Examples Of Beowulf's Funeral

Him understanding that it was his duty to stay loyal to his people and fight the dragon because the destruction it had caused, even though they wouldn’t fight for him. Know who has your back because everyone you think does, doesn’t. “Should Beowulf have boasted of your help, rejoiced in your loyal strength?” (Wiglaf, pg 76, 1072-1073) Beowulf is too proud of what he’s known for to cry for help even when he needed it desperately.

Beowulf is a story of great courage and triumph over adversity. But over the whole story there is a hanging sense of dread and impending death. This is shown by the sense of impending death, the strong sense of doom, and the nature of luck throughout the story. These play a mojo role in shaping how the story

Beowulf is an epic poem that, above all, gives the reader an idea of a time long past; a time when the most important values were courage and integrity. The only factors that could bestow shower fame upon a person were heroic deeds and family lineage. Beowulf, as the paradigm of pagan heroes, exhibited his desire to amass fame and fortune; the only way to do so was to avenge the death of others. This theme of retribution that is ever present throughout the poem seems to color the identities of its characters.

Throughout the epic poem Beowulf, there are countless mentions of gold, jewels, swords and other treasures. The role of wealth, treasure and gold all lead to glory and honor and being able to settle scores. Gold acted as a score settler because the characters could avoid problems or other altercations by paying wergild or "manprice". During this time period kings gave treasures and gold to their followers as a reward of their glory and honor earned as well as their loyalty to their king. The idea that the role of wealth, treasure and gold is a symbol of glory and honor and is used to “pay debts” is absolutely true in this poem.

Beowulf could not defeat the dragon on his own and received help from that ancient sword of Grendel’s mother and a loyal warrior named Wiglaf. Beowulf could not win this battle as he grew weak after the dragon bit into his flesh. As Beowulf was close to death, the dragon passed sooner than him. When the hero finally took his last breath, Wiglaf ordered the kingdom to bury all of the found treasure with Beowulf in order to show their mournfulness and regret for not being able to save their King. The treasure was burned with Beowulf’s body in order to prevent those full of greed from taking the treasure and distributing it unfairly causing abuse and imbalance of power by those who did not deserve that treasure in the first

The Anglo- Saxons always strived for fame, a warrior was always prepared to die as for one could become famous for his feats on the battlefield. “I’ve avenged their crimes, and the Danes they’ve killed. And I promise you that whoever sleeps in Herot- You, your brave soldiers, anyone of all the people in Denmark, old or young - they, and you, may now sleep without fear of either monster, mother or son. (75)” Receiving fame through a great feat in war was a best way for a warrior to achieve honor in death. Each character was defined by a status, and that status was in a formation of their fame, their accomplishments. In this case, Beowulf’s fame was created by the many great deeds and battles he’s fought. “Of sea-huge monsters I killed. What man, anywhere under Heaven’s high arch, has fought in such darkness, endured more misery or been harder? (41)” In the Anglo-Saxon culture, it was so important for the warriors to be proud of what they did and sought fame from them.

For insistence, the way in which Hrothgar gives Beowulf all those treasures appear to be out of respect and honor, however, this could be a manner to gain and retain his support. The King presents Beowulf with numerous treasures that vary between gold and horses, armor and swords, and he even presents a reward to the other men who fought with him. The following quotation explains Beowulf’s thought on the matter. “So Beowulf drank his drink at ease; / it was hardly a shame to be showered with such gifts / in front of the hall-troops.” (Heaney 1024-1026) Beowulf gladly accepts the gifts that are being thrust upon him, without putting much thought into it and thinking only about his reputation. This is shown through the speaker’s word choice and the carefree tone of the lines. Regardless of that, it is

While fighting in the battles with his arch enemies he knows that he may have a chance of dying. Beowulf would rather die as a hero than to let his society down. Beowulf believes that saving his society is everything and he must do everything to accomplish his goal. Beowulf’s culture deserves a great king like him that gives them great loyalty. The poem supports heavy evidence on the relationship between Beowulf and his society giving them everything by supporting them and defending them in every way

Beowulf faces his death knowingly because he can’t leave his pride and greed aside. In the third and final battle we can observe how Beowulf makes the worst and most life threatening decision in the poem. Nearing the battle against the dragon we can read in lines 2324-2328 “Then Beowulf was given bad news, a hard truth: his own home, the best of buildings, had been burnt to a cinder, the throne-room of the Geats. It threw the hero into deep anguish and darkened his mood”. We can see how Beowulf takes this as an offense and as he is someone that not even a “monster” is worthy of tormenting. This is our first example of Beowulf being a character full of pride and not able to set it aside. He seeks fame in his last fight and a reward of gold which

It is also incorporated in the treasures. The dragon guards it his entire life, and it is the mission of many, including Beowulf to slay the dragon to get the treasures he is protecting. The moments before Beowulf dies, he asks Wiglaf to get him some of the dragon’s gold so that his last sight could be what he was fighting for. Treasures were also placed on Beowulf’s funeral pyre. Grendel’s arm and the sword was another treasure that Beowulf earned.

Beowulf was motivated by the treasure and riches. Because of his motivation, Beowulf’s reward was rotten and spoiled. This is also the real reason he found himself unable to beat the dragon alone. Wiglaf was able to help because he a genuine intention and wanted to help his king. Beowulf took a physical trophy away from each fight: the claw, Grendel’s head, and the treasure that filled his grave.

     Some literary scholars maintain that Beowulf developed character flaws through the course of the long narrative poem, and that at the time of his death he was a victim of pride, avarice, selfishness and an inordinate craving for glory. The purpose of this essay is to show that he was a tremendous hero from beginning to end.

Beowulf descends to do battle with the dragon but finds himself outmatched. His men, upon seeing this display and fearing for their lives, creep back into the woods. One of his men, however, Wiglaf, who finds great distress in seeing Beowulf's plight, comes to Beowulf's aid. The two slay the dragon, but Beowulf is mortally wounded.

    There is considerable debate as to whether the poem Beowulf is an epic narrative poem or an heroic elegy. Which is it. This essay intends to present both sides of the story.

Beowulf´s last words, are also referred to treasures, his last requests as he dies involve mainly the material goods that are so important to him. He asks to see the treasure that he won and to