Nobility and Beowulf
Beowulf’s Immortality
Epics have been written and told orally for hundreds of years. A typical epic usually contains challenges, journeys, adventures and most importantly, a hero. An epic hero has several characteristics that make him unique. First of all, he or she usually comes from a noble family, which means, a noble birth. Also, they tend to have superhuman strength and accomplish beyond human deeds. A must in all Epic stories is that this hero must go on a quest in search of something. This quest, also known as a journey, holds several challenges and unexpected turns that the hero must overcome. Beowulf, an epic hero, is a fantastic example and fits the standards perfectly of an epic hero. He is noble, brave, and has superhuman strength, not only in his body but also in his heart. This strength is one that makes him thing of himself as immortal and invincible. What Beowulf lacks despite of this is a sense of self-knowledge, something learned about oneself through experiences, but he gains this characteristic through his epic quest in which he will realize that in fact, he is not immortal. Beowulf does not simply gain self-knowledge; in fact there are a series of events which lead up to his inner realization.
Grendel is a powerful monster who terrorizes the Danes. He is feared of immensely by all of the people and nobody who has the courage to withstand him survives the attempt. “He was spawned in that slime, conceived by a pair of these monsters born of Cain, punished forever for the crime of Abel’s death.” (Line 19-23)Grendel is such a bad figure that he is known to be the reincarnation of the devil. When terrorizing all of the people at Herot, Hrothgar calls for Prince Beowulf’s assistance, knowing that he is powerful and brave. Beowulf sleeps at Herot and during the night confronts Grendel in a bloody and intense battle. Beowulf manages to kill Grendel and is therefore recognized and worshiped by all of the Danes. This is one of the first
Epics have been written and told orally for hundreds of years. A typical epic usually contains challenges, journeys, adventures and most importantly, a hero. An epic hero has several characteristics that make him unique. First of all, he or she usually comes from a noble family, which means, a noble birth. Also, they tend to have superhuman strength and accomplish beyond human deeds. A must in all Epic stories is that this hero must go on a quest in search of something. This quest, also known as a journey, holds several challenges and unexpected turns that the hero must overcome. Beowulf, an epic hero, is a fantastic example and fits the standards perfectly of an epic hero. He is noble, brave, and has superhuman strength, not only in his body but also in his heart. This strength is one that makes him thing of himself as immortal and invincible. What Beowulf lacks despite of this is a sense of self-knowledge, something learned about oneself through experiences, but he gains this characteristic through his epic quest in which he will realize that in fact, he is not immortal. Beowulf does not simply gain self-knowledge; in fact there are a series of events which lead up to his inner realization.
Grendel is a powerful monster who terrorizes the Danes. He is feared of immensely by all of the people and nobody who has the courage to withstand him survives the attempt. “He was spawned in that slime, conceived by a pair of these monsters born of Cain, punished forever for the crime of Abel’s death.” (Line 19-23)Grendel is such a bad figure that he is known to be the reincarnation of the devil. When terrorizing all of the people at Herot, Hrothgar calls for Prince Beowulf’s assistance, knowing that he is powerful and brave. Beowulf sleeps at Herot and during the night confronts Grendel in a bloody and intense battle. Beowulf manages to kill Grendel and is therefore recognized and worshiped by all of the Danes. This is one of the first