Beowulf Essay

             The Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf is one of the most important works. The epic tells the story of a hero, a prince named Beowulf who got rid of the monster Grendel. Grendel was a descendent of Cain, and Beowulf has to battle with Grendel, Grendel¡s mother and a dragon. The character Beowulf is base on his Wealth, Honor, glory and loyalty. Many of the characters in Beowulf are just like any other epic stories the characters are base by their status. To the Anglo-Saxons, a character important for their wealth and status, and that wasn¡t all they were also measured by in terms of honor, fame, and accomplishments. Hrothgar, king of the Danes, is an example of the Anglo-Saxon measurement of the importance in Beowulf.
             In section 1 the storyteller describes the wealth and importance, and not just the amounts of gold and jewels, but instead the ability to lead the Danes to glory. Through this display of compassion for the commoners, Hrothgar the king of the Danes does not have to fight to prove his honor and therefore the level of his wealth and status remains.
             Beowulf, the hero proves that his true wealth and status are through the deeds and defending the Danes. As he defeated Grendel, Beowulf earns his fame and wealth from his companions, and from the Danes. Grendel, on the other hand is the total opposite of Beowulf. Grendel has no wealth, no honor, and he has an evil heart. This defines Grendel as evil and corrupted.
             The original Epic was obviously religious, during that time period when the story was created. As time went on, the rewriting of the manuscripts by many different sources including religious monk, caused the characters to have a Christian taste.
             The Biblical reference in the epic has become typical in the modern days motif. It gives the reader an idea of why Grendel would kill the Danes for no reason other than their happiness. Beowulf also has a religious motif to his character. One example of thi
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Beowulf Essay. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 23:21, April 23, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/88753.html