Violence in Beowulf - 719 Words

Violence in Beowulf Beowulf is an epic poem written in Anglo-Saxon times, by an unknown poet. Beowulf is a Geatish man who rescues the Danish people from evil, and helps save his own country from destruction. Beowulf, renowned for his bravery, and known as the strongest man alive, acquires the help of fourteen thanes to sail with him to Denmark. There he is involved in two battles with two evil monsters. He then fights another battle in his homeland with a Fire dragon. Without violence in Beowulf, heroism would be impossible as evidenced by Beowulf’s battles with Grendel, his mother, and the Fire dragon. Beowulf first shows his heroic nature in the fight with Grendel. After all the men in the great hall of Heorot fall asleep, Beowulf†¦show more content†¦Grendel’s death however, was not quick and ruthless like those he inflicted to his victims. His death was slow and tortuous, as Beowulf ripped his arm right off. Grendel wasis forced to run away and escape emin ent death. He had plenty of time to suffer and think about was had happened, a very painful death indeed. I believe that having Grendel die this way is a far more severe punishment than a quick and painless death. The monster comes to the horrible realization that heShow MoreRelatedTheme Of Violence In Beowulf844 Words   |  4 Pageswe see violence as a way to cope with all types problems. Humans have used violence as a way to resolve issues since ancient times. The poem â€Å"Beowulf† was written between the eighth and eleventh century by an anonymous author. The poem recounts the story of a brave warrior, named Beowulf, who battles three great monsters. Two of the monsters, Grendel and Grendel’s Mother, terrorize the people of Daneland and the third monster, the Dragon, lives in Beowulfs homeland. The epic poem â€Å"Beowulf† illustratesRead MoreTheme Of Violence In Beowulf1010 Words   |  5 PagesBeowulf was written around 800 C.E., and the exact author o f the poem is unknown. The story was set in Europe during medieval times. The Danes in the story used a type of Feudal government. Simply put, the king would give his constituents things and in return they would pledge their loyalty to the king. Hrothgar is the kin g of the Danes and is described in the poem as,† noble king, our dear lord, friend of the Danes, the giver of rings† (49). This shows Hrothgar’s generosity good will towards hisRead MoreViolence and Societal Change in Beowulf Essay1305 Words   |  6 Pagescalled violence and the potential for it resides in every single person on this earth. Whose violence conquers all? It is hard to measure the significance of violence, especially when it can cause so much destruction and death as well as stimulation. However, violence cannot simply be explained as male testosterone since women have and continue to demonstrate the ability to be violent as well. It also cannot be explained as a by-product of rage, jeal ousy, greed, or stupidity. No. Violence is an innateRead More The Natural Violence of Human Nature as Shown Through the Epic Beowulf868 Words   |  4 PagesThe Natural Violence of Human Nature as Shown Through the Epic Beowulf Violence is the way of the game in the world of Beowulf. It is how things get done. It is what people care about. The songs in the Mead Hall are all sung of the great violent epics that took place in the times long gone. When there is no violence that can be perpetrated, these cultures tell stories of violence, so as to release this need for aggression that is somewhere deep with in them. This is in many ways like theRead MoreViolence Brought by Violence1464 Words   |  6 Pagesexactly one thing: violence† (Chomsky). The history of the world is full of blood, greed, and violence. There has only been wars instigated by the rich, powerful and greedy. Violence often lead to more violence which will cause pain everywhere or somewhere in this world (Solter). Just as Issac Asimov once said, â€Å"Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent† but things tend to heat up and move up to the next level. Violence, especially in wars, only leads to further violence due to ma ny differentRead MoreBeowulf : Virtue And Community1658 Words   |  7 Pages Beowulf: Virtue and Community Larry Chambers ENG/235 05/06/2016 Colette Wanless-Sobel â€Æ' Beowulf: Virtue and Community Beowulf is set against a background of feuding and warfare amongst the Danes, Frisians, Jutes, Swedes, and the Geats. Heroes the likes of Beowulf and Wiglaf stand proudly among other figures from history such as Hygelac, Hrothgar, and Ingeld. Although, in a modern sense, the poem cannot be considered historically accurate, Beowulf offers a familiar look intoRead MoreBeowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Comparison Essay1443 Words   |  6 Pageslife or death fight for his loved ones. These unworldly characters help the readers to perceive the story in a more in-depth way; they make readers bringing up different question for their appearance, purpose, and the idea they symbolize. Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, two of the earliest great stories of English literature, do not disappoint the readers and present us with Grendel, Grendel’s mother, the Dragon, and the Green Knight. The two poems similarly describe the protagonists’Read MoreA Subtle Metaphor For Women And Sexuality1133 Words   |  5 PagesBoats are used in a subtle metaphor for women and sexuality in Beowulf. The boats Beowulf sails upon are described with surprisingly sensual language that stands out from the rest of the poem’s descriptions. The author writes of the â€Å"foam at her neck†, â€Å"her curved prow†, and his intention to â€Å"ply the waves†, all of which seem sensually coded. It is a small detail that boats, graceful and powerful objects, use female pronouns in Beowulf, but it is interesting. Using feminine pronouns mixed with vagueRead MoreBeowulf: The Canonization of Anglo-Saxon Literature into Modern Popular Culture769 Words   |  4 Pages The cover of the November, 1975 comic book Beowulf: Dragon Slayer features a red-haired, horn-helmeted Beowulf swinging a large broadsword at a purple-caped villain also bearing two razor-sharp swords. As Beowulf rears up on his steed, a bikini clad woman, cloth slightly aside to reveal the shadow of a buttock is drawn falling, face filled with terror. In the background, a rising full moon and silhouetted gothic castle keenly set an atmosphere of dread and foreboding. Above the emboldenedRead MorePaganism In Beowulf1411 Words   |  6 PagesPagan ideas and values were a large influence in the creation of Beowulf due to the period it was created in. As the narrative was passed down by mouth Christianity views were slowly developed into the story. The poem was written after Anglo-Saxons were Christianized, but it is evident that pagan views were still in their mindsets. With these ideals still present, paganism and Christianity were woven into the story, and we see a mix of heroic ideals and self-sacrificing virtues that create a story