Free Essays on Beowulf

and deeds suggest numerous things about traditional Anglo-Saxton values. The tale of Beowulf is of good against evil; man against demon; ethics and morals against personal gain from murdering others. In this story all of the monsters are associated with Cain, who, in the bible, is the first murderer that ever existed. The main monster in Beowulf is Grendel, and that is who Beowulf faces against. Grendel represents everything that opposes the Anglo-Saxton values and beliefs. Grendel is extremely irate, insecure, and unaware of himself, while Beowulf is loyal, courageous, and confident and, of course, the exemplification that all other Anglo-Saxton’s desired to be. Firstly, there is the idea of being courageous and standing up for something a person may believe in. Beowulf believed in destroying the monster, and saving all of the people. He did so. Grendel was not brave enough to stand up to Beowulf, and therefore, he was destroyed. ". . . Grendel's one thought was to run. From Beowulf, flee back to his marsh and hide there:† demonstrates this point. He was not able to escape, and he did not deserve the chance to, because he lacked the audacity in which Beowulf had. Courage is one value the Anglo-Saxons seemed to hold close at heart. Secondly, there was the factor of confidence. Grendel did not have confidence in himself, whereas Beowulf was overly confident, and arrogant. The people of the story seemed to admire this attribute of Beowulf, and therefore it could be considered another value. Beowulf knew he could win, and claim victory over Grendel, and had no problem proving it to his fellow peers. "He remembered his final Boast and, standing erect, stopped. The monster's flight,† through the entire fight Beowulf was able to keep his confidence and cocky attitude, all the way to the very end. Confidence is another trait that the Anglo-Saxon people seemed to admire. Finally, Beowulf is loyal to his men and... Free Essays on Beowulf Free Essays on Beowulf Beowulf-the three divisions The epic poem, Beowulf, is composed of three main divisions, and they each possess their own significance toward the outcome of the hero’s life. Each division of the poem contains a battle or struggle in which Beowulf had to overcome insurmountable odds if order to obtain victory. As Beowulf conquered his enemies, he became a distinguished hero, and was known throughout the world for his bravery and courage. The first main division begins on line 86, where we begin to learn about Hrothgar’s struggles with Grendel, â€Å"a powerful demon, a prowler through the dark †¦ a fiend from hell.† It ends on line 1250 after Hrothgar rewards Beowulf for saving Heorot from the monster’s constant night attacks. In this first division, Beowulf proves himself as a great warrior to Hrothgar, and gains the respect of the Danes. It is significant because it establishes a background of Beowulf for the reader, as well as, demonstrating his characteristics in battle. The second main division begins with the vengeful night attack from Grendel’s mother, and the killing of one of Hrothgar’s head mentors, Aeschere. Once again Beowulf is ready to battle with a great monster in order to save Hrothgar and his people. He proves himself to be a brave and courageous warrior again, when he and several others journey to the lake where the monster dwells, and he single-handedly kills her. And as a tribute to Aeschere, Beowulf brings back the head of Grendel for Hrothgar. When the monster was defeated and Heorot was safe again, Hrothgar showered Beowulf and his followers with many esteemed gifts to bring back to their king, Hygelac. This second tale truly established Beowulf as a distinguished hero, and earned him great respect in the land of the Danes. This great feat also gained him respect in his own land, and Hygelac presented Beowulf with a gem-studded sword, land, a hall and a throne for his courageous deeds. ... Free Essays on Beowulf John Gardener’s novel, Grendel retells the epic of Beowulf from Grendel’s point of view. Grendel lives in a large cavern under a lake with his mother in Hrothgar’s kingdom. For twelve-years Grendel has been at â€Å"war† with Hrothgar, king of the Danes, intent â€Å"on destroying him- slowly and cruelly.