When Beowulf first arrives, he matures little as he already has the characteristic of a hero. However Hrothgar sees Beowulfs potential and sets out to take advantage of Beowulfs natural talent.

Connor Reilly British Literature Mr. Caswell 9 September, 11 An Unfettered Warrior To a Mature King The poem starts off with an immature Beowulf in his youth. Characterized by his strength and courage, his stories of achievements establish him as a perfect hero. The decisions and actions he makes put him on a path to become a great hero but lack the characteristics of a prodigious leader. The epic separates his phases of growing heroism through out his three increasingly difficult battles with Grendel, Grendel's mother and the dragon. During these conflicts, spaced between a period of 50 years, Beowulf makes his transition from his unfettered warrior to a loyal mature king. When Beowulf first arrives, he matures little as he already has the characteristic of a hero. However Hrothgar sees Beowulf's potential and sets out to take advantage of Beowulf's natural talent. As Beowulf begins to see Hrothgar as a mentor, the change in his figure becomes more and more evident in his actions. He begins to see the importance of loyalty and courtesy. The advice he receives helps to prepare Beowulf for the values demanded by the throne. Although it takes many years for Beowulf to take that position, it gives him time to change into the model he will become. Out of respect for the throne, he encourages Hygelac's son to take his rightful position as the king. This gave Beowulf

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Beowulf risks his life for his people a number of times. One of the warriors risks his life for Beowulf, his leader, in the act of loyalty. This all shows the blending of Christian traditions in the epic, Beowulf.

Shpendi Jashari Beowulf "Alone shall fight for me, struggle for life against the monster, God must decide who will be given to death's cold grip. Grendel's plan, I think, will be what it has been before, to invade this hall and gorge his belly with our bodies." (Lines 268-273) This quote was said by Beowulf a little while before he fought Grendal. This quote shows that Beowulf is ready to risk his life to save his people from a monster that has killed many people. He does this throughout this epic; fighting battles with different monsters that put his people's lives in danger. Also during some of the fights he has faith in God and he believes that God will be there to help him when he needs it. Beowulf is a blending of Christian traditions and beliefs such as loyalty and faith during a time when your life is in great danger like death. Grendal was an evil creature that killed many people in the Herot when darkness fell. Everyone was scared of him and no one was able to kill him, until Beowulf came. He knew of the dangers of Grendal and he knew of the people killed by this evil creature. He was ready to put his life at great risk by fighting this creature so no more people will be killed and that the people would not be scared of him anymore. "...Now he discovered once the afflicter of men, tormentor of their days what it meant to feud with God: Grendal saw that

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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A discussion on Beowulf.

"For fate always spares the unmarked man if he keeps his courage." (page 43 line 507) The Anglo-Saxon epic of "Beowulf" tells the ancient, yet familiar, story that a good deed will often prevail over the evil in the world. Fate and courage are often among the topic of discussion when addressing the story of Beowulf and Grendel. I believe that Beowulf has a deep belief that fate, in the end, will be the deciding factor of everything that he does. This sense of fate gives Beowulf the courage to attempt even the most daring missions as long as he keeps his courage. While some look at Beowulf as boasting, I think it is his way of keeping faith in himself. After hearing that a horrible beast has been murdering innocent soldiers as they slept in their mead hall, Beowulf sails across the ocean to offer his assistance to King Hrothgar, ruler of the Danes. Upon his arrival he begins to boast of his past battles, even stating that he will fight the beast, Grendel, without the use of "sword and strong shield." Unferth, a jealous warrior of the King, was quick to recount the story of when Beowulf lost a swimming match. Beowulf denounces Unferth's claim as drunken talk, and instead declares himself the real conqueror since he had to fend off and kill sea-monsters, saying: "I have not heard of many who fought a more fearsome assault on the night." (page 43 line 510) By "bragging"

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Grendel Character Analysis. There is a large amount of textual evidence that suggests that God had a large hand in the creation of Grendel

The Wickedness of God Beowulf is a heroic epic chronicling the life of one brave warrior and the battles he faces. Strangely enough the battle he is most famous for was in all likely-hood, against the easiest opponent he ever faced. The character Grendel is always portrayed as some despicable fiend who relishes killing and would love nothing more than to spend his whole life slaughtering innocent people. If, however the text is read carefully, it is quite apparent that Grendel is a classic tortured soul who has been handed such rage and pain by external forces, such as God and his mother. There is a large amount of textual evidence that suggests that God had a large hand in the creation of Grendel "He was spawned in that slime/ Conceived by a pair of those monsters born of Cain/ murderous creatures banished by God." (Line 19-22). So in just the first few lines of the poem it is stated that Grendel is an offspring of one of Gods flawed creations. He has been banished forever for the sins of his forefather, which is hardly fair treatment from God. It is also stated that the fiends are in constant opposition of the Lord, "A brood forever opposing the Lord's will." (28-29). Grendel is born into a world of hatred and suffering, of cruel and unjust treatment that he has done nothing to deserve. Skipping ahead in the poem there is another instance of God's interference "Bearing

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  • Subject: English
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Beowulf, Themes of Honour and Perseverance.

Chris Johnson With Honor Throughout the poem of Beowulf he shows great honor, and loyalty, which was a reason why he is so dominating in battle. “This pattern of loyalty dependency was basic to Anglo Saxon life.” (11); Without Beowulf’s loyalty nobody would be able to trust him. In the Poem King Hrothgar sends calls out for help across the seas to Beowulf, to kill the demon monster Grendel, who has been tormenting Hrothgar’s land, and killing his men. Beowulf answers this plea and sails across the ocean. When he gets there people have mixed emotions, but Beowulf’s is unaltered. When he fights Grendel he does so with no armor or weapons. Grendel’s arm gets ripped from his body, and his arm kept as a trophy hung high in the halls. Beowulf could have used a sword, but his honor would not let him. After Grendel is dead, yet another task arises; Hrothgar asks Beowulf to kill Grendel’s mother who lives in her home deep in the waters. Unwilling to say no be bravely ventures forth and kills Grendel’s mother with the Giant’s sword. Now with two heads as his trophies, and his honor, and loyalty in tact, Beowulf eventually becomes the new King of the Danes. Not much later another villain comes to the land. Beowulf end up sacrificing his life to kill the dragon, while all his men, but one fled with fear. The main theme in this epic story is how Beowulf was able to

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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