The Poem “Beowulf”: Character Analysis Essay (Critical Writing)
Beowulf presents one of the most important pieces of English literature from the Anglo-Saxon period because of its epic nature and historic value. The poem depicts the heroic deeds of the warrior Beowulf and captures the Anglo-Saxon culture of the medieval period. The poem is divided into three parts for each of Beowulf’s heroic battles with Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. In each part of the poem, Beowulf demonstrates different heroic traits, ultimately creating his image of an epic hero.
Firstly, Beowulf’s story in the poem starts when he offers to help King Hrothgar defeat the monster known as Grendel. The character proves the seriousness of his intentions by boasting about his previous victories in battle with nine sea monsters, demonstrating his courage. In the poem, Grendel is depicted as a monster that appears “bigger than any man” and stronger than the main character (Heaney, 2008, p.93). During his fight with Grendel, Beowulf demonstrates bravery by fighting the monster bare-handed to gain great fame and honor.
Next, in the part of the poem which depicts Beowulf’s battle with Grendel’s mother, the character demonstrates his commitment to duty and King Hrothgar by killing Grendel’s mother. Furthermore, Beowulf demonstrates his intelligence when he discovers that his sword cannot hurt Grendel’s mother and finds a magic sword inside her cave. Thus, in addition to bravery and courage often associated with epic heroes, Beowulf possesses such heroic qualities as loyalty and intelligence.
Lastly, Beowulf enters the fight with the last monster as the king of Geats. During his last battle, Beowulf demonstrates care for his soldiers, contrary to his actions in the first parts of the poem. He also shows the will to self-sacrifice, which resonates with one of his loyal soldiers. Together, they kill the dragon, and Beowulf dies not only as a famous hero but also as a responsible leader and ruler.
In conclusion, this essay explored heroic traits in the character of Beowulf. The essay defines how each chapter of the poem captures different heroic traits exhibited by Beowulf, such as bravery and courage, loyalty and intelligence, wisdom and self-sacrificing. Thus, the paper explains how the combination of different heroic traits creates the image of Beowulf as an epic hero and captures the character’s progression from a brave warrior to a wise and responsible ruler.
Heaney, S. (2008). Beowulf: An illustrated edition. W.W. Norton & Company.
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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Beowulf — Beowulf: a Perfect Anglo-saxon Hero
Beowulf: a Perfect Anglo-saxon Hero
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The “Beowulf” Anglo-Saxony Epic Poem
1. introduction to 'beowulf'.
The very mention of the epic hero suggests the role of the individual in a particular society. Beowulf, the protagonist of the Old English epic poem of the same name, is called upon to rid the Danish king Hrothgar's domain of a particularly vicious monster that comes from the meadows of the floor of hell, and then when he becomes ruler in his native Geatland, he must defend his people from the vengeance of another monstrous being, a dragon that is a wicked bearer of destruction and that is accompanied by a fierce rain of fire. The struggle against supernatural evil, and efforts at the preservation, perpetuation, and enhancement of the good of the human world in accordance with the ancient heroic ideals of the Anglo-Saxon warrior class, dominate the life activities overall experience and, ultimately, the historical significance of Beowulf. Both the hero, a member of the warrior class, and the evil creature, who is cast as a numinous threat in Norman Cohn's fourfold typology of "daemon" and who is presented in the Beowulf poet's figures of Grendel and the dragon as pure vicious evil, possess universal appositeness and meaning. The association of myth and existence in a verbal construction in creation mythic structures as apprehensions having direct and intentional order has historical significance for mankind. The poem Beowulf reflects the revelation of the rightness of the Heahtobe named and symbolized, and prophesies events which embody the destiny of the aevo seven proem, the historical progress, and completion of a divine mission. And, on the concrete level of life and poesies existences as autotelic artistic works, individual names constitute a higher relationship of myth to existence, expressing "the divine command under which creation came forth."
1.1. Background and Context
In England, during the 7th and 8th centuries in what is now Denmark and Sweden, the epic poem Beowulf was born. Many of the Anglo-Saxon tribes converted to Christianity, including the Danes and the Swedes. Not long after, St. Augustine established Rome's Christian creed in England. However, despite being a pre-Christian poem, Beowulf is still a very intense and interesting piece and shows many elements of Christian doctrine. Beowulf is a well-known climax for the crucial period of the initial European history. It was made by a knowledgeable poet who lived in England at the time when the early written records of English literature were made. The superficial name of the epic is simply the name of the personage, Beowulf, a Geat prince. The writer is unknown. It is assumed that the creator was an Anglo-Saxon person. However, traditions have confirmed that the composer of Beowulf was an ex-disposed man who performed in the role of a bard. Later, the extant manuscript was perhaps a transcription by Hrothgar, the minstrel, who is estimated to have lived after the generation Beowulf lived. Consequently, the writer of the extant poem is expected to have been thoroughly informed of the types of exile from the Midlands of England. Beowulf is basically a great-West Germanic tragedy narrative of its earliest period of performance, yet it has been conserved in perfect condition.
