Even after Beowulf felt as if he had been defeated and finally lost, he was still able to fight and kill the dragon before he died. Beowulf takes place in early 6th-century Scandinavia, primarily in what is known today as Denmark and Sweden. Beowulf was distinguished among his people, the Geats, for his bravery. Compassionate towards others: Beowulf offers sympathy and words of comfort to Hrothgar when his son dies, and he worries about Freawaru's marriage. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Beowulf is also very courteous, patient, and diplomatic when he meets with Hrothgar, from whom he hopes to receive permission to battle Grendel. What is Beowulf's behavior before and during his battle with Grendel? Beowulf is a heroic poem, considered the highest achievement of Old English literature and the earliest European vernacular epic. Beowulf is above all courageous and loyal. For example, the poem’s Danish King Hrothgar and his nephew Hrothulf are generally believed to have been based on historical figures. The fight is long and terrible and a painful contrast to the battles of his youth. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. And he is on the alert for wrongs to be righted. Tolkien suggests that its total effect is more like a long, lyrical elegy than an epic. As a young man, Beowulf was known as the strongest man alive. He wrenches himself free, tearing off his arm, and leaves, mortally wounded. While his death in battle does temporarily save his people from destruction at the hands of the dragon, the people themselves observe that without Beowulf, they are left vulnerable to the attacks of other tribes; in this sense, Beowulf has been reckless in his final actions. These two traits inform most of his actions over the course of the poem. Beowulf falls into two parts. It deals with events of the early 6th century and is believed to have been composed between 700 and 750. Beowulf is a heroic poem, considered the highest achievement of Old English literature and the earliest European vernacular epic. Fahrenheit 451 Macbeth Of Mice and Men Pride and Prejudice The Merchant of … Updates? In the same way that Beowulf uses his past accomplishments in battle to prove his status as a true and capable hero, the battles with Grendel and Grendel’s mother only serve to further exalt Beowulf’s physical ability and courage. Strength: Beowulf has immense physical strength. This trait is part of what brings him to Heorot Hall in the first place. He does all of this for his people and purely on a volunteer basis, demonstrating his steadfast devotion to his people and his courage in the face of danger. There will always be many versions of Grendel’s physical appearance, and all will remain true until the author tells us otherwise. Here is a video about the charaters of Beowulf, started at the section pertaining to Shield Sheafson for your convenience: Start your 48-hour free trial and unlock all the summaries, Q&A, and analyses you need to get better grades now. As a young man Beowulf fought in many battles and as a result showed his great character to others. He demonstrates his sense of honor and his loyalty to Hrothgar by volunteering to kill Grendel and then Grendel’s mother. Clash of the Gods: Beowulf explores the ... on descriptions and physical artifacts. We learn about the main character more through the eyes of the Danish soldier patrolling the cliffs. The Beowulf poet does not provide a physical description of Grendel, other than allusions to his size and strength. The role of Grendel's mother is a much-debated topic in scholarly circles. Wealhtheow is a peace-weaver and takes an active role in diplomacy, generously presenting Beowulf with a valuable gold collar and asking him to serve as counselor to her sons. We shall be looking in detail at the language we can use to help write a successful character description as well as the emotive language we can use to write a passionate speech. His hunger for glory is good because it drives Beowulf to accomplish amazing things and further work in service of the greater good. Inhuman strength Beowulf is able to defeat Grendel who is much bigger than he is and rips his arm completely off. Work Cited: Beowulf… Strength: Beowulf has immense physical strength. The ethical values are manifestly the Germanic code of loyalty to chief and tribe and vengeance to enemies. "Beowulf is my name" Beowulf: the superhero of the poem. Top subjects are Literature, History, and Social Sciences. Thus, after Grendel’s death, King Hrothgar speaks sanguinely of the future, which the audience knows will end with the destruction of his line and the burning of Heorot. Hrothgar is astonished at the little-known hero’s daring but welcomes him, and, after an evening of feasting, much courtesy, and some discourtesy, the king retires, leaving Beowulf in charge. Considering the close physical descriptions that we find in Beowulf, it would seem that we are. His actions toward Grendel show that he is willing to help others. His tribe is the Geats, and his lord is Hygelac. The Danes rejoice once more. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. He is able to, with trust, put his fate in God's hands. Beowulf is an exemplary human being who functions as an ideal person. It deals with events of the early 6th century CE and is believed to have been composed between 700 and 750. Beowulf: The Characteristics Of An Epic Hero. Their welfare is important to him, though it must be noted that loyalty and protective instincts are not his only motivations in facing monsters. