yourselves. "But the Wielder of Men granted me that I should see hanging on the wall a fair, ancient great-sword" (Heaney, 20-21)

Show More
Related

  • Compare And Contrast Beowulf And Martin Luther King Jr

    907 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the epic, Beowulf, the writer constantly added in Christian values and references, “punished forever for the crimes of Abel’s death.” In the society that Beowulf grew up in, strength and fame occurred in everyday life, with the practice of story telling. A warriors life goal was to protect their king, and make it into a bards tale to gain immortality. One of the Anglo-Saxon values, loyalty, shows its self when Beowulf fights a dragon. His men run away, but one stays to help finish killing the dragon.

    Read More

  • Two Examples Of Heroism In Beowulf

    1421 Words  | 6 Pages

    The way we treat ourselves is extraordinary compared to the utilization of figures past. We, humans, are a populous society of affable tributes that are of importance. That we look up to the people that give us safety, as well that show respect and pride. These people are the idols that portray heroism; the general populous agrees that a hero is selfless. One such example is in an epic poem Beowulf.

    Read More

  • Beowulf's Accomplishments

    1108 Words  | 5 Pages

    It 's a story about being courageous and facing your fear head on even if the outcome was bad. Although, he probably did not expect to go down in history and for people to be hearing about him for thousands of years after what did he expect. The King even loved Beowulf as a son. How many kings really loved their own sons to give them everything they had? From the myths, I have read not very many.

    Read More

  • The Theme Of Honor In Beowulf

    699 Words  | 3 Pages

    Since it began in oral convention, the epic Beowulf has no known creator. It does, in any case, serve as a representation of the Anglo-Saxon society it begins from. As a show-stopper, it additionally fills its need of good direction, today serving as an exhibit of what qualities were essential to the Anglo-Saxon individuals. Particularly seen through the characters of Beowulf and Wiglaf, the ballad Beowulf represents three critical ethics of now is the ideal time: boldness, honor, and faithfulness. Beowulf, the saint of the lyric, shows incredible fortitude in all that he does.

    Read More

  • Motivation In Beowulf

    789 Words  | 4 Pages

    Being remembered, in death, is a very immense part of the Anglo-Saxon code, and with that, Beowulf seemed to believe that defeating Grendel’s mother would grant him more fame than he had previously received. As explicated in the epic, “So fame comes to the men who mean to win it and care about nothing else!” (Lines 507-509) Beowulf cared about his name, and with that, he knew it was in him to fight for that name and to make it heard through his life and generations afterward. After understanding what it means to be truly glorified, and what it means to be remembered, years after one’s death with fame, one can recognize the reasoning behind Beowulf’s actions.

    Read More

  • How Does Beowulf Show Self Sacrifice

    447 Words  | 2 Pages

    Not only have we seen brute strength, honorable courage, and admirable loyalty shine through beowulf, Beowulf also possess a great trait not many others have; his will to fight to the death, or self sacrifice. Not once throughout the story did Beowulf ever turn down a battle. Not once did he fear or flee his enemy. Not once did he ever give up even if death had him by the throat causing his mind to flood nothing but fearful thoughts and feelings throughout his body. Every battle Beowulf fought, he fought as if it was his last and that is what truly makes him the great warrior he is.

    Read More

  • Herot Quotes In Beowulf

    532 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • The Motivation In Beowulf

    558 Words  | 3 Pages

    Glory is the prime motivation for Beowulf in his story. Beowulf wants to be remembered for the great deeds he has done in his lifetime, like Hrothgar. Hrothgar, the king has earned his glory in his youth. “To Hrothgar was given such glory of war, such honor of combat, that all his kin obeyed him gladly…” (Part 1) Hrothgar is now old and unable to protect his kingdom, and Beowulf decides that he will step in and help because of the glory it will give him.

