The Four Main Themes Of Beowulf - 1376 Words

Beowulf, the oldest of the great long poems written in English, may have been composed more than twelve hundred years ago, in the first half of the eighteenth century, although some scholars would place it as late as the tenth century. After reading Beowulf many times, I was able to get to know the characters, as well as gain some insight of the many themes portrayed throughout the poem. The story of Beowulf is not the easiest to understand, and is also extremely complex. But, with that said, this reading left me with many questions hanging over my head, more so concerning the many themes that are illuminated throughout the reading. My list of questions was extremely large to say the least, so rather than discuss every single question, I†¦show more content†¦Heorot was a clean representation of the unity of the warriors in their specific tribe and also represented brotherhood. Heorot is where we first learn about the protagonist, Beowulf. Beowulf hears about Grendel (which i s the creature that Beowulf fights) and without hesitation rounds up all his men and sails to the land of the Danes. Beowulf first shows up there with his men for none other than the normal Mead-Hall festivities, a feast and a party in front of a formal audience. While at the Heorot, Beowulf is invited to speak to the people of Hrothgar. Due to the setting of the Mead-Hall, this gives Beowulf the opportunity to speak to the people that are being bothered by Grendel. Beowulf’s speech mainly consists of him boasting about himself and his previous fights where he came out victorious. He then goes on to make his proposal to the people of Hrothgar, and says he plans to fight Grendel with no weapons, due to the fact that Grendel does not use any weapons at all. As one can see, the Mead-Hall plays a key role on the story of Beowulf. It is a place full of feasts and partying, where the King and his court may have a great time as well as show off their extremely lavish belongings. The Mead-hall also gives Beowulf the proper platform to propose to the people of Hrothgar and offer to defeat Grendel, so they may have peace of mind after dark. Which takes me to the next point of discussion. What are qualities of aShow MoreRelatedJohn Leyerle, Jane Chance, And J.r. R. Tolkien1422 Words   |  6 Pagesvaluable insight to their respective depictions of Beowulf’s structure. While Chance and Tolkien are accurate in terms of the representation of the monsters and historical references in Beowulf, Leyerle’s argument offers a more inclusive and whole depiction of Beowulf’s structure. Leyerle describes the structure of Beowulf as interlacing. Leyerle’s essay is more cogent than Chance’s and Tolkien’s through the definition of interlace, the significance of digressions, and historical allusions presented inRead MoreBeowulf as Epic823 Words   |  4 PagesWhat makes an epic? Is Beowulf an epic? ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · What is an epic poem, and how does it differ from other kinds of poetry or storytelling? How have epic poems traditionally been transmitted from generation to generation? How do tellers remember these long and complicated stories? According to Robert Harris’s Glossary of Literary Terms, he defines an epic as the following: Epic. An extended narrative poem recounting actions, travels, adventures, and heroic episodes and written in a high style (withRead MoreEssay on Beowulf study guide1576 Words   |  7 Pages1) Describe how we find King Hrothgar and his response to learning that Beowulf has come to his kingdom. A. The king is sad and depressed that his kingdom has fallen into such a state of disrepair. He is overjoyed to learn that Beowulf, whom he knows from stories and his father, Ecgtheow, has come to fight Grendel. Hrothgar promises Beowulf treasure if he can defeat the monster. 2) In the beginning of â€Å"Beowulf,† King Hrothgar’s hall has been deserted for twelve years. In a short essay, tell whyRead MoreCompare And Contrast Beowulf And Sir Gawain And The Green Knight761 Words   |  4 PagesAcross Medieval Culture In the literary works Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, an admirable warrior and knight are depicted. Although Sir Gawain and Beowulf both possess such characteristics as bravery and strength, readers can observe differences in other traits that make them heroes of their own time that is attributable to the societal mindset in which the poems were written. The goal of this essay is to compare and contrast how Beowulf, which was written in the early eleventh centuryRead MoreBeowulf Is A Christian Allegory1310 Words   |  6 PagesIt is common opinion that Beowulf was written by a Christian poet. This was probably true because at the time when it was written, most of the few people who knew how to read and write were in the clergy. There are various references within the poem to elements of the Christian religion. However, the story is about Pagan people and certain aspects of their culture are even glorified. The ambiguity of Beowulf’s religious content has caused confusion as to what significance religion had inRead MoreThe Analysis and Comparison of the Themes of Beowulf, The Odyssey and Other Related Epics2553 Words   |  11 Pagesor historical hero. Epics like Beowulf and The Odyssey are perfect examples of this definition; they are each centered on the deeds and triumphs of their heroes, Beowulf and Odysseus. All epics are similar in a way that they are made up of elements. One major element of the epic is its themes. In all epics, the themes are what make and mold these narrative poems, they descriptively outline the story. Most epics, like Beowulf and The Odyssey, have themes like battles, homecoming, identityRead MoreBeowulf As An Epic Poem1940 Words   |  8 PagesBeowulf as an Epic Poem Beowulf is a legendary Old English poem believed to have been written in the eighth or ninth century. Though its origin is unclear and its author is unknown this poem has continued through time. Portions of the original transcript have been lost with the passing of time and many translations of the work have been made. Each version of the work one aspect has remained the same, its hero. In all versions of the poem the hero is characterized by his impressive strength, braveryRead MoreAn Analysis Of Beowulf And The Cowardly Cave, And The Dragon s Lair 2031 Words   |  9 PagesThemselves The outrageous characters in Beowulf have attracted an abundant amount of attention. The landscapes in which they live create the characters and make them complex. The location of the poem imitates the qualities which make them outrageous. To understand the prosperity of the characters it is beneficial to view the symbolic value of the setting and how the characters interact with one another throughout the story. There are four main plots in Beowulf that have significant value: Heorot, theRead MoreBurial and Grendel Beowulf2257 Words   |  10 PagesStory The main protagonist, Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, whose great hall, Heorot, is plagued by the monster Grendel. Beowulf kills Grendel with his bare hands and Grendels mother with a sword, which giants once used, that Beowulf found in Grendels mothers lair. Later in his life, Beowulf is himself king of the Geats, and finds his realm terrorised by a dragon whose treasure had been stolen from his hoard in a burial mound. He attacks theRead MoreHeroism as the Main Theme of Beowulf Essay2557 Words   |  11 PagesHeroism as the Main Theme of Beowulf The main theme of Beowulf is heroism. This involves far more than physical courage. It also means that the warrior must fulfil his obligations to the group of which he is a key member. There is a clear-cut network of social duties depicted in the poem. The king has an obligation to behave with generosity. He must reward his thanes with valuable gifts for their defense of the tribe and their success in battle. This is why King Hrothgar