Honor In Beowulf
Now I mean to be a match for Grendel, settle the outcome in single combat./ my one request is that you wont refuse me, who have come this far, the privilege of purifying Heorot, with my own men to help me, and nobody else. (Heaney 425-432).
In this passage, Beowulf is describing to Hrothgar why he has come to Denmark. Foster writes that a quest has five elements, a quester, a place to go, a stated reason to go there, challenges and trials, and a real reason to go there. Beowulf is the quester. The place to go is Denmark. The stated reason to go there is to slay Grendel. A challenge of his quest is Grendels mom, and the real reason to go there is honor.
Then a bench was cleared in the banquet hall so the Geats could have room to be together …show more content…
He is describing what happened once he saw land. He states that the water became still bringing him a sense of peace. Therefore, the water represents serenity and hope.
Happiness came back, the hall was thronged, and a banquet set forth.(Heaney 1788-1790).
In this poem, a banquet is thrown in celebration. A banquet is thrown when Beowulf arrives in Denmark, again when Beowulf slays Grendel, and finally when he slaughters Grendels mother. Foster stresses that eating together shows the characters sharing a common experience. In this case, it may be to give the Danes a sense of closure and peace.
Well, friend Unferth, you have had your say about Breca and me./ The truth is this: when the going was heavy in those high waves, I was the strongest swimmer of all. (Heaney 530-534).
In this passage, Beowulf is correcting Unferths statement about Beowulf failing the swimming contest. This portion of the poem is much like Sophocles Oedipus. Unferth is questioning Beowulf just as Tiresias challenged Oedipus. When they are confronted, they begin to boast about themselves and their accomplishments.
Works CitedFoster, Thomas. How to Read Literature Like a Professor. New York City: HarperCollins Publishers Inc.,
In this passage, Beowulf is describing to Hrothgar why he has come to Denmark. Foster writes that a quest has five elements, a quester, a place to go, a stated reason to go there, challenges and trials, and a real reason to go there. Beowulf is the quester. The place to go is Denmark. The stated reason to go there is to slay Grendel. A challenge of his quest is Grendels mom, and the real reason to go there is honor.
Then a bench was cleared in the banquet hall so the Geats could have room to be together …show more content…
He is describing what happened once he saw land. He states that the water became still bringing him a sense of peace. Therefore, the water represents serenity and hope.
Happiness came back, the hall was thronged, and a banquet set forth.(Heaney 1788-1790).
In this poem, a banquet is thrown in celebration. A banquet is thrown when Beowulf arrives in Denmark, again when Beowulf slays Grendel, and finally when he slaughters Grendels mother. Foster stresses that eating together shows the characters sharing a common experience. In this case, it may be to give the Danes a sense of closure and peace.
Well, friend Unferth, you have had your say about Breca and me./ The truth is this: when the going was heavy in those high waves, I was the strongest swimmer of all. (Heaney 530-534).
In this passage, Beowulf is correcting Unferths statement about Beowulf failing the swimming contest. This portion of the poem is much like Sophocles Oedipus. Unferth is questioning Beowulf just as Tiresias challenged Oedipus. When they are confronted, they begin to boast about themselves and their accomplishments.
Works CitedFoster, Thomas. How to Read Literature Like a Professor. New York City: HarperCollins Publishers Inc.,