    Read More

  • Honor In Beowulf's Vengeance

    1408 Words  | 6 Pages

    Beowulf’s Vengeance It is a fair night in Geatland, and Beowulf is celebrating his victory over Grendel's Mother in the mead hall Higlac built for his nephew. The mead hall is named The Court of Champions. "Let us celebrate my nephew’s great accomplishments of ridding the Danish people of their hideous creatures!" Higlac exclaims as he raises his mead cup to his subjects. Higlac by far was one of the fairest kings the Geats have had, after raids he gave each member a portion of the loot and made sure that everyone in the clan was cared for.

    Read More

  • Beowulf's Legacy

    959 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the great epic, Beowulf, an unknown poet describes Beowulf as an invincible hero with the amazing strength stronger than any human ever, but does having the traits of an incredible warrior, make him a great king? A great king is loyal, generous, reliable and should be able to realize what he needs to do to make sure his people are safe. Beowulf is brave, strong, and extremely confident in his combat abilities, but Beowulf does not think about the possible effects of his actions. Beowulf cares about his fame, fortune, and legacy, but he often makes rushed decisions that risk his life and could potentially leave his people powerless and unprotected. During Beowulf’s transformation from thane to king, he has always had more of a warrior’s mindset,

    Read More

  • Wergild In Beowulf

    566 Words  | 3 Pages

    Because they did not believe in an afterlife, the Anglo Saxons felt that immortality was achieved by fame and positive reputation, and that achieving fame was the most important task in one’s life. Beowulf clearly defines this idea in his speech to Hrothgar before attacking Grendel’s mother: “he who can earn it should fight for the glory of his name; fame after death is the noblest of goals.” The Anglo Saxons remembered their heroes’ fame through the telling of their epic tales and the passing down of their mementos. Beowulf embodies memento mori in nearly every aspect; the epic itself is a prime example of oral tradition. Within the story, there are several instances of scops recounting the stories of past heroes, such as the tale of Siegmund.

    Read More

  • Good Vs. Evil In Beowulf Is An Epic Hero

    570 Words  | 3 Pages

    But he knew the greatest threat came knocking at his door for a fight that will live on being told for eternity. Beowulf sacrificed his own life for those around him, “Quickly, the dragon cam at him, encouraged as Beowulf as Beowulf fell back; its breath fared, and he suffered, wrapped around in swirling flames- a king, before, but now a Beaton warrior” (lines 687-691). In the end Beowulf fought till the end fighting not only for himself but for his people. He fought like a king until his death. Beowulf gave the ultimate sacrifice to save his people.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Heroism In Beowulf

    1718 Words  | 7 Pages

    "Hear me! We've heard of Danish heroes, ancient kings and the glory they cut for themselves, swinging mighty swords." These verses were words sung over and over, by singing poets all over ancient Europe. They were sung in the presence of kings and warriors. They are the beginning lines of the epic Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf, an ancient tale of monsters, dragons, kings, warriors, battles, life, death, and the virtues of a hero.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Epic Hero In Beowulf

    2075 Words  | 9 Pages

    I am old, now, but I will fight again, seek fame still, if the dragon hiding in his tower dares to face me." (52) To Beowulf, even as an older and supposedly wiser man, his main reason for fighting monsters continues to be to gain more fame. Other heroes, like Gilgamesh and Odysseus, usually do heroic deeds to help their kingdoms and men. For example, Gilgamesh kills the heavenly bull to avoid a famine from wrecking his kingdom, while Odysseus works to save his men throughout the story multiple times. Loyalty towards himself before anyone or anything else, is one of the qualities that separates Beowulf from other traditional heroes.

    Read More

  • Beowulf: The Perfect Hero

    1372 Words  | 6 Pages

    The Perfect Hero In every heroic tale, there lies a theme of balance in values. Every hero is said to possess a fatal flaw; whether they overcome this flaw or let it define who they are is up to them. In the epic poem Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, it is not particularly hard for the reader to point out their perceived flaws of our hero: arrogance, pride, egotism. Yet, Beowulf stands tall in the poem as the perfect hero, adored and praised by all.

    Read More

More about Examples Of Immortality In Beowulf

Open Document