Beowulf : An Epic Poem Derived From Old World Storytelling Traditions

Beowulf is an epic that is large in scale and scope in terms of both time and space. Early on within the tale, the reader is introduced to the great hero and namesake of the story, Beowulf. He is a man above men and exemplifies what it means to be a great hero within his time. Predominantly,

To begin, Beowulf the poem has a unknown author, Beowulf is an epic poem. In Beowulf he is challenged by the murderous monster Grendel, Grendel is eating and slaughtering Hrothgar the King of the Danes men and people, the king needs Beowulf 's help in defeating Grendel, Beowulf ends up killing the monster and is now tormented by the monster 's mother that is much larger, she is no match for Beowulf and he kills her as well, lastly it is Beowulf’s last battle after he has been king of Geatland for fifty years, he has to defeat the dragon and he does but dies shortly after. In this essay I will be explaining how lof, comitatus, and wyrd is very important to Beowulf’s culture.

Beowulf is an epic poem whose earliest surviving copy was written in 1000 A.D. The story consists of three thousand one hundred and eighty two lines that follow the life of the title character. The original author of the epic poem is unknown mainly because it started as a verbal tale passed down orally through the ages. Finally someone wrote it down in a document now called the Nowell Codex. The epic tale is centered on Beowulf and his actions in an adventure to repay a debt owed by his father to Hrothgar, a Danish king. A gargantuan monster that is terrorizing Hrothgar’s mead hall is Beowulf’s target and Beowulf sails across the sea to aid his father’s

“Beowulf” is an epic poem that exemplifies the true meaning of being a hero by using the

Beowulf is an old english book. Beowulf is the oldest surviving epic poem in english. Beowulf is a very brave, loyal, honorable person. Beowulf was an embarrassing guy, nothing could destroy him or even hurt him. He fought things that no other man kind could have fought. Beowulf strength is unbelievably strong and nothing can be compared to how powerful it is. EveryOne pretty much looked up to beowulf to make sure that they were all safe. A theme From beowulf exemplified through the story would include how embracing loyalty brings glory and honor while disloyal brings destruction. In this theme beowulf exemplified through the story would include how embracing loyalty brings glory and homer while disloyalty brings

Epic heroes usually exemplify the character traits most admired in their societies, and Beowulf is no exception.  "Beowulf" is set in the Anglo-Saxon society, a time when war was rampant among the many peoples trying to take over the different kingdoms of England.  In this dangerous, violent time people lived in constant peril and jeopardy.  These conditions only allowed people of great bravery to survive and men of outstanding courage were admired the populous.  These warriors fought for their leader and tribe in return for treasure and protection.  This relationship between the lord and his men was the basis of the Anglo-Saxon society.  The epic poem "Beowulf" is a perfect example of how this system worked in

The story of Beowulf is one of the most known stories ever, as the manuscript is one of the oldest pieces of poetry that is known to exist, and also supports the argument that dragons and people lived at the same time. Yes, this thrilling story of a hero who slays great beasts and dies in the end to save his people attracts many readers, but what if they are missing out upon the true point of the story? Hidden inside this ancient epic are many things that can be learned, but the main things are in the character of Beowulf. His courage and sacrifice are what are first noticed, but his flaw, of not being a great leader of his people, in the end caused his own downfall.

Despite its continuous aging, the epic poem Beowulf is still currently discussed in modern day English courses, allowing the reader to unfold and discuss certain literary themes associated throughout the epic poem. One arguable theme associated with the Anglo-Saxon styled poem is that if a great warrior can also be a prominent ruler of their land or not. A warrior is usually associated with being victorious in challenging situations, automatically associating themselves as being a great leader or king of a kingdom. However, heroic actions cannot simply determine a great leader, but rather the character’s traits unique to each great warrior which are needed to produce a great leader. Traits such as: god like strength, courage to

In “Beowulf,” the hero is faced with challenges that are both physical and moral, both of which threaten his life. Beowulf could be considered the ideal hero and king. From an early age, he has proven his worth for both of these titles, and in this epic tale the reader is able to learn his history to see how he came to fame. As an epic hero, Beowulf possesses the qualities of valor, loyalty, generosity, and honor. He fights for the survival of his tribe. Even as a hero, he

Epic poems vary from text to text structurally, but conventionally share the same characteristics; the convention of the hero, is often common in epic poetry. In the text Beowulf, the hero of the text is Beowulf. Representing the epic hero in many ways, Beowulf makes himself the pinnacle example of heroes in epics, alongside those like Achilles and Odysseus. Brave Beowulf makes heroic oaths before performing a heroic deed, establishing what he seeks to accomplish and to preface the great dead that will soon become married to his title. A hero tends to represent the culture of his or her people in epic poetry; Beowulf is a true representative of the pagan war and glory persona. Lastly, just as all heroes fall eventually, Beowulf is no different, but even with his death, he represents the heroic death so frequently found in epic poetry. There are many things that come together to establish Beowulf as the hero he is, but these are the things which stand out the most.

Beowulf is an epic poem that tells the story of a man’s heroism in the time of tribulation, loss, and tragedy. Beowulf, a powerful man, can be defined as a legendary Geatish warrior and hero of the Old English poem Beowulf (Dictionary. com). In Beowulf, Beowulf traveled to Hrothgar’s, King of Danes, kingdom to kill a man-eating monster named Grendel. He not only kills Grendel, but he swims to Grendel’s underwater lair and kills Grendel’s mother too. He saves the kingdom from death and brings victory to his homeland. Beowulf was not just a man of physical capability, but of psychological strength. Beowulf’s heroism is seen through his three main heroic attributes: bravery, humility, and leadership.

The epic poem Beowulf tells the story of a Geatland warrior; from young to old, in Anglo-Saxon times. Beowulf travels overseas to the ruler of the Danes, King Hrothgar, to sacrifice his own life to help this land fight off a demon named

In the Old English poem, “Beowulf”, one was shown valiance, bravery, and sacrifice. It is debatable on the fact if Beowulf in an epic poem, or not. After reading “Beowulf”, one can argue that it is an epic because of its characters, the way it’s written, and the story.

      To qualify as an epic poem, Beowulf reflects the values of the culture in which it was created. The Anglo-Saxon culture and the poem share many of the same values. They shared a heroic ideal that included loyalty, strength, courage, courtesy, and generosity. Like all epic poems Beowulf is a long narrative work that tells the adventures of a great hero and also reflects the values of the society in which it was written. Both Beowulf and the Anglo-Saxons believed in those qualities as an individual.

During the Anglo-Saxon time period loyalty and bravery were necessary characteristics of a man. During this time period, where surviving was difficult only the strongest survived. Beowulf was one of the warriors that lived in this time period. Monsters, warring armies, dragons, and creatures of the sea made life perilous. Society was looking for an epic hero. Beowulf was the answer to society’s search. Strength, bravery, and the desire for glory were three qualities that make Beowulf an epic hero.