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English Literature Beowulf

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Submitted By tanishawms
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ENG 271
March 3, 2016 In the history of literature many scholars have different views on how they would classify the genre of a piece. For example the story of Beowulf that is over 1000 years old has had controversy over calling it an epic piece or not calling it an epic piece of literature. An epic piece of literature is a long narrative poem that is composed dealing with a hero’s trials and accomplishments. Some scholars call Beowulf a folk epic or a mythological piece. This is because of the how Beowulf is almost running with history throughout the poem. There are divine intervention trials and triumphs and the mythological portion with the slaying of dragons and monsters in Beowulf. The story is really all about what it takes to be a hero but it starts off in a mythical fantasy kind of way. For example he fights monsters bare handed and he has strength that is almost divine. He saves the entire nation that is in fear of many mythical type creatures that no one in the land is willing to fight but him showing tremendous courage. But aside from his mystical fights with terror the poem really highlights the qualities in what makes him this fearless leader. For example he is courageous, generous, strong, cunning, fearless, selfless, wise, and has good morals. This is almost a heroic code that has followed all heroes in literature and in our culture today and throughout time with the same kind of qualities that deems the hero in the story.
In the time period when Beowulf was written there were many things that line up in the story making it a very controversial poem that makes the reader to think, could this have been a real man. There is no solid evidence that this was a real man or a heroic image of a savior of that time in history. Heroes are just as important back then as they are today. Heroes are a part of the world of literature and the world that we all live in. In medieval English culture there was a need for heroes in almost all of their folk tales. In today we see that there are heroes that have a super human strength for example superman, spider man, and batman. These are all heroes that fight for the innocence and the weak. Just like Beowulf they are men of valor.
There are many examples of different Heroes that preform different heroic acts, such as Beowulf and his fight with Grendel saving the kingdom. As Beowulf fixed upon Wealhtheow, he said “Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow, I had a fixed purpose when I put to sea. As I sat in the boat with my band of men, I meant to perform to the uttermost what your people wanted or perish in the attempt, in the fiend’s clutches. And I shall fulfill that purpose, prove myself with a proud deed or meet my death here in the mead-hall.”(Beowulf) Not to be arrogant, but to be helpful, he takes on this monster for the good of the people. On the other hand, some heroes like Achilles, go to war for self-recognition. While fighting for a King that he does not respect, he is arrogant and boastful, and can care less about the good of the people. Achilles is there to add to his list of heroic stories, and boost his name and fame up in the rankings. Even though Beowulf and Achilles has a number of countless battles, Beowulf’s battles were never motivated by anger or revenge. Achilles really blew his top when his family was slayed by his enemy Hector of Troy. This particular battle was not for glory but revenge and anger on Achilles part. With no honor, Achilles refuses to give Hector a respectful burial at the end of his battle, which Hector offered before the battle started. Until he was later payed a visit from King Priam. While King Priam pledging with Achilles saying “Don’t sit me in a chair, prince, while Hector Lies uncared for in your hut. Deliver him now so I can see him with my own eyes, and you take all this ransom we bring, take pleasure in it, and go back home to your own fatherland, since you’ve taken this first step and allowed me to live and see the light of day.”(Achilles) This is just a glimpse of differences between two Heroes of many.
You can also find similarities in these Heroic figures in literature. Just like Beowulf with his divine strength. Beowulf displaying his strength saying “Shoulder to shoulder, we struggled on for five nights, until the long flow and pitch of the waves, the perishing cold, night falling and winds from the north drove us apart.”(Beowulf) Explaining how he won a swimming race with Breca in the open sea. Achilles also had godlike strength and abilities, they were just displayed in a more realistic way engaging in battle, being unbeatable. They both strived for glory, even though Beowulf’s glory was selfless, and Achilles was for fame. Both Heroes also came from or became royalty. Achilles being a prince that was born into a royal family, as the son of Peleus, and on the other hand, Beowulf adopted his Kingdom and the burden that came along with it. Achilles and Beowulf both also had a small army of warriors that didn’t answer to no one but their leader, whether it was Beowulf or Achilles. Both Heroes display courage and a since of bravery. Achilles’ fearless slayings and his never scared attitude especially going up against Prince Hector. Beowulf also display this since of bravery when he spoke to his accompanying warriors saying “When it comes to fighting, I count myself as dangerous any day as Grendel. So it won’t be a cutting edge I’ll wield to mow him down, easily as I might.”(Beowulf) Relaying to his small army that he will not be fighting with his armor.

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