Beowulf
The Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf is the most important work of Old English literature, and is well deserved of the distinction. The epic tells the story of a hero, a Scandinavian prince named Beowulf, who rids the Danes of the monster Grendel, a descendent of Cain, and of his exploits fighting Grendel's mother and a Dragon. Throughout the epic, the Anglo-Saxon story teller 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 "[lead] the Danes to such glory." and as his tendency to "In battle, [leave] the
Beowulf is tame and civilized, the epitomy of goodness and purity. " 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. The Almighty droveThose demons out, and their exile was bitter,Shut away from men; they splitInto a thousand forms of evil-spiritsAnd feinds, goblins, monsters, giants,A brood forever opposing the Lord'sWill, and again and again defeated. Beowulf also has a religious motif to his character. common pasture untouched, and taking no lives. But, as time wore on, the rewriting and touching up of the manuscripts by various sources including religious monks, caused the characters to have slight Christian characteristics. " shows his wild, untamed, and therefor evil nature. Beowulf has many other such archetypal, symbolic themes and motifs, but the most important themes that serve to add depth to the characters are the wealth, honor, religious, man, and wildness themes. This deed serves throughout the epic serves as a symbol of Beowulf's Goodness. Biblical themes and motifs, character is also shown through a certain Man vs. Grendel, on the other hand, is the total opposite of Beowulf. But, more than that, since Beowulf is in fact not a messiah, this description shows the good in Beowulf's heart and the purpose of his mission. Beowulf doesn't fight evil in a wild manner, rather, as shown in his first battle with Grendel. In addition to using Honor and wealth to define a character's character, the story-teller(s) have incorporated alternating Biblical and Paganistic motifs in the epic-poem. He has no wealth, no honor, and he in infamous as an evil killer.
Common topics in this essay:
Biblical Paganistic,
Grendel Grendel,
Beowulf Canto,
Honor Paganistic,
Holy Father,
Earns Fame,
Goodness Beowulf,
Beowulf English,
Banishment God,
Defeating Grendel,
wealth honor,
wealth status,
beowulf wealth honor,
throughout epic,
beowulf wealth,
depth characters,
doesn't fight,
story teller,
defeat grendel,
anglo-saxon culture,
biblical paganistic,
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Acceptance Essays
