StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Why is Beowulf the Ideal hero - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
This essay is primarily based on contemplating the legendary characters of Beowulf in addition too explaining why he is considered and remembered even in the present age as a heroic figure. …
Download free paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER92.8% of users find it useful
Why is Beowulf the Ideal hero
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Why is Beowulf the Ideal hero"

02 October Why is Beowulf the ideal hero? This essay is primarily based on contemplating the legendary characters of Beowulf in addition too explaining why he is considered and remembered even in the present age as a heroic figure. Some scenarios and underlying reasons contributing to granting such a splendid reputation to Beowulf will make the bulk of this paper. Discussion presented in the paper illuminates the reality of the claim that “Beowulf is seen in the story as a king who is kind and noble to his people.

” For one thing, Beowulf appears to be a heroic figure who never restricts himself to engage in welfare activities centering on him but it is easy to identify that he always strives to accomplish so much for his people for their mutual benefit. The pattern of thinking for oneself alone leading to self-obsession apparently appeared to be a fashion which Beowulf never familiarized himself with much concerning the overwhelming concern he cherished for his people. This largely explains what makes Beowulf an ideal hero among his public.

There are many ideas and perspectives which could be explored when observing what obstacles Beowulf experienced in the process of establishing himself as an ideal hero for his public. One factor highlighting why Beowulf to some extent lives even now even after his death could be explained by the fact that he fearlessly jumped into literally every perilous situation when many others would dare not. Such a unique combination of fearless attitude and compassion for common public stood Beowulf apart from the common crowd.

Sometimes practical approach yields much satisfactorily results but other times, indulging in irrationality even when most critical issues at hand need to be dealt can yield much better results. It basically comes down to weighing both irrational fear and practical thought processes very carefully in regards to achieve the best targets. One of the best qualities about Beowulf which played a big role in setting him apart from other warriors of his time could be associated with his ultimate generosity and selflessness due to which he even sacrificed his life for his people when their lives were engendered by a vicious dragon.

Endangering your own life for others with whom you are not even connected in any way doe not make a job which could be easily accomplished. But Beowulf got responsible and fearless enough to embrace such an ordeal which makes him an ideal hero who would never be forgotten. Labeling Beowulf as one of the most respected figures of his time could be based on the highly mature and skillful manner by which he managed his astounding career as a relentless warrior whose wild spirits and noble intentions nothing could bring down.

Much has been written about the poem Beowulf as it holds the record of being the oldest surviving literary piece in the English literature. The poem Beowulf underwent a lot of changes. As a beautiful Anglo-Saxon literary piece, Beowulf stresses that “he subsequently became leader of his own people, the Geats after he has been ruling for fifty years” (Grumme et al.). Another reason why Beowulf is considered the ideal hero in comparison to other warriors like Macbeth is because while Beowulf always hastened to accomplish so much for his people for their mutual benefit and jumped into every perilous situation fearlessly.

He even sacrificed his life for his people when their lives were engendered by a vicious dragon. Macbeth in contrast got so greedy for power that he viciously killed the king who stayed as a guest at his place. He simply did not have anything in his heart for common public also. Summing up, this much becomes clear from the above discussion that Beowulf rightfully could be called an ideal hero as he spends his whole life protecting his people from various troubles and dangerous tribes which proves that while Beowulf knew how to actually win hearts, Macbeth knew that only by way of force.

Beowulf spends his whole life protecting his people from various troubles and dangerous tribes which proves that while Beowulf knew how to actually win hearts, Macbeth knew that only by way of force. Beowulf is seen in the story as a king who is kind and noble to his people which earns him respect and idealism. It is easy to identify that Beowulf always strives to accomplish so much for his people for their mutual benefit. He jumps into every perilous situation fearlessly. Concluding, Beowulf spends his whole life protecting his people from various troubles and dangerous tribes which proves that while Beowulf knew how to actually win hearts, he should definitely be labeled as the ideal hero.

