Good vs. Evil in “Beowulf”:
“Beowulf”, being an epic poem, deals with good versus evil. The good being the epic hero, which in this case, is Beowulf. As the epic hero, Beowulf possesses qualities such as intelligence, super strength, attractiveness and likability, strong authority, and courage; all qualities one would assume to be in a “good” character. The evil in the poem are the characters Beowulf chooses to challenge. They are the monsters and dragon that depict hell. Throughout this epic poem, one discovers that the constant battle between good and evil does not necessarily come down to the morals of the characters. I would like to research this topic to find out the motives behind each of the characters, good or evil, when fighting one
…show more content…
Why is it that Beowulf, a man, seems to only pick battles against supernatural creatures rather than other strong warriors from, perhaps, other tribes? Does he find anything other than the supernatural unworthy of encountering his heroic capabilities?
3. Is a victory in a battle between two tribes of men, omitting any supernatural creatures, even considered real heroism when either side could be argued as good or evil?
4. Why would a character choose, or even desire, evil over good?
Beowulf as an Epic Hero: In the event that my first topic of interest does not prove to have enough information to fully answer my research questions, I have chosen a plan B topic. Beowulf symbolizes the ideal epic hero. He shows he is intelligent when he studies his enemies before attacking. His strength is proven when he defeats the supernatural creatures. Others are attracted to Beowulf because of his noble background and his likability. He also possesses a strong authoritative attitude, enlisting other men to journey with him. Lastly, his courage is undeniable when he challenges creatures that no other man has survived from. I am curious to further understand what makes an epic hero truly epic besides their qualities. Here are some questions I would like to answer to
Why does the poet of Beowulf choose to give human qualities and distinct territories to Beowulf’s monstrous rivals? In the epic, Grendel is a horrible, human-like monster and an outcast in the society. Grendel’s mother is another dangerous adversary of Beowulf because she feels the pain of her child’s death and desires to take revenge, which is similar to the way a human mother feels for her child. In addition to connecting the traits of the monsters to the humans, the poet also provides them a territory for their survival. In Beowulf, the poet’s purpose of bestowing human attributes and granting a residence to Beowulf’s opponents is to reflect that the in Anglo-Saxon society, everyone is respected, but the only elements that prevents one from
Beowulf exhibits many obvious heroic qualities, such as his strength and confidence in battle. These along with more subtle diplomatic actions serve to define him as both a great warrior and leader.
In the epic poem Beowulf, there is an obvious distinction between good and evil. The hero and his foes play roles that are commonly associated with Anglo-Saxon literature. The lines are clearly drawn and expressed in the poem. As the story moves, the reader cannot mistake the roles being played, based on the characterizations in the epic, one recognizes each character for their purpose and place.
The comparison of good and evil is often displayed in our everyday lives. Good and evil has been compared since the beginning of time. This can be seen in social media and religion. However, good vs. evil is most commonly seen in literature. In the text, Beowulf, the juxtaposition of good vs. evil is displayed through the authors use of diction and imagery and how it establishes the tone.
The battle between good and evil and the inevitable victory of the good is very evident in Beowulf. There is a power struggle between the divine and the sinister throughout the novel, and the divine come out on top, every time. No matter who Beowulf decides to fight, he always leaves victorious. It also shows how disgusting, cruel, and dehumanized all of his opponents are. This all ties together to show us this idea of a struggle between the good and the evil in Beowulf.
Bravery is an important character trait for heroes in order to help them defeat other monsters/ evil and this is still the same for Beowulf as he defeats Grendel’s reincarnation. Therefore, when Beowulf was a young warrior, he had many character traits of a hero including being gallant, confident, and bold.
Beowulf consciously chooses to act in a superhuman manner: “I shall perform the deeds of a hero or I have passed my last day in this mead hall.” Even Grendel recognizes the hero’s superior strength: “The criminal knew he had not met in this middle-earth another with such a grip.” Other warriors when thinking of Beowulf “would quickly compose a skillful tale in words.” Hrothgar refers to Beowulf as “the best of warriors.” The Danish queen Wealhtheow compliments after Grendel’s defeat, “You have earned forever the praise of men from near and far.” Hrothgar expounds on good warriors: “This is the best-born man – my friend Beowulf … the best of warriors.” When the dragon burns the mead hall of the Geats and Beowulf prepares to retaliate, he “scorned a host, a large army … he didn’t fear the dragon’s war …” Beowulf is also superior in a moral sense: When Hygelac’s wife Hygd previously offered Beowulf the kingdom, he declined to accept because there was a legitimate heir to the throne. Beowulf’s example of extreme heroism motivates others to extraordinary deeds: Wiglaf, seeing Beowulf’s strength compromised by the dragon’s fire, risks his life to aid Beowulf in his final battle. It is obvious that the hero possesses superhuman qualities. As
Beowulf is a hero in the eyes of his fellow men through his amazing physical strength. He fought in numerous battles and returned victorious
Teaira Hartfield 2nd period 9/15/17 Good and evil in Beowulf In the story Beowulf the concepts of evil and good presented are clearly defined. Beowulf embodies all is good, which is greatly expressed through his super human capabilities. Beowulf also represents the ability to do good, to perform acts selflessly and in help of others.
Beowulf demonstrates a supernatural amount of strength throughout the epic. Beowulf defeats many monsters with his strength. “The tears torn out of Grendel’s / taunt throat, hell’s captive caught in the arms / of him who all of the men on earth / was the strongest” (Beowulf 469-472). This quote demonstrates that Beowulf is able to out power any monster
In the fictional epic poem Beowulf, Beowulf is a hero that can defeat any monsters and he saves towns from their wraths. Although the battles between Beowulf and the various monsters may seem clear cut as good versus evil, Beowulf has a mix of both humble and selfish intentions behind each battle. In each of the three battles in the book, Beowulf does something to create a more difficult battle for himself to appear stronger and better. Against Grendel, Beowulf restricted himself from using weapons because when he would win, he would look that much better. When Grendel’s mother fought Beowulf, he kept his men from helping him and fought the beast himself. Against the dragon in his final battle, he used weapons and the help of his men and quantified it because he was older than he was against Grendel. Beowulf set the bar too high and each battle after the first made him seem weaker and weaker. But in each battle, Beowulf challenges himself unnecessarily to appear as a better warrior.
There is an obvious theme of good vs, evil within the story of Beowulf. The protagonist, Beowulf, is your traditional embodiment of heroism. The antagonist, Grendel, is obviously the definition
In Beowulf, the conflict between good and evil is the story’s most universal theme. The storyteller is very clear who is good and who is evil, Beowulf represents the good and the ability to act selflessly when help is needed from others. Good is also shown throughout the epic as having the ability to abolish villainy. Evil is presented by Grendel, his mother, and a dragon, whose purpose in life is to make the lives of humanity a little more miserable.
Good and Evil in Beowulf In Beowulf, the conflict between good and evil is the poem's main and most important aspect. The poet makes it clear that good and evil do not exist as only opposites, but that both qualities are present in everyone. Beowulf represents the ability to do good, or to perform acts selflessly and in help of others. Goodness is also showed throughout this epic as having the ability to cleanse evil.
The characteristics of an epic hero range from unfathomable strength and courage to simply being a good person. A typical epic hero has super strength, courage, devotion, loyalty, a strong sense of justice, a primary weakness, a love of glory, and they are usually champions of freedom. There have been innumerable changes in the characteristics of an epic hero over time; however, there are a few key traits that will forever stay the same. Beowulf is a prime example of an archetypal epic hero—past and present—because he exudes qualities such as loyalty and honor, courage, and adroitness to risk his life for others and the “greater good” of society.