† When Grendel first meets Hrothgar he has no plan to destroy him, but after watching Hrothgar and the other kingdoms systematically destroy each other while wasting so much Grendel turns on Hrothgar. While Grendel is the anti-hero he flourishes in the Danish world because he sees the weaknesses of the Danes. John Gardener is able to show the reader his view of human society through Grendel’s thoughts and observations of the social, religious, and psychological aspects of human life. Through Grendel’s observations of the Danes, Gardener makes mankind out as cruel, weakminded, and apathetic. In the epic of Beowulf the author portrays th e social life of the Danes while talking about the feasts and stories of the men. The author also touches on the idea of the psychology of th eDanes when talking about the Shaper. In Grendel, John Gardener likewise writes about the social and psychological world of the Danes while also commenting on religion. Gardener accomplishes this by telling the epic from the anti-heroe’s, Grendel’s point of view. Grendel is developed as the anti-hero through his actions and thoughts. Grendel tells the reader of the times he has killed the outcasts from Herot because their presence by his home annoys him. The reader also learns of his nihilistic view that there is nothing worth existing for. Lastly, the reader meets Grendel’s teacher, the dragon, who tells Grendel that the humans are fools and Grendel would be best suited to leave them alone and then go out to â€Å"find gold and just sit on it.† While Grendel is an anti-hero Gardener does build up some sympathy for Grendel so the reader will seriously l... Free Essays on Beowulf Beowulf Loyalty and Generosity in Beowulf The society depicted in the poem â€Å"Beowulf† depended on two basic characteristics of its people. Loyalty and generosity are the two characteristics that bound this culture together. Throughout the poem, the people must depend on the loyalty and generosity of Beowulf and his warriors to defend them from evil. Society as described in Beowulf, was a very warlike society therefore, if Beowulf and his warriors were not giving of themselves in order to protect their people, the end result might have been drastically different. In the days of Beowulf the only reason for living was to be a loyal person, even if that meant death. If you were not a loyal person you basically had no reason to live because people would not even recognize you as a normal man. So it seems pretty obvious why most people during this time in society, were very loyal to their society and families. And in being a loyal person, also came giving of yourself. When the monster G rendel hears of the joy in Heorot and comes down to attack Beowulf’s people the Danes, this is the first time we see loyalty When Beowulf hears of what Grendel did to the Heorot and the Danes, he gathers fifteen of his best men across the sea to help. Some critics argue that because of how Beowulf responds to situations such as this, he is full of pride and not loyalty. William Lawrence argues that since Beowulf is so quick to respond to a challenge and never backs down, that he is way to prideful. Lawrence writes that, although Beowulf is the hero of the poem, his eagerness to take a challenge is a symbol of his downfall, pride. However, Beowulf does what he says he will do and so therefore he has a right to brag to others. In this situation when he goes to fight with Grendel, Beowulf asks that he fight the monster alone. He knows that God will decide the outcome, so relying on that, he is loyal to his people by fighting the deadly monster. While ... Free Essays on Beowulf Beowulf The three main events of Beowulf are the fight with Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. The first section of the poem deals with the lineage of the king and Beowulf’s family background. Some of the values that a good hero should have are explained, and related to the main character, Beowulf. The next section involves revenge and how the Danes need a hero to defeat the monster Grendel who is attacking the people of the town. The tension between good, evil, right, and wrong are themes that radiates throughout the entire course of Beowulf. Grendel, the first monster that Beowulf fights is one of the first true Biblical references that appear in the poem. Grendel is said to have descended from Cain who in the Old Testament book of Genesis, who kills his own brother Abel. This statement makes you believe that Grendel has some human characteristics, and is a representation of evil. Moreover, you can infer that if Grendel is a descendent of Cain, so is his mother. The three monsters in the poem are clear examples of evil, but are also symbols of the internal tension between right and wrong within an individual. Beowulf’s first fight against evil represented by Grendel, ends with â€Å"good† winning, his second fight with Grendel’s mother, ends with â€Å"good† triumphing over evil; however, the last battle 50 years after the second ends with evil and self destruction. The results of these battles can be seen as the confrontation with evil, vengeance, and one’s own mortality. Beowulf is portrayed as being almost beyond human in strength and character. The way that Beowulf is structured is reminiscent of a classic epic with the build up of the main character, the description of community, and challenges that the main character has to overcome. Beowulf becomes the hero of his entire community, the Danes, Geats, and