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. The role of women, who were still thought of as their husbands' possessions, is limited in Beowulf. Painful, too, is the desertion of his retainers except for his young kinsman Wiglaf. Beowulf has often been translated into modern English; renderings by Seamus Heaney (1999) and Tolkien (completed 1926; published 2014) became best sellers. Beowulf was a good fighter and contained the attributes admired at the time. Beowulf's father was Ecgneow and his right hand man was Wiglaf. Beowulf, heroic poem, the highest achievement of Old English literature and the earliest European vernacular epic. A Danish warrior who is jealous of Beowulf, Unferth is unable or unwilling to fight Grendel, … He then grapples with Beowulf, whose powerful grip he cannot escape. But now a fire-breathing dragon ravages his land and the doughty but aging Beowulf engages it. In lines 91 and 92 it states that Beowulf was the strongest man in the world. (Mead is a fermented A fire-breathing dragon who discovered a lost tribe's treasure and moved into the barrow housing the gold. He loves and remains loyal to his grandfather, Hrethel, as well as to his uncle, Hygelac. Physical description During the decades following Tolkien's essay, the exact description of Grendel was debated by scholars. After showing his physical and intellectual mastery over Grendel, he tears off Grendel’s arm, causing his death. The detailed physical descriptions of Beowulf indicate a need for the hero to be powerful and supernatural. This bodily trait is essential to his ability to defeat Grendel. Many critics have seen the poem as a Christian allegory, with Beowulf the champion of goodness and light against the forces of evil and darkness. He uses the sword to decapitate Grendel's mother and to behead the We’ve discounted annual subscriptions by 50% for COVID-19 relief—Join Now! The second part passes rapidly over King Hygelac’s subsequent death in a battle (of historical record), the death of his son, and Beowulf’s succession to the kingship and his peaceful rule of 50 years. His name is associated etymologically with "ground" or "bottom," but more importantly, consider the following: He is a "lone-walker" -- not part of a comitatus. Yet the poem is so infused with a Christian spirit that it lacks the grim fatality of many of the Eddaic lays or the sagas of Icelandic literature. This bodily trait is essential to his ability to defeat Grendel. Beowulf is depicted as the most ideal of leaders. Character Description. What are the 3 major battles fought in Beowulf? His most immediately recognizable characteristics are his prodigious strength and endurance, which more often than not fall directly into the category of the superhuman. Beowulf demonstrates his faith by giving thanks to God for his victories. The English critic J.R.R. However, others believe that she is not described as a monster in the old English text: instead she is a female warrior, not unlike Beowulf himself. Beowulf is the oldest surviving Anglos-Saxon epic poem. Beowulf is also very concerned about kinship, loyalty, and honor, all of which are related to the self-sacrificial nature of his courage. Top subjects are Literature, Social Sciences, and Science. Heroes Journey. Beowulf text, it was most likely composed in the 8th century AD. Beowulf’s uncle is king of the Geats so he is sent to help kill Grendel. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Some fight scenes reveal small details about his being, such as the grip of his “claw” or his shoulder that Beowulf severs. Beowulf had many characteristics which helped him to succeed in battle. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Beowulf's physical strength, bravery, and wisdom characterize him as an epic hero.Beowulf's physical strength is revealed to the reader through his amazing feats and his unbelievable battles with mystical creatures. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. He was strong, brave, and honorable. Wealhtheow. The dragon is exceedingly greedy – marking a stark contrast to good kings, who create loyalty and love among their people and warriors through generosity. Beowulf's strength and commanding presence frighten Grendel when he first arrives. Log in here. So Beowulf is defined by his martial valor, his sense of honor and loyalty, and by his religious faith. It is preserved in a single manuscript that dates to circa 1000 and is known as the Beowulf manuscript (Cotton MS Vitellius A XV) . The poem ends with his funeral rites and a lament. This is ultimately a double-edged trait. Oddly enough, very little is written about the physical description of the central monster Grendel himself. We don't hear much in the way of a physical description, and this is because it's what Grendel represents that is the horror for the original audience. Beowulf kills the dragon but is mortally wounded. Sign up now, Latest answer posted September 07, 2017 at 2:32:20 PM, Latest answer posted November 28, 2019 at 10:19:48 PM, Latest answer posted November 16, 2019 at 4:13:14 AM, Latest answer posted October 20, 2019 at 9:38:07 AM, Latest answer posted February 07, 2016 at 3:16:04 PM. Wealhtheow, Queen of the Spear-Danes