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| Helm from Sutton Hoo ship burial. |
Like Odysseus thousands of years before him, he's a bit hard to pin down.
In an era when fame and glory were every warrior's goal, Beowulf is either the most heroic of them all or the most pathetic of them all. Sometimes it's hard to tell.
Using textual evidence (line numbers) tell us which side of Beowulf's character (the honorable-fame-and-glory side or the look-at-me-I'm-totally-awesome side) strikes you as being the Real Beowulf.
Like Odysseus, Beowulf is often praised in the beginning of the poem. Hrothgar's watchman says "Nor have I seen a mightier man-at-arms on this earth than the one standing here: unless I am mistaken he is truly noble." (248-250) Even before that we learn that "There was no one else like him alive. In his day, he was the mightiest man on earth.." (195-196) When Beowulf left his homeland, "no elder denied him, dear as he was to them." (204) Through these quotes we learn that Beowulf is love by the oldest, and therefore possibly the wisest men of Geatland. Also he has a forboding presence, not only does he have a reputation as a mighty warrior that intimidates and impresses others, he is also impressive on first sight. Over and over again people infer just from his presence that he is noble. (250, 259, 370) So, Beowulf is not the only person who is impressed with himself. Others can't get enough of him either.
ReplyDeleteThe watchman sums up my feelings about Beowulf, "Anyone with gumption and a sharp mind will take the measure of two things: what's said and what's done." Although Beowulf's reputation is fantastic, we really need him to follow through in his actions. If he's going to be a true hero, he needs to stop drinking and storytelling and start coming up with a strategy.
If he succeeds than all of his boasts are backed up, his arrogance is warranted, because he would indeed be an awesome, great warrior. If he fails, not only will the king send his "breast-webbing" home (453), but he will also completely discredit all of Beowulf's boasts.
I remember reading “Beowulf” in high school, although that was quite some time ago! I do recall, however, that boasting played a significant role in the poem. When Beowulf begins his formal boast (643), he does seem a bit arrogant. He’s just arrived in a new place and is bragging about himself to his hosts. We must remember, though, that Beowulf has come to accomplish a task, which he succeeds in doing. In my opinion, the purpose of his boasting is twofold: in boasting, he not only gives himself confidence and reassurance, but he also eases the worries of Hrothgar and Wealhtheow.
ReplyDeleteWe must also remember that at this point in the book, Beowulf’s capabilities have recently been questioned by Unferth (499-528). As I was reading Unferth’s “contrary words” (401), I felt as though he was jealous of Beowulf and that he was simply looking to pick a fight with him. I found myself rooting for Beowulf and was exceedingly happy when Beowulf said, “Now I cannot recall any fight you entered, Unferth, that bears comparison” (582-584). I almost laughed out loud when I read those lines; I was glad to see Unferth put in his place. Haha, Unferth. Haha.
Overall, I’m of the mindset that the Real Beowulf is of the honorable-fame-and-glory type. Sure, he seems a bit full of himself, but at this point in the book, he’s risked his life to defeat a huge, dangerous monster for people he’s never met before. He seems like he’d be a good man to have on your side.
As I have only completed about a quarter of the book, my first impression of Beowulf is that of ample confidence which gives Beowulf much arrogance. Once Beowulf reaches Heorot, he first shows that he is very full of himself by stating, “all my people support my resolve, because they know of my awesome strength” (p.29, 416-418). This view of himself seemed like he assumes that all of his people view him as highly as he views himself. This is without a doubt proof that Beowulf holds himself in high regard regardless of what anybody else really feels. Then comes the interaction between Beowulf and Unferth, Unferth accuses Beowulf of his arrogance by referring to the competition between Beowulf and Breca. “Risking the water just to prove that you could win,” (p.35, 508) is a very common view of Beowulf having too much confidence. The fact the Beowulf risks his life just to prove to be the better warrior seems to take away from his skills and add to his self image.
ReplyDeleteHowever, Beowulf goes on to be very defensive towards Unferth by belittling him (p.37, 531-532), (p.39, 582-583). This is very important because that not everyone views him as great as he thinks he is. Then Beowulf goes on to analyze his fight against Grendel and all the possible outcomes (p.43, 638), (p.47, 677-678). This is very indifferent from what he has shown by accepting the possible defeat.
Overall, it seems so far that the real Beowulf views himself as “I am totally awesome and there is nobody better,” which could be contributed to his past triumphs and his need to increase his confidence for being in an unfamiliar place while fighting his best match yet. Although, the way he attacked Unferth just sets the tone that he is overly confident and thinks he is untouchable.