is celebrated. Another theme that is presented in Beowulf is age. There is a fifty year gap bet... Free Essays on Beowulf Title Beowulf, an epic poem, was written around the ninth century A.D., and was also written in Old English. Beowulf was authorized by a Roman Catholic Priest, which is acknowledged due to numerous references to the Bible. Beowulf, the main character is a mighty warrior with great pride and concern for his fellow comrades and The Land of the Geats. Throughout the poem there are several challenges that Beowulf has to confront. The first is the battle with Grendel, a horrific monster, because he has been terrorizing the Geats. Beowulf defeats Grendel in the battle but has to face another one with Grendel’s mother who wants to get revenge for the death of her son. Beowulf finally defeats Grendel’s mother. In the third battle Beowulf has to fight a dragon that has wreaked havoc on the Geats society due to a servant that had stolen a golden goblet from his home. The dragon was defeated with the help of a young kinsman, Wiglaf, but not before biting Beowulf in the neck and eventua lly destroying him. Although dying, Beowulf was glad that he had won the treasure for his people. The second poem is Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, which is a romance written about six hundred years ago. The author is known as the Pearl Poet. This poem is a moral allegory, which means that the poem is glorified in a way, but also represents a moral idea. This poem is about a knight that has to go and find the Green Chapel where a Green Knight lives and respectfully get his head cut off just like he did to him. This called the ‘Beheading Game†. Both of these poems characters illustrate right living, the consequences of failing to live rightly, and the rewards of it. In the poem â€Å"Beowulf†, Beowulf illustrates various ways of how to live rightly. The first is when he went out by himself to conquer Grendel and Grendel’s mother. Beowulf went out to fight Grendel and his mother because he knew that he had to do a favor for Hrothgar. When Beowulf was yo... Free Essays on Beowulf The Plight of the Hero Imagine living in the year 700 A.D. The evening’s entertainment is a poet, and he tells the story of Beowulf. Beowulf is an all-around hero, and he dazzles the audience with his determined nature and vows to right wrongs. Now fast-forward to the year 2002. The evening’s entertainment is a Batman movie. The screen shows Batman to be a present-day Beowulf, as he fights villains and makes the city a better place. This shows that the perfect hero has been recurrent in society for centuries. But, there are differences between Beowulf and fictional heroes from the twenty-first century. A significant difference between Beowulf and modern-day heroes is the distinction between mortality and vulnerability. Roger B. Rollin wrote the following: â€Å"Heroes like Batman are always being threatened with death but never die (or even age), whereas Beowulf not only ages but dies. He is intensely aware of fate and almost preoccupied with death. Transience is his reality and this gives his story an additional dimension.† The image of Batman is our ideal rescuer- he is always there, ready and willing, and seems to be almost immortal. Batman has become an icon rather than an actual person. Why has our society evolved from the proper respect of praising a mortal hero to craving someone who has total immortality? The reality present in today’s society is in fact becoming less and less real. Computers, television, and video games have accelerated our society’s degeneration into a total and utter illusory lifestyle- a lifestyle where indeed the only hero es are the invulnerable. Beowulf in his vulnerability creates a perception to which the every-day person can identify. People of this time period did not have the distractions from one another like that which is present today. Being very pragmatic people, a hero like Batman would have never been allowed or accepted, let alone regarded as a hero. People like... Free Essays on Beowulf Beowulf: Themes and Motifs Beowulf is the most important work of Old English literature, and is well deserved of the distinction. Throughout the epic, the Anglo-Saxon storyteller uses many elements to build a certain depth to the characters. Just a few of the important character elements in Beowulf are Wealth & Honor, Biblical & Paganistic, and Man vs. Wild themes. Many of the characters in Beowulf are, like in most epics, defined by their status. But, in addition to status, the Anglo-Saxon culture also adds an element of honor. To the Anglo-Saxons, a character’s importance, as well as their wealth and status, where measured not only in monetary terms, but it was also measured in terms of honor, fame, and accomplishments. Hrothgar, king of the Danes, is one example of the Anglo-Saxon measurement of importance in Beowulf. In Canto 1 the story teller describes his wealth and importance, not as mounds of gold or jewels, but instead as his ability to â€Å"[lead] the Danes to such glory.