Examples Of Sacrifice In Beowulf

Words: 548

Pages: 3

Open Document

Duty, Glory, Sacrifice
(An Analysis of Beowulf’s Motivations)

The Anglo-Saxon Code is an ancient way of life. The Anglo-Saxon people lived by this code, and were reminded of it through the story of Beowulf. What people don’t realize, is our culture has been affected from this ancient code. We honor individuals that are brave, loyal, and great. Beowulf was one of the greatest heroes of history, and is the template for this code. The Anglo-Saxon code is what motivates Beowulf to be a hero. His motivations are a sense of duty, he wants to be glorious, and he would do anything for his people, even if it meant he had to sacrifice his life.
Beowulf had one reason to help Hrothgar with his monster problem, and that was because it was his duty. The wise men of his county told him to help the Danish king because they knew he could kill this monster, Grendel. “None of the wise ones regretted …show more content…
Beowulf wanted to be remembered.Beowulf made a request to king Hrothgar asking if he could kill Grendel bare handed. “I have heard, too, that the monster’s scorn of men is so great that he needs no weapons and fears none, nor will I.” (Page 48 Beowulf) Even after he slew Grendel, he wanted to help the king more, by killing Grendel’s mother. He wants the glory of defeating not one, but two monsters for Hrothgar, and he almost dies fighting Grendel’s mother.
Sacrifice is a hard virtue to find. Beowulf, in his final battle, shows this virtue selflessly. A dragon has come to Beowulf’s kingdom, and wrecks havoc on the place. Beowulf is now and old man, and still chooses to fight for his people. Beowulf said on page of Beowulf, “I’ve never known fear, as a youth I fought in endless battles. I am old, now, but i will fight again, seek fame still,If the dragon hiding in his tower dares to face me.” Beowulf kills the dragon, but at the cost of his own life. His final request was to have a lighthouse named after him, so he will never be

Beowulf: The Comparison Of Paganism And Christianity

differences between paganism and Christianity. Beowulf is one of the characters who seemed to be influenced by paganism, and this paper will lay an extensive focus on the comparison of Christianity and paganism according to Beowulf. During the creation, Beowulf got influences from pagan rituals and ideas. As time went on, the emergence of Christian ideas blends to form a mosaic. There are Christian qualities that are very eminent in Beowulf. For example, the key characters found in Christianity such…

Words 615 - Pages 3

Motivation For Beowulf Essay

There is many motivations for Beowulf to kill the three monsters throughout the story/poem. He felt like it was his duty, then he wanted fame and glory also he needed to make a sacrifice. He was a very important person in his village and was most respected for the things he had done for everyone. First of all, Beowulf felt like it was his duty to take care of the king of Geats because the king was older and Beowulf was young so it was his duty to help him out. That’s when he kills the first monster…

Words 441 - Pages 2

Examples Of Heroism In Beowulf

Beowulf promotes his role as a heroic protagonist by having the willingness to sacrifice his own life for the greater good. In doing this, Beowulf uses the characteristic such as bravery, honor, and superhuman physical strength to take down Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. A hero is someone who is looked up to for their courage, abilities, sacrifice, and noble qualities that are rare or not usually seen in others. Beowulf travels great distances and uses his own bare hands to defeat the…

Words 393 - Pages 2

Beowulf Ideal Hero

this is not a new belief. It stretches as far back as the Anglo-Saxon people, and one man in particular by the name of Beowulf, a Germanic warrior of the Geats, set himself above the rest of his peers through his actions and feats in battle. Due to his strength, undaunted perseverance, and willingness to sacrifice himself for his people, Beowulf could be described as the ideal example of an Anglo-Saxon superhero. “Greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world” (l. 110 - 111), is…

Words 843 - Pages 4

Athle Courage Research Paper

took an enormous amount of courage to put his safety under others. His sacrifice didn’t go unnoticed either. President Obama tweeted, “Zaevion Dobson died saving three friends from getting shot. He was a hero at 15. What's our excuse for not acting?” Zaevion lost his life, but the memory of his actions will not be forgotten. He received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. An ESPY award of great honor. These acts are comparable to Beowulf in his actions to enter battle with the dragon. “Yet the prince of the…

Words 1254 - Pages 6

Comparing Beowulf And Grendel

In the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf, Grendel, a monstrous being, is portrayed as descendants of the Biblical Cain, the first monster, as opposed to Beowulf, a hero. In a spin-off novel Grendel, by John Gardner, the novel is written in the point of view of Grendel rather than Beowulf, the antagonist in this story. Unlike the epic poem that was written in 1000 A.D, John Gardner displays Grendel with many humanly traits. This novel was written in 1971, which was during the years of the Vietnam War…

Words 1301 - Pages 6

Beowulf's Legacy

English class introduces me to a variety of intricate texts that I find ecstasy in unpacking. While my peers read a text out of force, I read to understand points of view that change my world. One of these texts is Beowulf, the first piece of literature written in English by an unknown author. The epic poem chronicles Beowulf's heroic battles against the evil monster Grendel, his mother, and a mighty dragon. When he faces the dragon, he introspects on his life, showing his heroism, mortality, and…

Words 730 - Pages 3

Beowulf Themes

Beowulf Essay I recently read one of the best epic poems ever written. “Beowulf” is an Anglo Saxon epic that takes place in Denmark during the sixth century. Beowulf, the main character, is the hero of the story because he saves Hrothgar and the Danes from Grendel and other monsters. Even though it was written a long time ago, “Beowulf” has many important lessons and themes throughout the epic that are still relevant in today’s world. These include how we treat each other, the dangers of pride and…

Words 748 - Pages 3

How Is Beowulf An Epic Hero

The Legendary Beowulf Reasons Behind it All Musicians, entertainers, doctors, and nurses are some of the many people that we consider as heroes today. In the epic, “Beowulf,” created by the legendary mystery, the main character, Beowulf, is considered a hero. However, some people may wonder, what were his reasons behind the things he did? In the poem, Beowulf has three battles with three different beasts. During the third battle with a mighty, but evil dragon, Beowulf’s life comes to an end. Why…

Words 537 - Pages 3

Archetypal Heroes And Outcasts In Beowulf

In Beowulf, there are several versions of the mythological/archetypal heroes and outcasts. An archetypal hero is described as, “a figure larger than life, whose search for self-identity and/or self-fulfillment results in his own destruction.” An archetypal outcast is described as, “a character who is separated from (or separates him or herself from) society due to a physical impairment or an emotional or physiological realization that makes this character different.” Beowulf endeavors many different…

Words 1029 - Pages 5