In history and fiction, leaders play an important role in bringing people together, and accomplishing great feats. Beowulf the protagonist in “Beowulf” was an epic hero who went on a quest to defeat a vicious monster. Spartacus was a historical leader who led an army of slaves against Rome. Both Spartacus and Beowulf are vastly different, but they share some similar traits, and have been remember throughout the ages. Beowulf was a larger than life hero who can seemingly overcome any obstacle of challenge in his path. Beowulf is a Geat from Geatland, which is commonly known as Sweden. Despite not knowing much about his past we know he was great warrior because his father Ecgtheow was, during the Anglo-Saxon period being a great warrior was believed to be an inherited quality. The initial problem that brought Beowulf into the forefront was the monster Grendel terrorizing the mead hall, Herot. This conflict began between the people of Herot and their king Higlac, the monster Grendel, then Beowulf and fourteen other Geats came to intervene. Beowulf was faced with defeating Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and finally a dragon. He defeated Grendel in a one-sided battle, by ripping the monsters arm off in hand to hand combat. The battle between Beowulf and Grendel’s mother was an intense fight that Beowulf …show more content…
These heroes are largely different due to the fact that Beowulf is from fiction, and Spartacus is from history. Since Beowulf is from fiction, his actions and attributes are exaggerated, to a point that no mortal man could achieve. One of the major differences is that Beowulf fights his battles mainly by himself, and usually has a single opponent at a time. Spartacus is a leads a large army into battles, and fights an opposing force. He relies on the support of his men to achieve victory, while Beowulf wanted all the glory for
One of the strongest men on the face of Earth was Beowulf—savior of souls, and annihilator of evil. Beowulf is an epic poem that originated in the Anglo-Saxon period, told in Anglo-Saxon English. The poem depicts the odyssey of a man, Beowulf, who comes from the land of Geats to defeat a hellish creature, Grendel, which has been spawning terror upon King Hrothgar and his men, who live in the land of the Danes. On the way to King Hrothgar’s land, Beowulf encounters many monsters, and upon his arrival to the land of Danes, Beowulf vows to destroy Grendel in order to return peace and safety to King Hrothgar and his men. The poem often characterizes Beowulf with two distinct traits: pride and selflessness. Beowulf shows several moments of motivation
Beowulf son of the famous soldier Edegtho, comes to the rescue of Hrothgar. Hrothgar king of the Danes, which his land is being attacked by a treacherous monster named Grendel. Beowulf is described as a vigorous, fearless man of the Anglo Saxon times. Beowulf comes from a past generation of tenacious warriors. Like Beowulf’s dad, a famous soldier known far, and leader of many men. The Danes now see why Beowulf is such a fearless warrior. In Beowulf, the hero decides to fight without a weapon for three reasons he wants to be glorious, he is fearless, wanted to help the people of noble place and he wants to honor his people. Beowulf faces many conflicts fighting these dangerous monsters, but manages to defeat Grendel and his mother.
To begin with, One of Beowulf’s characteristics for being an epic hero would be his strength. Beowulf first killed Grendel, which no one else could defeat because Grendel was too powerful. Then, Beowulf killed Grendel’s Mother who was defeated by Beowulf’s bare hands because his sword wasn’t powerful enough to kill her. Last, Beowulf defeated the Dragon by taking his heart from his body which is something no one else could have done. Beowulf’s dedication and strength set forth to him being able to defeat the dragon. "I’d use no sword, no weapon, if this beast could be killed without it, crushed to death, like Grendel, Gripped in my hands and torn limb from limb." (42). This quote means that when Grendel couldn’t be defeated by any weapons, Beowulf made it simple and said that he was going
The story of Beowulf is one of a great hero. Beowulf is a very generous person who is always willing to help out when people are in need. Over the course of the story, Beowulf ends up in three major battles: the battle with Grendel, with Grendel’s mother, and with the dragon. All of these battles were different in their style and the way Beowulf approached them was different. Beowulf also had different reasons to participate in each of the battles.
Starting as a warrior and later becoming the king, Beowulf left behind a legacy. Beowulf portrays many traits of a hero. According to the Beowulf History Channel documentary, implies that he was a “superhuman” (History Doc.). Beowulf was known as “the strongest of the Geats” (Beowulf 195). According to the epic Beowulf, Beowulf was “stronger than anyone anywhere”(194). He was like no other anywhere else. Beowulf was not scared of battle, and felt like the best way to die was in battle.Beowulf was fearless. He voluntarily put himself in danger in order to protect his people and friends. Beowulf sailed across the sea to Denmark “in friendship” to
Beowulf is seen as a superhuman, almost like a god. In the story he had incredible strength and was look up to by the Danes. He, Beowulf, was going to help the
Part of the reason Beowulf is very well-known is that he has larger-than-life strength, more than that of any man. When he talks to King Hrothgar, he boasts: “They have seen my strength for themselves, have watched me rise from the darkness of war, dripping with my enemies’ blood. I drove five great giants into chains, chased all of that race from the earth. I swam in the blackness of night, hunting monsters out of the ocean, and killing them one by one; death was my errand and the fate they had earned.” (Unknown, 246-254) This shows that Beowulf has overcome many trials with his strength, and that unlike any other man, he has proven to be able to overcome the impossible. While Beowulf is fighting with Grendel the story says that Grendel “Twisted in
Beowulf, is an epic hero who battles Grendel, a demon, Grendel's mother, and a fire breathing dragon. His boast and encounters reveal him the strongest warrior around. He is known for his characteristics of Anglo Saxons code of honor including bravery, strength, and loyalty.
