Beowulf, the Deliverer. What comes to mind when one hears the word delivery? Is it the FedEx man delivering a package, or those annoying “It’s not delivery, it’s Digiorno “pizza commercial? For the Spear-Danes, they weren’t concerned about the quality of their frozen pizza, but rather the relentless torment they experienced every night. With no hope left for them it seemed, a hero came from a faraway land to help them when they needed it most. Putting himself in harm’s way for people he didn’t even know. When thinking of a savior, often times thoughts turn towards Jesus Christ. When reading Beowulf, it’s very clear that Beowulf could be considered a savior to the Danes. From the travel to an unknown land to help strangers, or his final sacrifice to the enemy he knew he couldn’t defeat alone. Beowulf is a savior in various ways, and many even coincide with Jesus himself.
The Danes had exhausted every option trying to defeat Grendel, or at last to make him go away for good. Despite all their efforts, none were successful. A man from a land far away came to live with the Danes.
Beowulf, you've come to us in friendship, and because/ Of the reception your father found at court./ Edgetho had begun a bitter feud.”
(p.38)
He had many rumors spreading around about his origin and his past accomplishments. His father had been helped by the Danes many years ago, so Beowulf felt like he owed them a big favor because of this. Not everyone believed in him, but there were several who
In the beginning of the book Beowulf is described as the greatest hero of the world. Beowulf comes to hear about the destruction Grendel has caused and travels to the land of the Danes to try and help Hrothgar defeat Grendel. He brought to sea with him 14 brave warriors and voyaged to Hrothgar’s kingdom. As they exit the boat the mounted guard asks what Beowulf and his warriors are doing, Beowulf responds in a long message about what they are doing there and who they are going to save. The mounted guard responds “I believe your words, I trust in your friendship. Go forward, weapons and armor and all, on into Denmark. I’ll guide you myself and my men will guard your ship, keep it safe here on our shores” (Raffel 15). Beowulf gives off the feeling to people that do not even know him that he is a great hero and that he can be trusted.
Beowulf possessed great strength that separated him from other men. Being able to use a sword that no ordinary man was able to carry gives the feeling that Beowulf is something more than a human being. It makes him special and causes him to stand out from all other men. Fame is something that makes a hero more noted. Beowulf’s popularity
Beowulf is the hero of all. He has courage, strength, and is considered the prince of the Geats. He always stand by his word no matter what happened, no matter if he must risk his physical integrity for it. He likes to be there for the people that need his help to be saved from the evil. He is willing to risk his own life in order to save the life of his ideals, and that selfless help identifies his heroic identity and character. He defeats three monsters, two of them were the descendants of Cain, demonstrating his capabilities of performing great feats of strength and courage. This heroic icon demonstrates how brave he is, not only with himself but with other people that need his useful help and he is always there to help others, using his ability of strength and courage.
Beowulf is an epic poem being cited as one of the most important works of Old English literature. Beowulf is an Old English epic poem. The poem is set in Scandinavia. Beowulf, a hero of Geats, comes to the aid of Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, whose mead hall in Herot has been under attack by a monster named Grendel. After Beowulf slays him, Grendel's mother attacks the hall and is then also defeated. Victorious, Beowulf goes home to Geatland and later becomes king of the Geats. After a period of fifty years has passed, Beowulf defeats a dragon, but is mortally wounded in the battle. After his death, his attendants cremate his body and erect a tower on a headland in his memory. Beowulf is clearly a hero because of his brave deeds, he is a strong and responsible leader, and his courage. Beowulf is a hero because of his brave deeds. Throughout Beowulf, Beowulf does many deeds which are considered to be brave during the Anglo-Saxon period.“Grendel is no braver, no stronger/Than I am! I could kill him with my sword; I shall not,Easy as it would be. This fiend is a bold And famous fighter, but his claws and teeth.../ Beating at my sword blade, would be helpless. I will meet him With my hands empty-unless his heart /Fails him, seeing a soldier waiting /Weaponless, unafraid. Let God in His wisdom /Extend His hand where He wills, reward /Whom he chooses!”. In his first battle, Beowulf fights Grendel. He fights without any armor. Also, Beowulf kills Grendel’s mother. He then
Word has traveled across the seas to Geatland of a great disturbance in Heorot. A threatening creature has befallen on Hrothgar, King of the Danes, and his people. In no time, a Geat by the name of Beowulf arrives at Heorot. However, why would one man, an unpopular man at that, not known of possessing any strength or talent, travel a great distance to offer his services to the Danes? Textual evidence provides that Beowulf, although he proves himself brave and strong, expresses his ego through boasting of his epic deeds, illuminating on his strength and wit. In addition to feeding his ego, it can be proved that Beowulf is out to make a legend of himself since he comes from a broken lineage, and in the time of the Danes and
