The first major point in Beowulf is when Beowulf kills Grendel. After hearing about the many Danes that Grendel had killed, Beowulf and a group of warriors decide to sail and help the Danish people: “In his far – off home Beowulf … Heard how Grendel filled nights with horror And quickly commanded a boat fitted out, Proclaiming that he’s go to that famous king” (Raffel 194 – 199). This shows that Beowulf is willing and eager to help other countries in
Beowulf assumes the throne and reigns peacefully for 50 years, though there is still a trial to be completed. His final test is the hardest in terms of the monster he has to face and how high stakes the battle is. A dragon is razing all the villages and burning them down. Although Beowulf knows that this fight could be his last, he chooses to face the Dragon anyway, because if he doesn’t it could ensure the destruction of all of his kinsmen. This conforms to the Resurrection stage of the hero’s journey as the dragon is nothing like anything he faced in the
Beowulf is an Anglo-saxon story that would have been sung around a fire with the purpose of teaching morals and traits to the listeners. There were three separate parts to the story: the fight and defeat of Grendel, the attack and defeat of Grendel’s mother, and the fight with the dragon which resulted in the death of Beowulf. Each part of the story was added by a different author-thus making each part of the story subject to being analyzed for containing the aspects of the archetypal “Hero Quest”. In each part of the story of Beowulf, Beowulf sets out to defeat a monster, either for glory or revenge, he defeats the great beast largely without any help from the companions he brings along with him, and after the defeat of the monster, Beowulf is always honored and gifted greatly. To begin, the first section of the Beowulf story starts off with Beowulf setting out on the quest to find and defeat Grendel.
There are six categories of the monomyth. The six categories include: the call, the decision, the preparation, the obstacles, the climax, and the return. In Beowulf’s time, he managed to conquer three parts of the hero quest. In following these steps, Beowulf managed to follow the mythological/archetypal hero quest efficiently and effectively. The first part of the hero quest was when Beowulf fought the demonic monster known as Grendel.
In the story, Beowulf, Beowulf’s first motivation, when fighting the monster Grendel, is his duty. Beowulf has been told by his people that he should fight this great monster. Beowulf possesses the strength and skill to defeat Grendel, therefore he should. This is crucial
Beowulf travels to Hrothgar’s kingdom and explains his plans to kill Grendel. Although Beowulf has no refusal of the call during any of his battles with Grendel, his mother, or the dragon. Beowulf is brave and willing to lose his life for the people. Also there is a supernatural aid sometimes who helps the hero throughout the journey leading along a path. Beowulf does not have any prominent aid but he did have help in killing Grendel’s mother with the sword he found.
Beowulf feels that it is necessary to kill the dragon, but by taking down his son he also took his life doing it. The Epic, explains that the dragon attempts to attack the geats but has nothing in relation to Beowulf. All the dragon is an enemy that Beowulf has to face to complete his dream of dying a
This angers Grendel so he rampages in Herot Hall killing Danes. Later Beowulf comes to kill Grendel. Beowulf returns to Geatland. Fifty years later he fights a dragon. Sacrifice can benefit the greater good.” For example, Beowulf is willing to give his life for Hrothgar’s kingdom.
This is how the main events of Beowulf go, in order. The first thing that happens is, Beowulf fights a very bloody battle with Grendel where Grendel ends up dying. Next, is the battle with Grendel 's Mother where Grendel 's mother tries to avenge Beowulf for what he did to her only son but ends up dying at the end of the battle. The last main event in the story is, when Beowulf faces his last and greatest challenge after he becomes king of Geatland: the fight with the dragon which he ends up dying in the process. The epic poem of Beowulf definitely explains the theme of group needs vs individual needs; for this reason the audience can see that people were not so different back then as they do today.
One day a man came to Beowulf’s throne to show him that he had found a golden goblet from a hidden hoard guarded by a dragon. When Beowulf heard this news he knew he had to fight the dragon to let his people take the treasure and become wealthy. During battle, Beowulf realized he wasn’t as young as he used to be and could not fight without the young Wiglaf by his side. The struggle continued until the giant beast sunk his razor sharp teeth deep into Beowulf’s neck. Weak from loss of blood Beowulf stumbled back.