The Heroic Code Of The Epic Of Beowulf Essay

Stepping up to lead the ranks into battle, he rallies the troops and tries to excite the others’ passion and will to defend their lord and their purpose. Beowulf is now a weak and unsound character in need of rescuing, whereas Wiglaf is the valiant hero and savior.

    Wiglaf was the last of Beowulf’s family and was the only person who helped him in the battle that took his life, the only one to witness Beowulf’s death after a grueling battle with a fire breathing behemoth who hoarded treasure like there was a sale on food and there was a

Being a hero can be defined many different ways. Several qualities like courage, respect, and strength can define heroism. A hero is noted for his or her actions for being brave, powerful, and acting with honor. In the epic poem, Beowulf, the main character Beowulf shows all of these characteristics by defending the Danish king, Hrothgar, and his people. He is a true hero by honoring his country and exerting his power and strength to protect others. Beowulf embodies the qualities of bravery, being powerful, and demonstrating his honor; therefore, he can be considered a true hero.

The most heroic of traits within Beowulf is that he is not afraid to die. He always explains his death wishes before going into battle and requests to have any assets delivered to his people. “…and if death takes me…send to Hyglac the best of war clothes that protects my breasts, finest of male shirts. It is a legacy of Hrethel, the works of Weland. Fate always goes as it must.” He is aware of the heroic paradox; he will be glorified in life or death for his actions. He knows that when he fights an enemy like Grendel or Grendel’s mother he will achieve immortality as the victor or the loser. “I resolved when I sat down in the sea-boat with my men, that I should fulfill the will of your people or else fall in slaughter. I shall achieve a dead of manly

However, Beowulf shows his loyalty by turning down her offer. He becomes king when Heardred dies. After ruling the Geats for 50 years, Beowulf decides to fight the terrible dragon. He brings eleven warriors with him. While Beowulf struggles fighting the dragon, his warriors hide except for one loyal thane named Wiglaf. Wiglaf tells Beowulf, “’Now, great spirited noble, brave of deeds, you must protect your life with all your might, I shall help you’”(47). He has remained loyal to his king so Beowulf decides to make Wiglaf the king. This gesture again shows how the value of loyalty to one’s king and kingdom will benefit and reward those who are loyal and give them better reputations.

As Beowulf lies at rest, the question must be asked. Was he a true hero? Wanting only to help the towns people and keep them safe? Or just a mighty man wanting to be king, loathed in fame and riches? That is something that may always stay

After fifty years of what seems to be peace, the dragon appears to reign terror on Beowulf’s kingdom that he has taken power of. A robber had taken the dragon’s treasure that it was peacefully protecting prior to its terror. By this time, Beowulf is around ninety years of age. He knows it will be a tough fight, and therefore brings warriors along with him. After he calls the fierce dragon out of its cave, all but one of the warriors flee the scene. It is only Beowulf and a man named Wiglaf “Watching Beowulf, he could see How his king was suffering, burning. Remembering Everything his lord and cousin had given him,Armor and gold and the great estates Wexstan’s family enjoyed, Wiglaf’s Mind was made up”(Beowulf 107). Together, they slay the dragon, but Beowulf dies at the end too, making Wiglaf the king. The dragon was protecting the treasure and the thief did not steal for his own desire, it was for his masters in which he was beaten by “But the thief had not come to steal; he stole, And roused the dragon, not from desire But need, He was someone’s slave, had

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.

But it doesn't last. By the time Beowulf has ruled for fifty years, the warriors have changed. When Beowulf ventures out to fight the dragon, the men he has picked to accompany him become cowards and run away, all except for Wiglaf. This change of attitude is worse than just betraying their king. It signals an end to the Heroic Code and their very

11. The poet characterizes Wiglaf as “a man of worth” because all of the other people who were supposed to be there for the king left him. Wiglaf was the only man who stayed loyal to him until his last hours. Wiglaf is a man who keeps his words someone who is a true friend. “Wiglaf a son of Weohstan’s a well-reorganized shielding warrior.” (2602-2603) “When he saw his lord tormented by the heat of his scalding helmet, he remembered the beautiful gifts bestowed on him

The heroic code has conflicts with the views of Christianity because the heroic code is filled with hubris. A hero that has hubris is a hero who’s pride gets in their way. This is what Beowulf’s downfall is when it comes to him being an epic hero. Therefore, the heroic code is controversial due to the Christian influences that are put on Beowulf. An example of Beowulf’s pride is on lines 1758 - 1760. The lines state “O flower of warriors, be aware of that trap. Choose, dear Beowulf, the better part, Eternal rewards. “Do not give away to pride.” Another example of Beowulf’s pride is on line numbers 958 - 961 when Beowulf talks about defeating Grendel, which says “If you could have seen the monster himself Where he lay beaten, I would have been better pleased.” Beowulf is so prideful about defeating Grendel, that even he thinks everybody should admire what he’s done to achieve victory the same way he does. The intended purpose of the text was altered because of the pagan influences in the text. As shown in the poem regarding a pagan influence it says, “so must a man do a man who intends doing glory in combat. Life doesn’t cost him a thought.” This quote shows the arrogance of Beowulf and how he believes that it’s more honorable to defeat Grendel. Another example of a Pagan influence in the poem is towards the beginning where it says, Sometimes at Pagan shrines they vowed Offering to idols./, swore oaths That the killer of souls might come to their aid And save the people.

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

During Beowulf’s last battle, all his soldiers left except one mighty man, and that was Wiglaf. When I was eleven years old my mother abandoned my family and I unexpectedly.

“[Beowulf is] is recognized … as an embodiment of the contradictory nature of heroic ideals” (Wanner. Page 2). Beowulf’s religiously following of the Comitatus leads him to his doom. Beowulf’s lust for fame and hubris lead him to break the code of Comitatus. Beowulf as a king was supposed to let new heroes at the time take care of the dragon. Instead, he gets severely injured by the dragon because of his huge ego and pride to slay the dragon alone. Ironically, at the end Beowulf would not have even killed the dragon without help from the emerging hero Wiglaf. At the end Beowulf breaks the code he followed by heart only to be shown at his death, that one must remember their rank in the feudal

There were a lot of twists in the movie Beowulf compared to the story in the book that I’ve read in English Literature. I was a ‘bit confused if Wiglaf should be the protagonist in the movie instead of Beowulf who died in the end. Well, it was like, the protagonist remains in the movie almost all the time.