The second reason on how Beowulf gain his reputation was just for killing strong opponents that everybody fears. “the water calm and clean, the whole huge lake peaceful once the demons who’d lived in it were dead” (Raffle, 74 1620-1622). The lake became peaceful once again because Beowulf defeated those monsters and the people were thanking him for defeating them. He’s gaining a lot of reputation and respect from the people because no one would have ever fought does monsters except him. He would do anything to protect his people and fight any creature that he has to
The Danish people often felt a sense of worship for Beowulf. Beowulf had come to save them from Grendel, so they felt he was their hero. The author refers to Beowulf and says, “they rejoiced in the prince, that they could behold him safe and
Beowulf’s people describe him as the strongest and he has the Geat's trust; therefore, when he found out about Grendel, Beowulf knew he was capable to fight. This shows that he was a hero of high status and legendary importance. His goal was to “purge all evil from this hall.” (Beowulf 48) and that was what he did. The Geats saw Beowulf as confident and he saw himself like that as well. The gasconade exemplified Beowulf as greedy “they have seen my strength for themselves, have watched me rise from the darkness of war, dripping with my enemies’ blood” (Beowulf 152). The qualities of a hero are noticed in Beowulf throughout his first two battles.
Beowulf is a regular person, he doesn't have superpowers like a superhero . He is considered as a hero because he fought a monster named Grendel and he also fought Grendel's mother and the almighty dragon . Beowulf is from a group called the Danes, he was the strongest, bravest warrior around . He is consider as a god to his people; the Danes suffered for many years of fear, and danger .
From when he was born, Beowulf is said to be given the favor of God, and would repay his father’s debt. Because of such a favor and honor, Beowulf is automatically given the good character of an honorable man that would bring salvation to others by killing its greatest source of tragedy. The poem says, “the lord endowed him, the wielder of wonder”
The rigid and confined society of the Danes also shaped the way its people think and act, but also influenced greatly on the writings. Given the fact that metaphors and kennings are common in Old English literature; the representation of “evil” is also something not to be taken on a literal level. “Edgetho had begun a bitter feud / Killing Hathlaf, a Wulfing warrior” (459-460), inter-tribal feuds, therefore, are also a destroyer of peace. Grendel takes on a form that is left uncertain; its real meaning hidden behind the metaphorical mask of a monster, is the never-ending battles between tribal armies (namely, the Danes, Geats, Frisians, and the Swedes) that had disturbed the tranquility people had longed for. It is almost a barrier of peacekeeping, hider of hope. Hence, it is represented by Grendel, a great evil hated by many, whom
Beowulf is always seeking to help his enrich his image. This flaw in his character, as well as his feeling of invincibility leads to his downfall later in life. “Again and again the angry monsters made fierce attacks, I served them well with my noble blade, as was only fitting. Small pleasure they had in such a sword-feast, dark things in the sea that meant to eat me, …I had chanced to kill some nine sea-beasts. I never have heard of a harder night-fight under heaven’s vault, or a man more oppressed on the ocean streams.”(Beowulf p83) It is very apparent here that Beowulf is extremely proud of what he had accomplished, and was not going to let some other person who had done no major heroic deed try to put him down. In fact, he goes on to say that no one in the world has fought such a hard fight as he did that night.
Grendel, a monster who lives at the bottom of a nearby mere, is provoked by the singing and celebrating of Hrothgar's followers. He appears at the hall late one night and kills thirty of the warriors in their sleep. For the next twelve years, the fear of Grendel's fury casts a shadow over the lives of the Danes. Hrothgar and his advisors can think of nothing to calm the monster's anger.
Beowulf is the hero in the poem by the same name. Throughout the poem Beowulf faces three battles, with Grendel, with Grendel’s mother and a dragon. Beowulf is already a seasoned warrior when he encounters his first demon in the poem, and he only gains more experience as the story goes on. Beowulf faces monsters and politics throughout the story of self-preservation, revenge and learning. Though the three beasts have similarities, Beowulf’s attack and battle with each of them is different.
Beowulf’s fame and glory is essential to him much like it is to the rest of the Norse culture. When Beowulf first appears to Hrothgar he makes an effort to brag regarding his achievements as a warrior and claims “‘They had seen me bolstered in the blood of enemies / when I battled and bound five beasts, / raided a troll-nest and in the