and wife of King Hrothgar, appears briefly in Beowulf as the mistress of Heorot Hall. When he fights and defeats Grendel, he attempts to force his radical ideas upon him, telling Grendel that his mind makes the world what it is. Epic poetry is a long narrative poem written in an elevated style and It celebrates the deed of a legendary hero or god. For all this, Beowulf is also a man of deep personal faith. Omissions? ©2021 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Last Updated by eNotes Editorial on December 17, 2020, Last Updated by eNotes Editorial on January 15, 2020. Perhaps most telling of his character is his unfaltering faith, as he thanks and consults God in all that he does, asking that he show him the right course of action and give him the strength needed to pursue justice. He is also able to defeat Grendel’s mother. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Beowulf preparing to cut off the head of the monster Grendel, illustration from. Suggestions. The author of Beowulf is unknown. He thinks nothing of fighting Grendel bare-handed or going to confront the dragon alone even as an old man. The next day is one of rejoicing in Heorot. What are the major characteristics of Beowulf? It opens in Denmark, where King Hrothgar’s splendid mead hall, Heorot, has been ravaged for 12 years by nightly visits from an evil monster, Grendel, who carries off Hrothgar’s warriors and devours them. But it is bad because it causes him to act recklessly at times. She is about to defeat him but then he finds a sword. It is also part of the broader tradition of heroic poetry. The emphasis on his strength is reminiscent of classical gods such as Hercules and Apollo, and the description of his "glistening" aura contributes a spiritual aspect to his persona. Heroism is the glorification of the warrior hero and of the heroic code of conduct. The focus for this page is on Grendel, the beast who wanders among the great Thanes of Denmark; and Beowulf, the great hero who has come to defeat him. What are some of the characteristics that Beowulf lacks? Some critics have argued that Beowulf's final battle with the dragon is driven as much by a desire to add to his legacy as it is to protect his people. But at night as the warriors sleep, Grendel’s mother comes to avenge her son, killing one of Hrothgar’s men. Beowulf's appearance, size and armor command immediate respect and attention. Anglo-Saxon word “Beo” means “bright” or “noble” and “wulf” means “wolf”, so Beowulf means brighe or noble wolf. In small groups, ask stu- He travels to the land of the Danes in large part to prove his courage by destroying Grendel, and he then fearlessly pursues Grendel's mother into her underwater lair. Beowulf belongs metrically, stylistically, and thematically to a heroic tradition grounded in Germanic religion and mythology. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. That is not to say that Beowulf is an optimistic poem. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, This article was most recently revised and updated by, Beowulf - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Beowulf manuscript (Cotton MS Vitellius A XV). His courage and effectiveness in fighting is balanced by his love for family, generosity, compassion, and overall avoidance of unnecessary violence. Although originally untitled, it was later named after the Scandinavian hero Beowulf, whose exploits and character provide its connecting theme. Characteristics of the Beowulf Poem There are many characteristics of the Beowulf poem that make it a significant part of the history of literature. A legendary hero who was of sweedish decent (Jute). Beowulf, a warrior and headman of the Geats (a Swedish tribe), engages him in combat and mortally wounds him. His strength can also be seen in these battles, as he rips off Grendel’s arm with his bare hands and holds his breath for a superhuman length of time in Grendel’s mother’s underwater lair. Beowulf's physical strength, bravery, and wisdom characterize him as an epic hero.Beowulf's physical strength is revealed to the reader through his amazing feats … He defeats monsters, but we learn of him killing only two humans, despite his being a great warrior. Grendel's mother (sometimes called his "dam") is not as huge or as powerful as the son, but she is motivated by revenge. Corrections? Beowulf-protagonist/ Geatish hero -fights the monster Grendel, Grendel's mother + dragon -he is the strongest/best warrior in town -in youth: all the best of heroic culture -in old age: wise and effective ruler: Hygelac-BEOWULF'S uncle -King of the Geats -Married to Hygd -Welcomes Beowulf … Her son has returned to their cave mortally wounded, one of his two arms (or claws) ripped from its shoulder socket and hanging, now, beneath the roof of Hrothgar's mead-hall. Already a member? Even the earlier, happier section in Denmark is filled with ominous allusions that were well understood by contemporary audiences. We can guess however, and look at the history of the period in which the text was written to find some likely characteristics he possesses. A tower was built to honor Beowulf and all of his battles he had won. The Beowulf dragon is described with Old English terms such as draca (dragon), and wyrm (reptile, or serpent), and as a creature with a venomous bite. Beowulf's third major characteristic is a hunger for glory. I destroyed