† and as his tendency to â€Å"In battle, [leave] the common pasture untouched, and taking no lives.† Through this display of compassion for the commoner who doesn’t fight in battles, Hrothgar proves the full extent of his honor and therefore the extent of his wealth and status. Beowulf, the hero-prince, also proves his true wealth and status through his deeds as defender of the Danes.. As he fights and defeats Grendel, Beowulf Earns Fame and wealth from his companions, and from the Danes, but more importantly, he earns honor raising him to the level of an archetypal hero. Grendel, on the other hand, is the total opposite of Beowulf. He has no wealth, no honor, and he in infamous as an evil killer. This lack of wealth and honor defines Grendel as a symbol of evil and corruption. In addition to using Honor and wealth to define a character’s character, the story-teller(s) have incorporated alternating Biblical and Paganistic motifs... Free Essays on Beowulf BEOWULF ESSAY In the epic poem â€Å"Beowulf†, a monster named Grendel is terrorizing a city named Herot. The hero, Beowulf, comes to aid Hrothgar, the king of Herot. Beowulf needs to help Hrothgar, because he cowers when a problem emerges and sends other people to do his deeds. Later Beowulf becomes king and frees the city of many problems. Beowulf is a better leader because when problems appear he doesn’t back down, he faces the challenge with courage and leads from the front in battle. When the problem with Grendel emanates Beowulf doesn’t cower but faces it with courage. In addition, â€Å"After Beowulf defeats Grendel he, takes the initiative to defeat his mother.† Beowulf does this to show how powerful he really is. Beowulf’s ego can occasionally lead him in his actions. In conjunction, â€Å"Beowulf always finds a way to conquer his foes.† Beowulf’s cleverness helps him in many situations such as figuring out how to defeat Grendels mother with the giant’s sword. If Beowulf weren’t so clever he would have a more difficult time defeating his foes. Beowulf’s great abilities and strengths help him to lead his kingdom and fight well in battle. Beowulf is always leading by example and trying to give his men courage. For example, â€Å"Beowulf elects himself to fight the dragon alone.† (686-687) Beowulf does this in order to give his men courage. Beowulf’s men only retreat because they see Beowulf failing. Furthermore, â€Å"None of Beowulf’s comrades came to him, his Nobel followers; then ran for their lives but only one remained his name was Wiglaf.† (746-752) Wiglaf stays because he feels that he has a debt to pay to Beowulf. Wiglaf is also confident that Beowulf and himself can defeat the dragon together. Wiglaf is the only truly courageous warrior Beowulf has. Beowulf’s main concern when he dies is that people will remember him as a great warrior and leader. The thing that Beowulf wants most... Free Essays on Beowulf Throughout time, the world has seen many great leaders. King Arthur of â€Å"Morte D’ Arthur† and Beowulf of â€Å"Beowulf† are both considered excellent leaders. The two men share many qualities, but also greatly differ. While the men share many different traits, the ways in which they lead their men are very different. They both follow different codes, and ultimately, their admirable characteristics lead to their deaths. Beowulf and Arthur both posses many heroic traits. The men exhibit a great deal of bravery. When faced with death, neither man panics. Instead, they remain calm and fearless. Beowulf explains his death wishes before entering battle and requests to have his assets delivered to his people. â€Å"‘Take what I leave, Wiglaf, lead my people, help them. My time is gone. Have the Geats build me a tomb†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (822-824). Arthur behaves in a similar manner. â€Å"Comfort thyself†¦ and do as well as thou mayest, for in me is no trust to trust in†¦ And if thou hear of me nevermore, pray for my soul† (160). Another heroic trait which the men posses is a great sense of duty. This is clearly illustrated by the way both men put their own lives at risk to protect their people from evil. Beowulf becomes excited about the opportunity to protect his people. â€Å"They have seen my strength for themselves, have watched me rise from the darkness of war†¦ That this one facor you should not refuse me- that I, alone and with the help of my men, may purge all evil from this hall†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢Ã¢â‚¬  (46). Arthur also is quickly preparted to battle. â€Å"‘Alas! This unhappy day!’ and so rose to his party†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (157). Although both men are great