In Beowulf's appeal to Unferth, Beowulf uses Pathos when referring to his swimming match against Brecca. Beowulf makes the audience feel sympathetic for him when he uses vivid descriptions and has an emotional tone when he tells them of how he had to fight off sea-monsters and extremely harsh conditions. He also admits that he made a "mistake" in his challenge with Brecca. This also adds to the empathy that the audience was already feeling for him. Admitting that he made a mistake makes Beowulf's argument seem more credible and it makes him sound even more reasonable. His argument using pathos was very effective because he uses a pathetic appeal to manipulate and gain the support of the people.…
In chapter three, Griffin explains that as people, we need to be motivated. We have the need for achievement, affiliation, and for power. Griffin says that motivation gives a person power. Now, he firmly stresses that “power” is not a dirty word. God gave us the desire to want to be powerful. His quote, “The best pastors often have a high need for power,” says it all!…
Beowulf is a poem that shows both loyalty and honor within its characters. Throughout the poem he shows that by fighting with his bare hands and risking his life. Beowulf shows the real meaning of being a hero. Beowulf has many symbolism in the story when he fights the dragon, Grendel, and Grendel’s mother.…
In Beowulf, one will notice the many epic conflicts that make this an epic poem. Beowulf has fought numerous battles and has come to be a super natural mechanism. The religious, but pagen background gets the mood of the story to a nerve racking climax keeping readers on the edge of their seats.…
What characteristics make the battles in Beowulf similar? What makes them different? The key component deals with whether or not fate remains with Beowulf during the battle. Three different battles occur in Beowulf and these different battles contain many of the same characteristics but with a few differences. The first battle involved Beowulf and the monster Grendel. The second battle involved Beowulf and Grendel's mother and the third and final battle involved Beowulf, Wiglaf, and the dragon. So just in seeing who fought in the battles shows how many differences and similarities they possess.…
Beowulf had much pride, which was rare for his time. His pride is always fighting his responsibility to the people around him. He never asks for help, even if he may need it. Beowulf is reckless and races Brecca in the open sea for seven days to satisfy a foolish bet. His pride was the reason he battled all the monsters. He wanted to secure the protection of his people. After hearing…
Throughout the Anglo-Saxon and Middle Age periods the main characters always had a similar established value; honor. This value is prominent in Beowulf, "The Seafarer", and The Canterbury Tales. Each of the main characters portray honor either to himself, his followers, his king, and/or his God. These poems are the different aspects of honor intertwined together to form the most prevailing value during this time frame.…
The two characters I chose to focus on are Beowulf and Grendel. The main reason I chose these two characters was because I believe that both of these characters possess most of the heroic ideals of the Anglo-Saxon times. The heroic ideals consist of strength, intelligence, and loyalty, each of these characters showed and proved they had most of these qualities throughout the entire story.…
What is an epic hero? Beowulf was an archetype or, perfect example of what an epic hero is. Being infallible, he had many characteristics that showed this. Three of them are strength, bravery, and determination. Beowulf was always eager to face anything he was challenged with.…
The theme of Beowulf that I believe corresponds to me in the eyes of others the most is integrity and honor. As an aspiring student driven to attend the United States Naval Academy, the Honor Concept holds more weight to me than most. Beowulf is a hero because he embodies and exemplifies the traits and morals the society saw as powerful and valuable.…
Many times a group of people seek a leader they can trust and have confidence in to protect and lead them the right way. In the epic poem Beowulf, the Anglo-Saxons have found just that, a powerful leader, they can trust. Beowulf, the main character and leader, proved his worth and receives lof from his people. Beowulf shows his lof, or fame and pride, by showing his cultural heroism by fighting Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon.…
When Beowulf returns victoriously to his homeland after the defeat of Grendel, one might expect that the text would praise him and celebrate his triumphs. This is indeed the case in lines 2163-2210, however the author also chooses this moment to reveal an unexpected aspect of the hero’s lowly past: that before he left for the Danish lands, King Hygelac and the Geat people “had never much esteemed [Beowulf] in the mead-hall”. A similar surprising moment arises just after our hero kills Grendel’s mother, when, amidst the many congratulations, Hrothgar suddenly warns Beowulf of a greater challenge that is yet to come: the challenge of leadership and growing old, which he conveys through the story of an elderly king, Heremod, who lives in the glory…
Valor is often seen as an upside to someone’s personality, but when very brave, it mistakenly leads to being brave in situations where the dispute is unfavorable. Excessive bravery leads to careless or unneeded acts, times when doing something is insane. Having too much courage results in recklessness. Courage takes over rationality, the outcome being unwise choices, which leads to consequences. In both passages the qualities of bravery leads to unnecessary risks.…
myself) the pride of online fame. When assessing Beowulf's personality, we need to keep in mind the era Beowulf takes place in (a few hundred years A.D. or so). To appear weak, to appear soft-spoken, and to appear unimportant was social suicide, whether you actually were these things or not. For example, the old king, hindered by old age, loses a dangerous amount of moral from his people from allowing Grendel to attack the hall every night for twelve years.…
Power is shown by fighting Grendel, the dragon, and all of the other creatures that he fought. “My duty was to go to the Danes’ great king. They have seen my strength for themselves.” (Lines 245-246). It’s as if Beowulf really wanted everyone to know his strength and know what he is made of. Beowulf’s people already knew he was a great leader, and a very powerful hero, but he wanted to show other people what he was made of. Beowulf really worked to become a legend, and it seems like that’s what he did. He really made sure he was well known.…