five, a family of giants, and by night slew monsters on the waves….” (Lines 407-419). During the night Grendel comes from the moors, tears open the heavy doors, and devours one of the sleeping Geats. Some of Beowulf's characteristics are as follows: Loving and loyal to family: Beowulf was raised by his grandfather from age seven. It is a perfect representation of how the people in eighth century England communicated, what their feelings were, and their culture. He cuts the head from Grendel’s corpse and returns to Heorot. What are the major personality traits of Beowulf. Also, the Beowulf poet created a dragon with specific traits: a nocturnal, treasure-hoarding, inquisitive, vengeful, fire-breathing creature. It has also been the source for retellings in text—John Gardner’s Grendel (1971), for example, which takes the point of view of the monster—and as movies. Unferth. There is no evidence of a historical Beowulf, but other characters, sites, and events in the poem can be historically verified. His sacrificial death is not seen as tragic but as the fitting end of a good (some would say “too good”) hero’s life. Are you a teacher? Many critics have seen Grendel as the embodiment of the physical and moral evil of heathenism. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. This bodily trait is essential to his ability to defeat Grendel. Grendel’s horrible mother avenges her son’s death but is also defeated and killed by Beowulf. Beowulf is lying on the ground, slowly dying. He hopes that by defeating many monsters he will be remembered after his death. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Upon his return to Heorot, Beowulf presents to King Hrothgar Grendel’s decapitated head and the jeweled hilt of the sword he used to kill Grendel’s mother. Dutiful: Beowulf takes responsibility for civilization beyond his own family and homeland, traveling across the sea to aid Hrothgar in defeating Grendel. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Character Description. Top subjects are Literature, History, and Arts. Beowulf. Beowulf is definitely a perfect example of an epic hero. Hrothgar makes a farewell speech about the character of the true hero, as Beowulf, enriched with honours and princely gifts, returns home to King Hygelac of the Geats. He comes to help Hrothgar kill Grendel, because Beowulf is a monster-slayer of supernatural strength: "...a thane, they declared with the strength of thirty in the grip of each hand" (lines 380-381).The text tells us: There was no one else like him alive. He is courageous in that he is willing to face monsters that give even other warriors pause. Courage: Beowulf models courage in his fearless willingness to confront monsters in order to protect the larger social order. There is no evidence of a historical Beowulf, but some characters, sites, and events in the poem can be historically verified. The story depicts him as a large beast that lurks in a swamp nearby the kingdom of Heorot. Citations. Beowulf possesses many great heroic qualities: There are certainly others, but I'd say these are the easiest to find examples of throughout the text. Before his battle with Grendel, he offers a prayer: "May the Divine Lord in His wisdom grant the glory of victory to whichever side he sees fit." Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Faith-filled: Beowulf has a strong faith in God's presence in his life and believes that God guides human affairs. One of Wealhtheow's most important duties is the ceremonial carrying of a goblet of mead around to the warriors during the feast, helping to establish a tone of brotherly affection between the Geats and Danes. Why does Beowulf insist on fighting Grendel without weapons in, What causes Grendel to attack the mead-hall Herot in. A detailed description and in-depth analysis of Beowulf. Has superior or superhuman strength, intelligence, and/or courage 4. Beowulf's loyalty often drives his courage: he does what he does to rescue the Danes from destruction. Obviously, the defining characteristic of Beowulf is his bravery, and his strong desire to demonstrate it to others. Many incidents, such as Beowulf’s tearing off the monster’s arm and his descent into the mere, are familiar motifs from folklore. Some academics argue that she is described as a wretch or monster. He is selflessly willing to risk himself for others. Unexpectedly, young Beowulf, a prince of the Geats of southern Sweden, arrives with a small band of retainers and offers to cleanse Heorot of its monster. Beowulf's great physical strength is one of the characteristics that make him an epic hero. In the second part the movement is slow and funereal: scenes from Beowulf’s youth are replayed in a minor key as a counterpoint to his last battle, and the mood becomes increasingly sombre as the wyrd (fate) that comes to all men closes in on him. What are the epic characteristics of Beowulf? Furthermore, Beowulf even fights a dragon at the end of his life, against incredible odds, going above and beyond the call of duty for his people. Even late in his life, he dies fighting against a dragon that is terrorizing his homeland. In the morning Beowulf seeks her out in her cave at the bottom of a mere and kills her. It is possible that the poem was composed by and transmitted between several different poets before it was preserved in a single manuscript that dates to about 1000.