leaders, they command their men differently. One such way is the way in which they lead their people. One such way is the way in which they lead their people. Beowuld is in many ways a one-man army. He fights Grendel without the assistance of any otheres that were in his company. Anoth... Free Essays on Beowulf In the Beginning A Quote from Beowulf â€Å"So. The Spear-Danes in days gone by and the kings who ruled them had courage and greatness. We have heard of those princes’ heroic campaigns. There was Shield Sheafson, scourge of many tribes, a wrecker of mead-benches, rampaging among foes. This terror of the hall-troops had come far. A foundling to start with, he would flourish later on as his powers waxed and his worth was proved. In the end each clan on the outlying coasts beyond the whale-road had to yield to him and begin to pay tribute. That was one good king (1-11).† These lines, which open the poem Beowulf establish the highly stylized nature of the poem as well as setting forth some of the poems central ideas. The beginning lines of Beowulf also introduce a number of thematic ideas that prove to be important throughout the poem. In the beginning Seamus Heaney chooses to translate the first word of the poem as â€Å"So.† I’ve also seen it translated as â€Å"Hark† but this translation grabs your attention right away. From the start the poem whips us into its world while maintaining an inviting, conversational tone. In these first few lines the translation recreates many of the conventions of Anglo-Saxon poetry. The translator breaks lines into two halves using strong pauses wherever possible giving it a dramatic affect. The translator also uses repetition of consonant-sounds to bind the broken lines together through sound like foundling†¦flourish. The translator also mimics the original writers use of multiple names like Shield Sheafson who is also referred to as â€Å"the scourge of many tribes,† and â€Å"a wrecker of mead-benches.† Additional to stylistic features thematic ideas that are found throughout the poem are exalted in these beginning lines. The poet’s presentation of Shield Sheafson as a model of heroism is an envoy of the poems fascination with patriarchal history. Characters a... Free Essays on Beowulf Beowulf Beowulf is a poem was written by Homer between the years 700 and 750. Homer’s poems are usually fifteen thousand lines long, but this poem is approximately three thousand, two hundred lines. This story is about a man, Beowulf, who is a Geat from Sweden, who crosses the Denmark to rescue King Hrothgar from the monster Grendel. The story Beowulf is considered the national epic of England. Two of the elements that are seen in Beowulf are Supernatural elements and Heroes are great leaders. Beowulf shows supernatural qualities when he went to kill Gendel’s mother as he â€Å"Swam under water for hours† (12.572). He also shows paranormal traits when he kills Grendel by ripping his am off. His strength is also another characteristic of supernatural qualities as he â€Å"He tears torn out of Grendel‘s taut throat...was the strongestâ€Å" (8.469-473). In this story, Beowulf shows bravery, courage, and the ability to do whatever he wants. While doing that, he brags too. He brags when he kills Grendel by ripping his arm off, and he brags when he kills his mother. Back then bragging was not considered wrong, in fact it was considered very right. He shows honor in everything he does too. There is not one point in the story when Beowulf does something good and he does not brag about it. The story Beowulf is considered the national epic of England. Two of the elements that are seen in Beowulf are Supernatural elements and Heroes are great leaders. Beowulf is a poem was written by Homer between the years 700 and 750. Homer’s poems are usually fifteen thousand lines long, but this poem is approximately three thousand, two hundred lines. This story is about a man, Beowulf, who is a Geat from Sweden, who crosses the Denmark to rescue King Hrothgar from the monster Grendel. In the end Beowulf kills everyone he plans on, and goes on with his life.... Free Essays on Beowulf Beowulf as hero of the time Every hero is known for taking a big journey. Beowulf’s journey begins when he decides to leave his home in the land of the Geats and travel to Denmark to help the Danes fight the creature named Grendel, which has been attacking them for twelve years. Once arriving Beowulf announces that he is the son of Ecgtheow, a man known for winning his battles. The assumption can be made that he is trying to live up to his father’s reputation. His leadership skills are superb and he is even able to boast about all his achievements. In his argument with Unferth, Beowulf explains the reason he "lost" a simple swimming match with his youthful opponent Brecca. Not only had he been swimming for seven nights, he had also stopped to