Role Of Fate In Beowulf

Words: 1250
Pages: 5
Open Document
Some people may confuse fate and coincidence. Fate meaning, you have a chosen path, now follow it, and a coincidence is set events that happen without an idea. The idea of fate plays a major role in decisions many characters make about their lives. Characters like Beowulf, Macbeth, and Sir Gawain, all had paths set for them. This path was a trail of fate, in which whatever is set to happen in life will happen. In the epic poem Beowulf, the hero’s path comes to him as a calling from a man named Hrothgar. “Twelve winters of grief for Hrothgar, King of the Danes, sorrow heaped at his door by hell-forged hands, his misery leaped the seas, was told and sung in all men’s ears” (Beowulf 64). This is Beowulf’s realization of what …show more content…
A man who was at a feast during New Year’s Eve at King Arthur’s castle. Although most of the time fate is provided to an individual, but Sir Gawain chose his fate. The Green Knight rode in on his horse and challenged King Arthur, in which Sir Gawain accepted the challenge instead. “I beseech you, Sire, let this game be mine” (Sir Gawain, 123) The challenge is to give The Green Knight a hit from his axe and the opponent would receive a hit in return in a year. Sir Gawain expects only to kill The Green Knight, and not to receive a hit later on. Little did he know, The Green Knight takes the hit, rises, grabs his own head, and rides off. This left Sir Gawain in shock, because now he knows, he will be taking a fatal hit from the axe in one year. “Look that you go, Sir Gawain, as good as you word, And seek till you find me, as loyally, my friend, As you’ve sworn in this hall to do, in the hearing of the knights” (The Green Knight, 179). Sir Gawain’s fate is looking like he is going to die in a year. Whilst Sir Gawain ventures out to find The Green Knight he comes upon a castle in which the lord and lady invite him to stay. Sir Gawain stays only a few knight in which the lord’s lady attempts to seduce him. Sir Gawain refuses but only accepts kisses. The last day, the lady gives him a sash, which can prevent death. Finally, he comes upon the Green Chapel, where The Green Knight waited. “He raises that ax up lightly and flashes it down, And that blinding bit bites in at the knights bare neck, But hard as he hammered it down, it hurt him no more than to nick the nape of his neck” (The Green Knight, 302). Sir Gawain kept his word, but was so afraid of his fate he cheated the lord and kept the
Show More

Related Documents: Role Of Fate In Beowulf

Beowulf: Pride And Unferth

center of the Beowulf character. I wanted a part that I could separate and give evidence of why and how he does certain actions in the story. The section of the story I found was most interesting was the start of Agon 2. To break down a page and create my own interpretation of its significance it gives I needed a bold and direct encounter of Beowulf. The passage I was drawn to is when Beowulf is sharing his request to the Danes and Unferth. It gives multiple insights of the Beowulf character and…

Words 1236 - Pages 5

Fate’s Favor in Beowulf’s Warrior Society Essay

Beowulf’s Warrior Society The idea of fate shapes the worldview of the warrior society in Beowulf. It is seen as what determines the fallout of transpiring events and therefore shapes which qualities are valued. The image of good and evil that the characters Beowulf and Grendel respectively embody provides validation for this belief in fate’s favor. Both Beowulf and Grendel’s representation of what is considered right and wrong throughout the poem and the idea of fate reinforce the beliefs the people…

Words 1227 - Pages 5

Essay about the pagan

Influences in Beowulf At the time of its creation, Beowulf was influenced by Pagan rituals, deities and ideas, but by passing down the epic narrative word of mouth, an age of Christianity will have had a residual effect on the story. The mix of ideas is not a struggle for religious power in the story, but Paganism’s heroic ideals and Christianity’s self-sacrificing virtues blend to form a delicate mosaic that could have not been otherwise. Danish Paganism highly regards the concepts of fame, fate, and vengeance…

Words 1382 - Pages 6

Revenge In Beowulf

Revenge is eminent throughout this extract of Beowulf, it beholds major characters, and inspires their actions. Whilst Beowulf is motivated by revenge, his desire to protect his honour and achieve glory overshadows revenge. This essay will discuss the forces that provoke Beowulf and Grendel’s mother, and explore the differences between them. Glory and honour are some of the main themes within the extract, as shown as Beowulf’s primary objective is achieving glory. This had been successful up to the…

Words 572 - Pages 3

Beowulf: Christianity and Beowulf Essay

It 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 in inspiring…

Words 1482 - Pages 6

Renaissance Drama: Anglo Saxon Essay

of ancient English history./ Hyperbole: obvious and intentional exaggeration. BEOWULF: Herot: This is the hall that Hrothgar builds in celebration of his reign. It is the site both of many happy festivals and many sorrowful funerals./ Hrothgar: He is the King of the Danes at the time of Grendel's assaults. He builds the hall Heorot as a tribute to his people and his reign./ Hrunting: Unferth gives this sword to Beowulf to use in killing Grendel's mother. It didn’t work./ Hygelac: This King of the…

Words 1001 - Pages 5

History Essay

which they essentially belong to. Likewise the heroes are also shaped by their respective cultures, as various heroes such as Beowulf, Achilles, and Gilgamesh can attest to. In that regard, all heroes are the same. There are differences between the heroes, however, and they all have their own quests driven by different motivations, and all having similar yet different fates. Gilgamesh seeks to understand the secret to life so that he might bring back Enkidu, his dead friend. “Two things encourage…

Words 528 - Pages 3

Beowulf Greed Quotes

legend named Beowulf takes place in Anglo-Saxon times and provides insight on greed. Subsequently, the legend is about a man named Beowulf who is a cunning warrior and becomes a leader. Hence, Beowulf’s actions through fighting displays his intentions that he fights for self gain, rather than the benefit of the people. Given the beginning of the legend- the…

Words 614 - Pages 3

The Cid And Beowulf Comparison Essay

El Cid and Beowulf: Comparing the Heroes and the Epics What allows a story to live on through history? Perhaps the rarity and age of the texts inspire certain feelings of awe and desire for preservation. However, putting aside historical importance, the epic poems of Beowulf and The Song of the Cid have become so highly regarded in their countries of origin in large part due to the heroes that the poems immortalize. Both Rodrigo Diaz and Beowulf personify the ideals of bravery, honor, and goodness…

Words 1767 - Pages 8

Finding Archetypes In Beowulf

include people slaying monsters, saving the world, magical creatures, etc. There are so many different archetypes, though a standard story usually has a hero, and a villain. In Beowulf, Beowulf was the hero, and Grendel was the villain. In the book series Once upon a broken heart, it is filled with magical people, such as fates, objects, such as the stones (This included the truth, mirth, luck, and youth stones) and places, such as the Valory Arch, and the Phoenix tree. Archetypes truly can make up…

Words 465 - Pages 2