2. Themes and Motifs in 'Beowulf'
The final words of the poem, stating that Beowulf was "most eager for fame" (3182), might be best understood by a modern audience by remembering that, in Beowulf's world, the one thing that survives after death is a person's "fame", that is, the memory that the living carry with them. In considering the text of Beowulf, especially regarding the identity of the monster Grendel, one literary reference or myth that the poem holds interest in is the famous biblical enemy, Cain. The poet of Beowulf asserts upon its readers that the first monster was a descendant of Cain, which states a part of these "monsters" origins. The poet's imperative was to alert the audience of the inherent dangers of the world, leaving a lesson or a warning to the society by echoing a pre-existing, Christian-based tale. Another major theme then arises in Beowulf, in the importance of both a circle of pledges, with the ruler at its very center, as well as the will, or testimony, that will carry on "in the collective memory and in fame". The first part of the very first line of Beowulf includes the title character, portrayed as a definite part of a heroic civilization. And when we proceed to see the aspects which define heroism and the heroic code, then we open up the first big, recurring theme in Beowulf: the declaration of an infinite and ongoing conflict between forces. If Beowulf had won, he brought treasures back to his home country to be replicated for him by the smiths. After the people of his kingdom had eventually derived weapons from his treasure, Hygelac's authority inherits the kingdom. Beowulf worked on warfare to attract treasure, but he also considered rewards for bravery.
2.1. Heroism and Bravery
The main theme of Beowulf is heroism and bravery. However, heroism is not one-dimensional and it takes on different layers in the poem. If we cast the general outline of the poem aside for a brief moment, such a characteristic of the epic hero, a warrior king, does not, however, appear to be the ideal statesman. Hrothgar confesses that Beowulf is bold indeed. He praises Beowulf for his courage and loyalty, but discerns that the epic hero is better at swearing undying loyalty to his king and commanders than creating a lasting peace. In the description of the great warriors waiting for something sinister to happen after Beowulf disappears, it is observed that they are not very good statesmen either. Their only concern seems to be getting armored and mercilessly seeking Beowulf first, who was eager to meet the beast. These are statesmen of sorts, desperate to plunge into battle but overwhelmingly less skilled at reaching settlements that wiser men like Hrothgar used to reach in his youth. It is almost as though a critical or idealistic follower of a popular battle king is attending and does not like what a closer look reveals about a warlord. Only the presence of the truly idealistic bishops seems to halt an immediate battle. In short, heroism of any nature, even in the form of political negotiations, becomes necessary but not sufficient. While Hrothgar, the wise king, commenting on the grandeur of Heorot, talks about the institution-building that King Swerting did, no such constructive building seems to take place with reference to either Hrothgar or Hygelac. As such, the poem has been seen as embodying a temporary victory, limited to the physical body in more ways than one, metaphorically limited to what can be reached with a large sword and if it should happen, the venomous breath of the monster.
3. Literary Devices and Techniques in 'Beowulf'
An epic is a long narrative poem on a serious subject presented in an elevated or formal style. Anglo-Saxon epics: "Beowulf". All epics share certain characteristics. For example, they are all long narratives. In addition, they all concern heroic deeds and impressive events. When an epic is serious, the piece respects, in some way, the formal characteristics of epic writing. In many respects, Beowulf is the simplest kind of epic there is. It is written in a common vernacular, and it celebrates the deeds of a great hero. The poem is a long narrative between 3000 and 5000 lines. However, the text would most likely be only around 3400 lines. An epic has a great status and quality. The patriarchal nobility of the elder Germanic period is suggested by such phrases and epithets as "gray-haired dispenser of treasure, lord of the shields, guardian of the kingdom." This particular characteristic of the Anglo-Saxon epic is confined to the original aspect in the form of the figure who is frequently clarified by the backward glances which enable him to assume heroic and impressive proportions. The beginning of "Beowulf" announces that the hero of the poem arises from the ranks of persons who are consequently "most well known to men." Line 1 tells us the well-known type of person that Beowulf is, and the body of the poem confirms it even at the outset, "The surname, Ecgtheow's AKA Beowulf's son. His father/ And folk held him to follow his father.
3.1. Alliteration and Kennings
Alliteration, the linking of syllables by similar sounds, punctuates the epic, each line having at least four strong-stress words, usually placed in two half lines. Each half line in early Old English was linked by alliteration. Alliteration survived into Middle English and was to reappear in modern poetry. The normal type of alliterating verse in Old English is organized into two half-lines with two unique features: The first half-line contains one alliterative link, usually on stress. In the second half-line, the alliterative link is stressed and another stress in the half-line can alliterate with this link. Selecting the word to fill these positions is not always an easy task. In general, the word must contain a stressed syllable that is separated from the previous word's stressed syllable by at least one unstressed syllable. In these half-lines, stress is very regular. An excellent example of these half-lines is to peer in on Naomh-Pádraig in Beowulf, line 744: "Eodorcynnes lēod, ec gefēng." We count off the stresses. The word "ēod", which has both an alliterative link marker and also alliterates with its stressed vowel, is stressed.
