Beowulf Papers - 850 Words

Beowulf Papers A hero is a man of courage and ability who is admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities. A hero is a person who does not come along very often in any time period. He is a special person, who is a step above the average person in the way that he handles any situation that may arise. This statement is very true for the time of Anglo-Saxon culture and literature. A hero was like a god and was put on a pedestal far above the others. A hero brought peace to situations that were deemed impossible and brought joy to many people. In the poem Beowulf, there is a great example of what a hero is about in this time. Beowulf is the great warrior of the Geats and he will do anything necessary to keep peace and to†¦show more content†¦This is a tribute to Beowulfs special strength and ability. While the head is one of several items he carries up, four of them had trouble carrying Grendels head on spear-shafts to the goldhall (Norton, 48). What others deem impossible, a hero makes possible. There are only a few great heroes that come about in this time and Beowulf is definitely one of them. He is a great warrior and leader, a perfect description for him. Heroes only came along once in a while in this culture but it was well known when they did. Kenning Identification In poetry, there is often the use of many words that may seem a bit strange to the average reader. These words are often more complex than what is actually meant, but are used to enhance the reading and make it more enjoyable to the reader. Other words would make the poem less smooth, and that is why such complexity arises. These words shape a type of metaphor, which is referred to as a kenning. A kenning is a metaphorical circumlocution, signifying a person or thing by a characteristic or quality (Skill, 10). It is used quite often in Anglo Saxon poetry and is used to great length in Beowulf. The language of Beowulf has use of four-beat alliterative line and this allows the use of a variety of kennings. The use of kennings had such an effect on poetry that many phrases often became cliches. For example, there are many kenningsShow MoreRelatedBeowulf Research Paper991 Words   |  4 PagesIm doing my three page research paper over Beowulf, the story of a warrior from ancient times when monsters, goblins, and demons still plagued the Earth that we live on still today. Beowulf was a tall tale told for many, years to children before they fell asleep at night. Its a story that has been around from 720-796 a.d. And hasnt gotten old yet, because it inspires people and tells people what real hero’ s are capable of and what theyre made of and the limits they can surpass all on their ownRead MoreBeowulf: Christian vs Pagan Influence Term Paper1665 Words   |  7 PagesThe European epic, Beowulf, was written sometime in the eighth century in England. This time period provides us with an idea for the mixture of Christian and pagan elements because of an English society that was in the process of converting from Paganism to Christianity. Examples of Pagan and Christian traditions are presented all throughout literature. Many of the influences deal with what it going on in the world, when the piece is written. When Beowulf was written, St. Augustine had just comeRead MoreBeowulf Character Analysis999 Words   |  4 Pagesflaws and personality. Then, say that Beowulf, a poem about a man who is as deep as a sheet of paper, is a masterpiece. While the poem Beowulf is one of the most important and influential pieces of literature in the world, Beowulf himself is a poorly written character when compared to characters of today’s standards. Beowulf is originally a Scandinavian story from a period before written records. It recounts the adventures of the brave and honorable Beowulf as he kills various monsters. Though, toRead MoreFemale Characters in Beowulf Essay1278 Words   |  6 PagesComparison between Female Characters in Beowulf Beowulf, the Old English epic tells the story of one brave hero and his battles against evil monsters. The poem deals with mostly masculine elements like fight descriptions, depictions of armor and long inspiring speeches. However, the women characters in the epic also have important roles and they are far from being superficial, as it may seem at first. There are several female figures in Beowulf; this paper will focus on three of them- queen WealhtheowRead MoreBeowulf Essay : Beowulf 1473 Words   |  6 PagesHyunsu (John) Kim Prof. Hohl ENG2800 November 10, 2016 Beowulf Paper II The poem, Beowulf, explores its protagonist’s—Beowulf’s—heroism through a series of three increasingly difficult conflicts with Grendel; Grendel’s mother; and the dragon—, each of which exemplifies an aspect of the Anglo-Saxon heroic code. Beowulf’s first encounter with Grendel demonstrates the importance of reputation as a means of establishing one’s legacy, even beyond death; Beowulf’s triumph over the seemingly indomitableRead MoreEssay on Monsters and Men in Macbeth, Beowulf, Frankstien1179 Words   |  5 Pages Monsters and Men (Unit Paper) For ages, we have wondered what is the difference between monsters and men that make them who they are. What are the characteristics that define a monster? Typically it’s the bad guy, the person or thing that comes into the story just to cause massacre or stand in the protagonist’s way. On the other Men are just defined as people who are the opposite of evil. There can be multiple people in a story who can be characterized asRead MoreRethinking Gender And Space On Old English Literature877 Words   |  4 PagesGender and Space in Old English Literature Beowulf and The Wife’s Lament are written between 100 and 1600 centuries. There has been different interpretation of the poems, some, an attempt to fit the events in the poems into the 21st century which has led to distortions and misrepresentation especially of the female characters and their representation in these poems. According to Shari Horner, twentieth century critics have tried to read women in Beowulf particularly as garrulous, weak, and dispassionateRead MoreEssay on The Religious Context of Beowulf629 Words   |  3 Pagesspeculation over the religious context of the poem Beowulf. Many believe that Beowulf was written to be strictly a Pagan tale, yet some insist that there is a subtle but definite theme of Christianity that outlines the poem. Although it is tough to decipher the actual intensions of religious outlook in Beowulf, (not having discovered the true author) it is safe to conclude that both Pagan and Christian components are established within the text . Beowulf was originally thought of as a Pagan tale whichRead MoreThe Religious Themes Of The Epic Of Beowulf1485 Words   |  6 PagesIn Beowulf, two types of religion are portrayed by one unknown author, and play an important role in the interpretation of the epic poem. Paganism is one of the religions that are portrayed in the epic, and it is speculated that before it was written and recorded that the work was actually focused around a Pagan belief system before the Christian coloring and allusions were added. Christianity is the second religion being portrayed in this Epic Poem. It is theorized that a monk was the one that addedRead MoreEssay On Shakespeare s Beowulf 1346 Words   |  6 PagesHaddijatou Konateh Beowulf paper Dr. Murray ENGL 2111 October 19th, 2015 Role of Women in Beowulf Beowulf was an epic written more than twelve hundred years ago. Women characters are presented, and every woman has one-of-a-kind attributes. The women in Beowulf are depicted as hard working people, each of whom has a role within the poem. Throughout the epic, distinctive women do things such as serve mead, give speeches, and take care of the mead-hall. This shows how important women were to this culture