kill nine sea creatures in the depths of the ocean. Beowulf’s first encounter with Grendel is at night when the warriors are asleep. Beowulf is there, watching Grendel, waiting for him to strike. The creature picks up a warrior and swallows him completely, then decides to strike Beowulf but Beowulf seizes his vicious claw and holds on to it. At this point Grendel is confused and fearful as he tries to pull away. Grendel is in such agony that he finally rips from the grasp and runs away, leaving a bloody trail and his severed arm. Beowulf’s ability to beat the monster with his bear hands shows his super-human strength and courage to put his people before himself. After passing a day of mourning over her son, Grendel’s mother goes to heorot seeking vengeance for his death. She bursts into heorot and devours one man, then snatches the arm of her son that is mounted on the wall and returns to her home in the dark moors. Beowulf is summoned from his sleep and is led to the moors by Hrothgar. At the bloodstaine d lake the search party finds the head of the warrior Aeschere as well as the serpentine creatures that inhabit the murky lake, and they shake with fear. Beowulf simp... Free Essays on Beowulf Beowulf†¦ an Epic? In Beowulf, the main character, Beowulf, is proclaimed a hero for slaying three large animals. In actuality, Beowulf is a cold-blooded murderer. Grendel, the first animal that Beowulf slaughtered, did nothing but mind his own business. He lived at the bottom of a lake, for cryin’ out loud. He did eat the occasional human, but is that really a crime? Humans eat nearly every other species without remorse or persecution so why is it bad when other creatures nibble on a human for a snack once in a while? The second animal Beowulf killed was Grendel’s mama. Her only crime was to try and avenge her son’s murder, something that is almost guaranteed to any human mother. She was also brutally terminated for her courageous efforts. In the storyline there was a dragon whose sole purpose in life was to guard human treasure. This task was obviously given to him by a human because what other being would want to protect something that is only valuable to humans? One day when t he dragon was just doing his job, Beowulf decided that he should die. Beowulf savagely exterminated the dragon for simply doing that which he was trained to do. Beowulf had an unsatisfyable craving for murder and he indulged in his hunger any chance that he got.... Free Essays on Beowulf In the epic â€Å"Beowulf†, Grendel is the wicked and naturally sinful character. The tale includes a few key elements which give the reader the impression that he is evil. The epic initially shows Grendel’s malevolence through his own actions and portrayals. The next is the depiction of Grendel’s menacing environment and surroundings. And lastly, biblical references in â€Å"Beowulf† notify you that Grendel is born into iniquity, and is not entirely liable for his immorality. One way that the epic describes that Grendel is evil, is through his actions, thoughts, and description. This is also established at the launch of the story. As â€Å"Beowulf† begins, Grendel grows impatient, as people are rejoicing in Herot day by day. The only justification that one can develop about why such happiness angers Grendel, is that he’s evil. The tale also tells us that Herot’s happiness is about to end because, "The monster stirred, that demon, that fiend, Grendel. " By describing him using words associated with sin, the author also associates Grendel with wickedness. The author also shows us how impious Grendel is through his actions, such as going into Herot and slaughtering thirty sleeping warriors. Using imagery to convey Grendel’s dwelling at the beginning and throughout the story also reveal his evil nature. Already, the very institute of the story opens with, "A powerful monster, living down in the darkness†¦" By saying that Grendel is living in the darkness implies his malicious nature, since darkness is always associated with evil. Not only did the author imply that Grendel is wicked, but he describes the other side - the fine people of Herot - to further strengthen this view. The epic displays Herot as a joyous place with singing, dancing, and story telling. By doing this, the epic informs us that the beast is not integrated with the greater inhabitants. Instead, he exists separately in obscurity, where he must lear... Free Essays on Beowulf Beowulf’s epic is the story of a great Pagan warrior who is known for his strength, courage and dignity but unlike Gilgamesh and Sir Gawain, Beowulf does not start off well known. While Beowulf is in Geatland, where he is the king of the Geats, he hears of King Hrothgar’s struggle with Grendle in Denmark. Grendle, the pagan monster who lives in the swamplands, is terrorizing the Danes every night, killing them and easily defeating