Works citied: Grummer, Starner; David, Millers; Diannes, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. “BEOWULF AN ANGLO-SAXON EPIC POEM.” n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2012.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Why is Beowulf the Ideal hero Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved de https://studentshare.org/literature/1457837-why-is-beowulf-the-ideal-hero
(Why Is Beowulf the Ideal Hero Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words)
https://studentshare.org/literature/1457837-why-is-beowulf-the-ideal-hero.
“Why Is Beowulf the Ideal Hero Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/literature/1457837-why-is-beowulf-the-ideal-hero.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Why is Beowulf the Ideal hero

Beowulf -A Celebration of Heroic Ideals

hellip;  A hero or heroine is an eminent character archetype that quintessentially embodies key traits valued by its originating culture.... The hero commonly possesses superhuman capabilities or idealized character traits which enable him or her to perform extraordinary, beneficial deeds (i.... eowulf, more than just a heroIf we consider the Greek model of the tragic hero, we will find that Beowulf has no specific tragic flaw which precipitates his downfall, as classic heroes like Hamlet do....
3 Pages (750 words) Literature review

Beowulf: Fame After Death is the Noblest of Goals

Reputation, fame, and the building of both are central to the themes of beowulf.... In accordance with the pagan belief that there was no afterlife, the inhabitants of the world of beowulf seek their treasure and glory in the living world, to build a reputation that will carry on after their deaths.... hellip; beowulf has multiple motives for his actions during the course of the poem, and one of them is most certainly to win "fame after death"....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

A fascinating epic poem Beowulf

If Beowulf was written within a Christian context, why is there so little mention of Christianity or a Christian philosophy within the text?... Or, did the poem's author intend to see Beowulf as a Christian Ur-hero, refulgent with Christian virtues?... In the paper “A fascinating epic poem beowulf” the author examines the oldest surviving writing in English – beowulf.... hellip; This paper will argue that beowulf is improved by the bricoleur attitude towards a religious/philosophical outlook within the work – the writers have chosen from various traditions as they seemed to fit with the story they were telling....
7 Pages (1750 words) Book Report/Review

Beowulf and the Epic of Gilgamesh

As Natalia Breizmann points out, Beowulf's journeys are not unlike quests in which he attempts to find his place in his society and to prove himself as the ideal hero of the Geats (1022).... To the end of his life, Beowulf lives his life according to the values of his society and the code of the ideal hero.... Unlike Beowulf, Gilgamesh is part god, and he does not begin as an ideal hero of his land.... Life in the Dark Ages was uncertain; by necessity, people looked to their warriors to protect them from assault and invasion, and Beowulf represents the ideal warrior and king....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

Importance of Kinship Ties in Beowulf

However, this conception may be more the legacy of later Christian judgment on a largely illiterate… Fortunately, there are still a few ancient texts in existence, such as the epic poem beowulf, which manage to capture a sense of the values that were important to this earlier period.... beowulf was first written as a text sometime around 1000 AD, but It is therefore impossible to tell just how much of the story is due to the interpretation of the monks, how much of it had been shaped by the society as it became more Christian and what remains of the original culture from which the story originally sprang....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Beowulf as an Ideal Germanic Hero

… The text paints Beowulf as the ideal hero, and his actions reflect the best values expected of a character of his stature and fame.... Many critics suggest that Beowulf is an ideal Germanic hero.... The beowulf text tells of the heroic endeavors and exploits of this Scandinavian Geatish young man who is adored by many.... Strength, courtesy, courage, pride and loyalty are values exuded by beowulf as he goes about his duties to protect his people from evil forces....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Analysis of World Renowned Epic about Beowulf

This statement is held true for a few reasons, the first being that Beowulf does alienate himself from his tribe in a way, secondly he is engaged in never ending battles to defeat the evil of the world, and lastly, the ultimate battle is with death, which the hero simply cannot overcome.... beowulf is a world-renowned epic consisting of 3182 alliterative lines and is thought to have been written between the 8th and 11th century.... This paper tells us about the plot and Tolkiens opinion about the theme of beowulf....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Christian and Pagan Elements in Beowulf

Apart from Christian undertone, the character of the king and the hero reveals idealism and nobility… A ruler who dumps his primary duties of defense is criticized.... Beowulf' based upon the unequaled hero of the time appears to be an epic poem which celebrates the beginning and ending.... The author states that the unknown author of beowulf is supposedly a Christian monk since the elements in the poem are marked more by the Christian spirit than paganism....
7 Pages (1750 words) Research Paper
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us