Beowulf and Achilles were different in a few ways. Beowulf was cocky by assuming that he could come to Herot and kill Grendel easily. However, Achilles was humble and understood that he will die in battle. Another different characteristic would be how Beowulf demonstrates superhuman strength by attacking Grendel with only his fists. On the other hand, Achilles doesn’t have superhuman strength, but he is skilled in using weapons. Both heroes are different, so naturally there is one that would be considered the
Beowulf was a man of complete courage. He did not wait for Denmark to request his assistance; he went straight to them and told them “you know that your country is cursed with some strange, vicious creature, that hunts only at night, Grendel, and I’m here to slay the demon” (pg. 46). He continued to defeat the demon, Grendel, with only his bare hands. He was not scared of facing the monster, nor was he worried that he would lose. He only had victory on his mind
Beowulf is about a medieval Geatish warrior who is considered an epic hero. An epic hero can be described by being admired for great achievements that they have accomplished many great deeds and heroic actions. Beowulf has all of the characteristics that an epic hero needs to possess, including bravery, strength, courage, and a desire to achieve immortality. Beowulf battled and won against Grendel, at the beginning of the poem, Grendel’s Mother, second, and the dragon which was the last battle. Beowulf is rewarded at the end of the poem by becoming the King of the Geats.
there were several battles and fights taking place in a variety of different locations. Beowulf was a brave warrior, who was called upon to defeat monsters that terrorized towns and the townspeople. He was well known for being stronger than almost every warrior and that he could take down sea monsters by himself. Beowulf was the sheer vision of someone who could take on anything thrown at him or went against him. Beowulf in the beginning of his reign as the greatest warrior in the land, had fought to protect those who needed help and by the end of his warrior days, he was a greedy and hungry for glory. Beowulf developed as hero throughout the three fights by fighting to defend others, fighting to please himself and fighting to be glorified.
Fortunately Beowulf was ready and willing to sacrifice himself to repay the debt of Ecgtheow, Beowulf’s father, to Hrothgar. This Geat warrior possesses almost miraculous qualities: “He was the strongest of men alive in that day, mighty and noble.” Upon spotting Beowulf approaching, the sea-guard of the Danes says, “Never have I seen a greater man on earth…” King Hrothgar of the Danes says of Beowulf, “Seafarers who took gifts to the Geats say that he has the strength of 30 men in his hand grip.” Beowulf chooses to fight Grendel by himself and without shield or weapons; previously the hero slew nine sea monsters with his sword. And he is fully willing to sacrifice his very life for this: “… I alone will fulfill the wish of your people … or die in the foe’s grasp.” Beowulf consciously chooses to act in a superhuman manner: “I shall perform the deeds of a hero or I have passed my last day
Beowulf is a story about a hero, by the same name, who traveled across the Baltic sea to aid King Hroðgar of the Danes, whose mead hall was attacked by a monster. Grendel, who lived in the lake right next to Hroðgar’s mead hall, was the monster disturbed by the noise caused by boisterous and drunken men celebrating. After Beowulf ripped Grendel’s arm off, effectively killing him, Grendel's mother attacked the hall next in revenge. Beowulf also slayed her by slicing her head off, and returned home to Geatland, in Scandanavia, as a hero where he was crowned as the King of Geats. All was well for about fifty years, until a dragon was disturbed in its cave.
Beowulf was the ideal hero because of all the brave courageous things he did to put the safety and protection of his people first also he was a very fair fighter. Beowulf heard about the attacks Grendel has been committing so Beowulf and his 14 men suited up and traveled to Herot to go and take down the evil Grendel once and for all. When Beowulf and his men arrived at Herot they went into the mead hall and had a feast with the geats and danes. Once the feast was over Beowulf's warriors went to sleep but Beowulf didn't he stayed up waiting for Grendel to come because Beowulf knew that Grendel fights unfairly by attacking at night so Beowulf being the fair fighter he is did not bring a weapon to use because he said ”I have heard that the monster's scorn of men is so great that he needs no weapons and fears none nor will I”(. He isn't using a weapon because he doesn't want to fight unfairly and become a coward. So after waiting a little while Grendel comes up from his cave and goes into the mead hall and eats one of Beowulf's men so Beowulf took action