4. Character Analysis in 'Beowulf'
Beowulf - Beowulf is a large and strong. One would assume that his character, as well as his body, is larger than life. He can talk the talk and walk the walk, which builds his self-confidence. This self-confidence leads him to success in battle and earns him a good reputation. Beowulf's determination is one of his best qualities. One can see that he has a very determined spirit and the need to accomplish a goal. He does not back down from battle no matter how much danger he is in. His stickability, determination, is never defeated by the other-worldly creatures that cross his very strong path. He was raised in a war-torn area and spent much of his youth watching his relatives fight each other, believing that the strongest and bravest should win. His strength is unrivaled and speaks of the loyalty to whatever lord he is serving. But his death at the end of the play is what gives him his humanity. Hrothgar - Hrothgar is a noble and wise person who chooses to hold on to his peace and not react to opposition. This helps set him apart from other Scyldaing Kings. He, like his brother, is a model of what a Scylding lord should be, showing how a good and hospitable warrior king should act. In his old age as King of the Danes, he is truly the lord of his land, caring for and giving to his people without any qualms. He remains that great king, a real father figure to Beowulf, and delivers great speeches like the one he gives before he dies. His character knows his people and they know him. He is the Geatish war hero who came to Denmark to save it from being destroyed by the monster, Grendel.
4.1. Beowulf
This is the founding text of the long tradition of the Anglo-Saxon epic. It describes the adventures of Beowulf the Geat, who comes to the aid of Hrothgar, the King of the Danes, in his wars with Grendel, the monster of the marshes and then with Grendel's sea monster mother. The monster is finally killed and Beowulf gains fame and becomes the King of the Geats. He reigns wisely and is later killed by a dragon for having hidden a hoard of treasure. It should be noted that Beowulf is considered to belong to an earlier period of English literature before the Old English poetry and after the fixed meter poetry. The epic is attributed to a monk from the area of ancient Northumbria during the eighth century. The author took the material from a common poetic tradition and added the Christian influence that translates a poem which describes the secular deeds of Germanic heroes into a hymn of Christian fatalism.
5. Reception and Legacy of 'Beowulf'
Beowulf is not just a historical record of the Vikings' epic battles, but also their personal facts and problems like the oppositions of nationality, the contradiction of the two moral patterns, and the reflection on people and nature entities. This masterpiece is not just a glimpse of the old Scandinavian culture standing behind the half-light of history, but a valuable treasure left by the ancient Nordic people. For its unique value, Beowulf has taken up an important position among all the literature works of the world. Beowulf's position with history, age, writing style, content, and the contribution of the literary creation is unique and incomparable. Widsith, the name of the Anglo-Saxon expert's wandering poet in "Beowulf", is representative of the Anglo-Saxon prose poetry representative. Beowulf's creation is a representation and the highest achievement of this trend. The emergence of the epic poem was exactly the Anglo-Saxon society of feudal declining in civilization needed. 'Beowulf', containing a thousand lines, is the early Anglo-Saxon heroic epic poem, set in continental Europe and concentrating on the Scandinavian epic battle about the king of the great lords. 'Beowulf' is the rise, flourishing, and lore of the Anglo-Saxon era of the feudal society. Its emergence is considered to coincide with the Anglo-Saxon writing of codifying works and linking with the production, life, and hunting cultural of the Anglo-Saxon societies. 'Beowulf' as the highest peak of the folk epic literature and the only complete evidence to reveal the old Germanic epic folk tradition. 'Beowulf' is filled with mythical legend, heroic struggles, monster legends, royal fighting for survival, sacrificial spirit, nationalism, menacing, and the nature poetic praising and other various literary creation elements. 'Beowulf' homework on showing the nobilities in the secular world of fighting, enshrining feudalistic moral standards and ideological preachings in magnificent poetic charm; the surrounding panorama of people's life, hunting customs, touching descriptions of entities such as winter, heath, and the sea, flood the poetic beauty of sorrow.
5.1. Influence on Modern Literature
Considering the influence of Beowulf on modern literature, this epic poem's ever-increasing body of scholarship must be updated. The information compiled in the Beowulf bibliography makes evident that our Old English poem continues to influence modern writers of all genres. What is new from the time the present author composed his Ph.D. dissertation on the influence of Beowulf on "Twentieth-Century Monsters" is a specific trend in modern literature. That is the contemporary recycling of epic poetry. J. R. R. Tolkien thinks there is a place in literature for a poem the scope of an epic but the purpose of a history like Beowulf. However, that could only happen if somehow the general story could provide a common ground that gave the poem power to persuade and move where historical particulars could not. The familiar is essential to the preservation and recreation of what is not familiar; otherwise, it risks dying. The Anglo-Saxons sensed and took care of their tradition. Their literature allowed them to recall set pieces from the shared past and modify them in light of immediate circumstances. So should be our concern for our tradition.
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Analysis of 'Beowulf' as Being a Hero
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