great amounts of courage‚ valor‚ and bravery in which all of these are used to overcome great feats. Beowulf shows courage by talking on the monster Grendel with only his bare hands. “The monsters flight‚ fastened those claws in his fist till they cracked.” Reference to page 49‚ lines: 330-340‚ 360-380. He shows valor by putting himself forward to take on the monster and not backing down from a challenge. “Then he saw the mighty water witch and swung his sword‚ his ring marked blade‚ straight at her head
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Heroism in medieval times was different than it is today. Much of it was based on power over beauty‚ or wealth over intelligence. When faced with the decision of looking brave but being dumb‚ or looking cowardly while being intelligent the majority of the heroic people would have chosen the first option. In the example of Theseus (Canterbury Tales:The Knight’s Tale by Geoffrey Chaucer) although he was honored for his wise decisions he had the power and strength to stand fast against anyone who opposed
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mentioned earlier‚ a kenning is “a descriptive phrase or compound word that substitutes for a noun” (Allen‚ et al. 34). Many kennings are peppered throughout the text; for example‚ the “shepherd of evil” and the “guardian of crime” (31) both refer to Grendel. These descriptions give interest when hearing the story told. Furthermore‚ orally-told stories such as Beowulf use techniques like alliteration. The Poetry Foundation explains alliteration as the repeated sounds of stressed consonants‚ typically
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murder‚ and drama. The author‚ however‚ is unknown. In the story the main characters are Beowulf‚ Grendel‚ Grendel’s mother‚ and the dragon. Beowulf is defined as an epic hero by possessing the traits of being a strong and responsible leader‚ being on a quest‚ and by risking his own death for glory. Beowulf is a strong and responsible leader for several reasons. First‚ when he fights Grendel‚ he puts the innocent people he is defending above his own life. Then‚ he fights Grendel’s mother as
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arrives he is brought before Hrothgar to explain his intentions. It is here that that the struggle between the two ideologies is apparent. Initially we are shown the Pagan notion of bravery and bravado. Beowulf says: I have heard moreover that the monster scorns in his reckless way to use weapons; therefore‚ to heighten Hygelac’s fame and gladden his heart‚ I hereby renounce sword and shelter of the broad shield‚ the heavy war board: hand to hand is how it will be‚ a life and death fight
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never changes. Beowulf is a hero in the eyes of his men and people through his amazing physical strength. Beowulf fought in numerous battles and always returned victorious from all but his last battle. Beowulf is strong enough to kill the monster Grendel with his bare hands by ripping off his arm. When Beowulf is fighting Grendel’s mother‚ who is wanting revenge for her son’s death‚ Beowulf is able to kill her by slashing her neck with a giant’s sword that can only be lifted by a person as strong
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fight and kill‚ he wasn’t randomly chosen. During the epic poem‚ Beowulf goes to fight Grendel for the people of the town. Beowulf shows he wanted to fight when he said‚ “Might think less of me if I let my sword go where my feet were afraid to‚ if I hid behind some broad linden shield: my hands alone shall fight for me‚ struggle for life against the monster(Line 170-174)”. Beowulf had the choice to fight Grendel‚ and because he made that decision he had to fight Grendel’s mother. This has
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Since the beginning of civilization there have many stories and drawings of monsters. Where do the monsters come from and why are these tales told. Are we the ones who create the monsters? Today as adults we do not really have fear that a half human half bull will attack us but why did people of the past fear these creatures. As time progressed humans started to interpret and use the word monster in a different manner. In this essay I will be arguing that reader-response criticism is the best way
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hero to be born with immense strength in order to fight off demons and thus protect his people‚ and Beowulf is no exception. As he is fighting the beast Grendel for the first time‚ Beowulf manages to defeat him single-handedly with no weapons‚ as if Grendel never even had a chance. From the moment Beowulf’s hands met with Grendel’s claws‚ the monster “Knew at once that nowhere on earth/ Had he met a man whose hands were harder” (l. 42-43). All through the battle‚ Beowulf kept his grip on the fiend whose
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flower of warriors‚ beware of that trap. Choose‚ dear Beowulf‚ the better part‚ 1760 eternal rewards…” This excerpt from Beowulf is part of a speech which Hrothgar gives after Beowulf fulfills his promise and defeats the monsters that terrorized the Danes; those monsters being Grendel and Grendel’s mother. In this speech‚ Hrothgar praises Beowulf and contrasts him with Heremod‚ an evil king who “suffered in the end” (1720) for treating his kingdom badly. Hrothgar promises to reward Beowulf greatly for
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