their efforts to fight back. Inspired by the challenge, Beowulf travels to Denmark with fourteen Geats to help Hrothgar defeat Grendle. Hrothgar accepts Beowulf’s offer and holds a feast for him where he boasts about his accomplishments and his strength. At this point Beowulf’s hubris sets in and his downfall begins. He then goes on to beat kill Grendle with his bare hands where he continues to brag about his strength and ability to win a battle without weapons. â€Å"The lord of the Geats made good to the East-Danes, the boas t he had uttered: he ended their ill. And all their sorrow they suffered long, and needs must suffer a foul offense†. This describes how grateful the Danes are when Beowulf ends their suffering by killing Grendle. After Beowulf defeats Grendle he rips off his arm and presents it in mead-hall where it is hung as a trophy of victory and Beowulf is showered with gifts and songs of praise.... Free Essays on Beowulf â€Å"Across the centuries from the England of Bede Beowulf proclaims the ideal of gentleness united to strength, and valor enobled by virtue. It spreads to the modern world in moving accents of honor, of courage, of faith.† - Charles W. Kennedy A translator of Beowulf Like many great epics and novels of the ages, Beowulf is based on the triumph of good over evil. Its hero is the epitome of good; Beowulf is strong, brave, and full of virtue. He is the classic warrior; honorable, valiant, and loyal. Beowulf may represent the ideals of the Anglo-Saxon era, but those same ideals of honor, courage, and faith are prevalent in almost every period of history. In those respects, Beowulf is similar to King Arthur’s â€Å"Knights of the Round Table† and Odysseus, from Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey. Beowulf puts honor and loyalty above all else. Although he has already performed many great deeds and services before the time the story is set, Beowulf’s virtues are first shown when he travels to Denmark, with the purpose of saving Heorot, the great mead-hall, from the demon Grendel. He sets out to repay Hrothgar for helping his father, showing Beowulf’s loyalty and faith. Before Beowulf came, Grendel feasted on those in the mead-hall at night. The demon never used weapons; he slaughtered and ate those who tried to fight him. Beowulf honorably decides that since Grendel uses no weapons, he also shall fight weaponless. â€Å"When it comes to fighting, I count myself as dangerous any day as Grendel. So it won’t be a cutting edge I’ll wield to mow him down, easily as I might. He has no idea of the arts of war, or shield or sword-play, although he does possess a wild strength. No weapons, therefore, for either this night: unarmed he shall face me if face me he dares.† (677-685) Beowulf shows tremendous bravery and honor in fighting without a sword or shield. Beowulf’s loyalty is most evident after he has defeated Grendel. After Beow... Free Essays on Beowulf Beowulf’s words and deeds suggest numerous things about traditional Anglo-Saxton values. The tale of Beowulf is of good against evil; man against demon; ethics and morals against personal gain from murdering others. In this story all of the monsters are associated with Cain, who, in the bible, is the first murderer that ever existed. The main monster in Beowulf is Grendel, and that is who Beowulf faces against. Grendel represents everything that opposes the Anglo-Saxton values and beliefs. Grendel is extremely irate, insecure, and unaware of himself, while Beowulf is loyal, courageous, and confident and, of course, the exemplification that all other Anglo-Saxton’s desired to be. Firstly, there is the idea of being courageous and standing up for something a person may believe in. Beowulf believed in destroying the monster, and saving all of the people. He did so. Grendel was not brave enough to stand up to Beowulf, and therefore, he was destroyed. ". . . Grendel's one thought was to run. From Beowulf, flee back to his marsh and hide there:† demonstrates this point. He was not able to escape, and he did not deserve the chance to, because he lacked the audacity in which Beowulf had. Courage is one value the Anglo-Saxons seemed to hold close at heart. Secondly, there was the factor of confidence. Grendel did not have confidence in himself, whereas Beowulf was overly confident, and arrogant. The people of the story seemed to admire this attribute of Beowulf, and therefore it could be considered another value. Beowulf knew he could win, and claim victory over Grendel, and had no problem proving it to his fellow peers. "He remembered his final Boast and, standing erect, stopped. The monster's flight,† through the entire fight Beowulf was able to keep his confidence and cocky attitude, all the way to the very end. Confidence is another trait that the Anglo-Saxon people seemed to admire. Finally, Beowulf is loyal to his men and...