Beowulf

The story of Beowulf shows the effect of the spread of Christianity in the early Danish paganistic society that values heroic deeds and bravery above all else. The mythical creatures that Beowulf kills with his supernatural strength make the story into an epic celebrating the life of a great hero. However, blending in among Beowulf’s … Read more

A quick read-through of the Old English epic poem Beowulf reveals that the text centers heavily around male characters and typically masculine themes. The main character, Beowulf, a powerful and renowned hero, sets on an epic journey to save the kingdom of Danes from the relentless cruelty of Grendel, a vicious monster, and during his initial … Read more

Beowulf, as a character, is often described as the original model for the hero found in literature from antiquity to the modern day. New interpretations of the text, however, focus more on Beowulf the man rather than Beowulf the hero of Heorot. If we focus less on the struggle between good and evil found in … Read more

Within the Old English epic poem entitled ‘Beowulf,’ one theme dominates: to overcome chaos and establish order, a fearless individual must continually fight the force of evil. Even after the poem’s protagonist, Beowulf, victoriously destroys Grendel, the personification of chaos and evil, Beowulf’s battles are not over. Grendel’s mother remains alive and an immediate threat. … Read more

“So that troubled time continued, woe that never stopped…” (Beowulf 38) In the epic poem Beowulf, the relation of aggression and heroism is complicated and challenging, especially when a contemporary reader is introduced to views expressed from the perspective of the Anglo-Saxon culture base. The challenge, therefore, is to interpret and understand the complex view … Read more

“So that troubled time continued, woe that never stopped…” (Beowulf 38) In the epic poem Beowulf, the relation of aggression and heroism is complicated and challenging, especially when a contemporary reader is introduced to views expressed from the perspective of the Anglo-Saxon culture base. The challenge, therefore, is to interpret and understand the complex view … Read more

Every act of translation is simultaneously an act of interpretation. With regard to Beowulf’s last scene and final words to the young warrior Wiglaf, an analysis of three translations of the poem, by E. Talbot Donaldson, R.M. Liuzza, and Seamus Heavey, demonstrates this general principle. Each version of the passage between lines 2799 and 2820 … Read more

The poem Beowulf marks a period of change in the history of England, namely, the introduction of Christianity amongst the Anglo-Saxons, which led to a newfound interest in literacy. In the seventh century, Irish monks from the north were active in propagating Christianity, aided by the mission of Augustine, which during the same time extended … Read more

Within the first six hundred lines of Beowulf, the poet introduces several characters – Hrothgar, Wulfgar and Unferth – who are juxtaposed against Beowulf to not only glorify the protagonist, but also illustrate the heroic codes of the time. Hrothgar’s portrayal by the poet as a generous and “good” king, yet at the same time … Read more

The phrase “he was a good king” appears three times in Beowulf. The first iteration (line 11) is a homage to Shield Sheafson. By describing Sheafson in honorific terms, the poet suggests that Sneafson’s offspring are also worthy of respect. The second iteration refers to Hrothgar, descendant of Sheafson; the poet tells us “yet there … Read more

Beowulf opens with the story of the ancient king, Shield Sheafson, in order to establish a discussion on kingship, and to begin building a definition of what constitutes a “good king”. Once this definition has been established, the text uses it to evaluate the other European kings in the tale, especially Hrothgar and Beowulf. This … Read more

The epic poem Beowulf highlights the role of God as a guiding protector who provides earthly wealth and well-being to the people of 6th century Denmark and Sweden. Beowulf and his people worship a pagan god who serves to keep humility and peace. The Anglo-Saxons were Pagan at the time in which this epic poem … Read more

The description of the two different battle scenes wherein Beowulf slays the monsters are described in great detail, and are both quite different. Beowulf’s battle with Grendel occurs in the Danish king’s mead hall-a civilized and comfortable setting, while the battle with Grendel’s mother takes place in a much wilder and more dangerous locale. The … Read more

The poem Beowulf was written between the 8th and 10th centuries, a time of great transition. Anglo-Saxons still dominated England, and Christianity had only come to the region one hundred or so years before. Although the new religion spread quickly, Anglo-Saxon (or Norse) paganism and its influence in the English people’s lives did not subside … Read more

The Values That Bond a King and a Warrior The poem, Beowulf was written in the 8th century, therefore it reflects the values of that culture and time period. In Anglo-Saxon culture, “battle is a way of life, a necessary function of the worthiest members of society.” (xiv, Raffel). The relationship between the king and … Read more

Chicago’s renowned John Hancock center, the local Eisenhower Jr. High, and the Daley center are all buildings named after individuals who were valued and looked upon with respect. Today, people value education, talent, and leadership enough to name buildings after individuals who portray these traits. Since the Anglo-Saxon time period, things have been altered. Anglo-Saxons … Read more

Rings are to medieval lords and retainers as medals are to athletes: a reward that is earned through hard work and dedication to a cause that makes them feel both empowered and worthwhile, while at the same time reminding them to work harder and strive to be better in the future. In the epic poem … Read more

Throughout western history, enormous gender differences have been evident in both monotheistic and polytheistic cultures. Indeed, the patriarchal hierarchies in both social systems have emphasized the superiority of the male sex; however, greater stress is placed on the worthlessness of women in a monotheistic society. The fact that women in polytheistic worlds such as those … Read more

In the thrilling epic Beowulf, the theme of fatalism is very apparent throughout the poem. “Fate will go as it must.” (Line 455) The Anglo Saxons believed that people lived life as an everyday struggle against undefeatable odds and that a man’s “wyrd” or fate would be what it would be (Chickenring 269). The Anglo-Saxon’s … Read more

Beowulf is an important text in the history of British literature as it is the first notable work to be written in the English language. Yet, it is significant beyond its chronological status. Containing both Christian and pagan elements, Beowulf reflects the historical-relgious context in which it was written. The presence of two religious ideals … Read more

Beowulf is an important text in the history of British literature as it is the first notable work to be written in the English language. Yet, it is significant beyond its chronological status. Containing both Christian and pagan elements, Beowulf reflects the historical-relgious context in which it was written. The presence of two religious ideals … Read more

A quick read-through of the Old English epic poem Beowulf reveals that the text centers heavily around male characters and typically masculine themes. The main character, Beowulf, a powerful and renowned hero, sets on an epic journey to save the kingdom of Danes from the relentless cruelty of Grendel, a vicious monster, and during his initial … Read more

Although Seamus Heaney and R. M. Liuzza have both translated the literary work Beowulf from Old English text, subtle differences appear throughout their works that reveal the unique perspectives held by each author. When one compares the different translations, it becomes apparent that although Liuzza and Heaney?s translations closely resemble each other, slight disparities exist … Read more

The poem Beowulf marks a period of change in the history of England, namely, the introduction of Christianity amongst the Anglo-Saxons, which led to a newfound interest in literacy. In the seventh century, Irish monks from the north were active in propagating Christianity, aided by the mission of Augustine, which during the same time extended … Read more

This is my comparison of Robert Zemeckis’ 2007 movie Beowulf and of the epic poem Beowulf. Robert Zemeckis’ 2007 movie tells the story of Beowulf, the character. However, they share not only similarities but also share differences. There are many differences between the both. I honestly think that the movie shows moredetail and explains the … Read more