How Beowulf Does Not Embody The Heroic Ideal Of The Anglo...

Alexandra Phan English IV Honors Mr Lindsay 4B October 22, 2015 Beowulf Essay 1) Explore the ways in which Beowulf does and does not embody the heroic ideal of the Anglo-Saxons. Beowulf is an epic hero from the Anglo-Saxon period, who takes on a great deal of challenges and adventures. The character Beowulf embodies the virtues of the Anglo-Saxon culture and beliefs. He incorporate the traits of Anglo-Saxon society with strength, bravery, honor, and the desire to help the helpless. In the beginning of the book, Beowulf travels to help the Danes kill Grendel. Grendel is a aggressive monster that has been killing the Danes in the mead hall every night. During the time period, warriors would celebrate their victories and express their accomplishments through songs. The social gathering has began bothering Grendel due to the fact he could hear all the noise of happiness coming from one area, this encouraged Grendel to be annoyed at the fact that he knows that he is a descendent from Cain, and knows he will never feel or be happy. The news of how Grendel was murder ing the Danes starts to spread all over the kingdom. When Beowulf hears about Grendel, he feels that it is his duty to stop Grendel from killing anymore, Beowulf leaves to go to Herot to destroy him. Beowulf is mostly being applaud for his long journey to face this terrible monster. Beowulf says, â€Å"Grendel is no braver, no stronger than I am! I could kill him with my sword: I shall not† (line 677). Beowulf feelsShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Beowulf As A Heroic Epic779 Words   |  4 Pagesheroistic ideals are sometimes the basis of a society. The Anglo-Saxon people are a prime example of the previous statement. In Anglo-Saxon culture, being called a hero was an honor. Heroes were treated like kings. One of the most popular hero stories that bled into Anglo-Saxon life was the heroic epic of Beowulf. Beowulf was the perfect example of an Anglo-Saxon hero as he was courageous, strong, and determined. Due to its wondrous tales of Beowulf’s intrepid adventures, Beowulf i s a heroic epic. ToRead MoreThe Cruelty Of The Epic And What Cruelty Reveals About The Perpetrator / Victim1788 Words   |  8 PagesBeowulf Essay Topic: how cruelty functions in the epic/what cruelty reveals about the perpetrator/victim Thesis: Anglo-Saxons prize cruelty. They fight, they celebrate the victory. That’s the basic cycle. Beowulf is cruel and that makes him a hero- Grendel is cruel but it’s a result of his alienation with society and jealousy of society Beowulf’s cruelty is never seen as such (except by Grendel’s mother), and that leads him to become an undefeated hero in the eyes of the people The dragon is cruel-Read MoreBeowulf: An Analysis1615 Words   |  7 Pages11/26/10 Beowulf Anglo Saxons are Germanic people that lived during the 5th and 6th centuries. This early Anglo-Saxon society was centered on families and clans. The earliest Saxon settlers and families in England were pagans who worshipped a number of gods. Although Anglo Saxons had unalterable beliefs, Christians eventually purveyed their religion upon the pagans. However, the ideals of paganism still perpetuate through the most prominent epic poem of this era called Beowulf. Beowulf embodiesRead MoreAmerican Literature11652 Words   |  47 Pagespamphlets travel writing highly ornate writing style fiction employs generic plots and characters fiction often tells the story of how an innocent young woman is tested by a seductive male Effect: ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · patriotism grows instills pride creates common agreement about issues shows differences between Americans and Europeans Historical Context: ï‚ · ï‚ · tells readers how to interpret what they are reading to encourage Revolutionary War support instructive in values American Renaissance/Romanticism