Great Beowulf example essay topic

Beowulf: Man, Myth, or Even Less? The story of Beowulf is incontrovertibly a story of greatness. There was a time when no man was superior to this awesome man. Beowulf led a remarkable life, one that was polarized between his early years of prosperity and virtue and his later years of prosperity, virtue, and downfall.

Beowulf was a human hero in his prime years. The younger days of Beowulf are marked by chivalrous bravery, unmatched strength, and a tendency toward goodwill: undoubtedly the characteristics of a champion. He seems almost godlike in his laudable feats as he tells of his swimming match versus B reca, where he toiled against the waves for seven nights. He battles the fearsome Grendel and defeats him soundly with his bare hands. These deeds seem worthy to be designated superhuman, but this would be a misnomer. Beowulf is merely a man and risked his corporeal life to benefit others.

Nobody asked him to expel Grendel from the land of the Danes; he came and did it on his own accord. Although Beowulf did receive rewards in for his heroic services, it is apparent that these rewards offered by Hrothgar are only secondary to the good Beowulf brought in his campaign to "cleanse Hart-Hall". He didn't need to ask for reward because Hrothgar was so eternally grateful that he wasn't very sure how to thank him. No rewards were expected, but they were offered as an attempt to reimburse Beowulf.

The great hero did not accomplish feats for material reward, but it can be argued that he did great things to build up his own reputation, which was of great importance to this era. After all, it was hardly necessary that he fight Grendel empty-handed; weapons were abundant in these martial times. Nonetheless, it would be superficial to see this extra hardship added on purely as a status-booster. It is true that future generations will likely talk about this event with awe of the great hero, but the real reason he did this was to demonstrate the capability of men. Grendel was greatly feared by all men, who told stories of his ferocity and terribleness, and he even spurned all weapons. Thus, Beowulf, as a human warrior, will fight on the same playing field with no advantages to show that Grendel is not some terrible beast to be feared; he can be defeated on his own terms by a human.

This inspiration of confidence to others marks definitely marks Beowulf as a superb leader, adding to his heroism. As icing on the cake, Beowulf even sticks around to defeat Grendel's mother and finish the job. In response, Hrothgar delivers a speech in which he bestows upon Beowulf some learned advice: stay humble and do not forget fate, or pride will be the ultimate downfall. Beowulf is riding on the benefits of prosperity Unfortunately, there is the Old English phrase 'life both line,' or 'life is transitory. Fifty years later, Beowulf is back home as king of the Geats. He has brought the Geats much prosperity and it is a time of happiness and invulnerability.

Suddenly, the fury of a dragon is unfettered unto Beowulf's people when a thief steals a piece of the dragon's treasure. Naturally, everybody looks to Beowulf to remedy the problem. There is nobody else to do it and anyway, this is the great Beowulf, so he shouldn't have any problem, right? Although he is the king, Beowulf, in his heroic warrior fashion, organizes a small group to go and kill the dragon and appease his people. Yet his strength is not what it once was and Beowulf is aware of his own vulnerability and mortality, much in contrast to his younger days. He knows that he may not make it through this fight.

All of the men from his party except for Wiglaf flee at the sight of the dragon, and Beowulf is mortally wounded and scarcely manages to give the dragon the fatal blow. He requests to be shown the great treasure for which he has won for his people before he dies. Wiglaf shows it to him, and so Beowulf is able to die in peace, for he needs to know that he was able to give something back to his people. The second part of Beowulf's life is characterized by an overt over-eagerness to please. No longer is Beowulf satisfied simply with accomplishing great deeds for others and moving on, he now seeks their approval of what he has done. In a way, Beowulf does fall to pride.

Before, nobody asked for Beowulf's aid, but now he has grown complacent with what he can give to his people and they begin to take it for granted and expect it of him. This expectation begins to govern his actions and he is ruled by the pride and confidence of his people that whatever they need, he will provide it. King Beowulf grooms no successor, and the Geats probably think that he will live forever anyway. Beowulf, who is used to going beyond expectations, finds himself striving and objectifying the great expectations of his people, and is blinded by this to continue to achieve hero-type deeds. Hence, his last action is to reassure himself that he has done this by obtaining the treasure for them. Beowulf is no longer a hero, but a tool for success for the Geats.

His fall to pride is complete. Beowulf was human and in his humanity, he was not perfect. He seemed invincible, but he could not deny his own imperfection: he lived to serve others. Ironically, this was both his platform for greatness and his catalyst for downfall as he began searching for fulfillment in the wrong places. The indomitable warrior was unprepared for the different expectations that would come with the role of king, making him na " ive in his wisdom. To tell the first part of the story without its successor would be to tell a completely different story, for this is not only a story of greatness, but also of the inevitable imperfection of man.