Essay On Selflessness In Beowulf - 783 Words

â€Å"I have a private theory, Sir, that there are no heroes and no monsters in this world. Only children should be allowed to use these words† ― Alfred de Vigny, from Stello. As opposed to Alfred de Vigny’s statement claiming that there are no heroes or monsters in the modern world, I believe that certain qualities which are extremely ubiquitous in modern society as well as in the epic poem Beowulf, align completely with the archetype of an epic hero, these qualities being selflessness, generosity, and bravery. The traits of epic heroes are glorified in society and are the standard to which a society bases their morals from, a prime example of one such trait is selflessness. Not only is selflessness portrayed in Beowulf with a positive†¦show more content†¦Another example of generosity lies in the many kennings developed to mean king, all of which symbolize their role as a provider such as â€Å"ring-giver† (Line 36), or how to be king is to hold the â€Å"treasure-seat† (Line 168). Philanthropy is extremely ubiquitous in modern society as a result of these standards for morals set in the epic poems which continue to be viewed and glorified. Many wealthy individuals provide large sums of money towards charitable causes, such as Bill Gates among many others, similarly to how Beowulf was named a â€Å"treasure-giver† (Line 607) for giving many gifts to his thanes for their duty. Another aspect of contemporary society that is also a trait of an epic hero would be bravery. The acts committed by Beowulf best encapsulate bravery because they display his steadfast will in the face of imminent danger. This bravery is reciprocated by Wiglaf when he realizes that his king is in danger, and despite the rest of his allies deserting the struggle Wiglaf reminds himself of why Beowulf chose him and even in the face of great danger, Wiglaf finds the courage and valor to go â€Å"under arms to his lord† (Line 2662). Thi s courage and valor results in the conquest of the beast, grievously at the cost of Beowulf’s life. The aspect of bravery is often displayed in modern society and is best represented by those who are put in imminent danger, such as those in the military.Show MoreRelatedThe Four Main Themes Of Beowulf1376 Words   |  6 PagesBeowulf, the oldest of the great long poems written in English, may have been composed more than twelve hundred years ago, in the first half of the eighteenth century, although some scholars would place it as late as the tenth century. After reading Beowulf many times, I was able to get to know the characters, as well as gain some insight of the many themes portrayed throughout the poem. The story of Beowulf is not the easiest to understand, and is also extremely complex. But, with that said, thisRead MoreEssay about Beowulf and Modern Day Hero670 Words   |  3 PagesJason Belcher Mr. Lavender World Literature 16 July 2009 This essay is the comparison between Beowulf and the modern day hero. All soldiers that are fighting for my country certainly comes to mind first, when I think about a modern day hero. Both hero’s are fighting for a good cause, get rewarded for what they do, and get treated with much respect. Although a soldier might not withhold unworldly strength as one such as Beowulf, they both are putting their life at stake, which gives them bothRead MoreBeowulf Essay : Battle Comparison1266 Words   |  6 PagesBeowulf essay: Battle comparison In the poem â€Å"Beowulf† the protagonist encounters three enemies of large proportions: Grendel the serpent, Grendel’s Mother, and a Dragon. All these creatures pose a large and terrifying threat that need a special protagonist to fight what the land’s strongest warriors could not accomplish. Before monks wrote this fabled tale in the form of a poem, Beowulf captured the attention of its listeners and teach them lessons about their cultural society and how to act inRead MoreThe True Hero : Exploring Heroic Code1308 Words   |  6 PagesCode in Germanic Society In the great epic Beowulf, the reader is able to delve into the Anglo-Saxon world and grow familiar with the heroic code. As a story passed from mouth to mouth as generations came and went, Beowulf still stands as one of the greatest heroic epics. The story teaches the reader a great deal about the time when it was written. In a world so heavily influenced by the perfect hero, the Anglo-Saxon people were able to look onto Beowulf as a source of great instruction and somethingRead MoreA Leader Is The Position Held By A Person Who Leads A Group Of People1899 Words   |  8 PagesSome leaders can influence people in a negative way or abuse their power in their position. A prime example of a respectable leader and great hero can found in the poem entitled Beowulf. Although there are many great heroes and leaders with characteristics of confidence and selflessness expressed through works like Beowulf and The One Thousand and One Nights, there are also corrupt leaders with the wrong inten tions as expressed through the character of Gilgamesh in the beginning of the poem The EpicRead More Hobbit: From Childrens Story to Mythic Creation Essay2035 Words   |  9 PagesEngland (quoted in Rogers Rogers 1980: 30). In true mythopoetic tradition, The Hobbit borrows extensively from the ancient and medieval, only a few of which can be detailed in this essay. The Old English poem Beowulf inspired, among others, its chief villain, Smaug. In his other well-known lecture, entitled Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics, Tolkien rebuffed scholars critical of the central theme monsters occupy in the poem, and argues that they are essential [and] give it its lofty tone andRead More Symbols and Symbolism in John Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath2004 Words   |  9 PagesPerhaps the central device that powers The Grapes of Wrath is the contrast and conflict between a benevolent, passionate and altruistic life force and a destructive, selfish or, worse yet, uncaring negativism. Martin Shockley, in his critical essay entitled Christian Symbolism in The Grapes of Wrath, enumerates the Biblical references that pervade the novel, among them,   the Okies as a homeless and persecuted people...seeking their own Promised Land (the Israelites) (Shockley, page 139)