The first few lines where we are introduced the character of Beowulf; it highly resembles the first few chapters of the Odyssey. We first hear about Beowulf from his victories in battle and about what a skilled fighter he is. Also, his lineage seems to be very important and also parallels the Odyssey in that he is automatically granted trust because of his father (370-380). When Beowulf starts telling stories however is when his true character starts to emerge. The part where the two contradicting stories of the swimming contest (560-600) starts to show how highly Beowulf sees himself as this valiant hero, and even tells Unferth that “ he will suffer damnation in the depths of hell” for telling such a wrong story portraying Beowulf as being defeated. The speech he makes where he talks about all the people who have tried and failed to fight Grendel, he asserts that he will easily be able to succeed where everyone else before him have failed and even announced to fight without any weapons (680). Although his past “achievements” according to Beowulf have been great and numerous, he highly exaggerated his abilities, and was himself surprised at how challenging the fight with Grendel actually was despite all the evidence he had heard confirming that challenge. I think Beowulf has an overinflated ego which some of it was granted, but severely overestimated his abilities when he decided to embark on his battle with Grendel by himself and weaponless.
ReplyDeleteAs the story begins Beowulf is described as this extraordinary hero. Everyone who sees him seems to be overtaken by his almost godlike appearance. Even the watchmen upon first site of Beowulf says, "Nor have I seen a mightier man-at-arms on this earth than the one standing here: unless I am mistaken, he is truly noble." (pg. 19, 247-250). And so we as the readers are presented with this image of a perfect hero. It isn't until later when Unferth enters the story that we really see Beowulf's personality.
ReplyDeleteAs Unferth chastises Beowulf and calls him out on his loss to Breca, we see how self absorbed Beowulf is. "The truth is this: when the going was heavy in those high waves, I was the strongest swimmer of all" (pg. 37, 532-534). Beowulf, even when faced with the fact that he lost persists in defending that he really is the better, stronger, faster man. He goes on creating excuses of why he lost in pages 39 and 41. Telling how he as attacked by foul sea monsters while Breca was not. He sounds more like a sore loser here than a hero. A true great hero wouldn't have to promote his own deeds in such a way.
All in all Beowulf is a man with the idea "I am totally awesome and the best." His arrogance is portrayed in the way he talks about himself. He refuses to let any man be set above him. We will have to see as the story progresses if he can really live up to his self propelled hype, or if he really is an arrogant ass.
Like many heroes Beowulf believes that he is the best fighter for the job. He has killed nine sea monsters already (575) and believes he is match for Grendel (425). He says many more things about his strength but Beowulf does say many things that a reader would expect a hero to say. He talks about what happens if he fails the challenge of killing Grendel (440-455). This is something many heroes do not tell the people they are trying to save. They tell them how amazing they, so they believe and trust him. He also says that he will complete his task of killing the monster or he will die trying (632-638). Not many people are willing to die for a cause and the fact that he is willing to die shows his strength of character. He does not want to see many more people die by the hands of Grendel. He wants the violence to stop. He might be boasting when he arrives but it is almost like a job interview. Someone will not be saying horrible things about themselves in the interview; they will be saying how amazing they are. By saying these things Beowulf passes the interview and the people are willing to trust him. After he is done talking, the people in the hall become happier and start to relax (607-630). I believe Beowulf comes off cocky when in reality is just trying to help these people out.
ReplyDeleteI was actually very surprised at how similar Beowulf is to The Odyssey. They both are epic poems and begin with a narrator that feels very much like a storyteller. I am honestly conflicted as to which argument I am for. I believe that Beowulf is both. He is narcissistic and arrogant, but it is fueled by the view others have of him.
ReplyDeleteJust like The Odyssey, Beowulf begins with the narrator describing Beowulf without naming him. We are given a description of “Hygelac’s thane” (194), but not given this man’s name until pages after. He does turn out to be Beowulf, but the reader is told the information in a way that distances him/her from the text and allows him/her to judge the character without knowing who he really is in relationship to the story. Through these descriptions, I thought that Beowulf was very heroic. He is described by the narrator as completely original in passages like: “There was no one else like him alive. In his day, he was the mightiest man on earth, high-born and powerful” (196-198). The watchman, who encounters the troops on their way to Heorot, also reinforces this point, saying, “Nor have I seen a mightier man-at-arms on this earth” (247-248). With these images in mind, it was easy for me to believe this man to be honorable and respected, and in a sense he is.
I began to see a different side of Beowulf once he began to talk to the men in Heorot. He thinks very highly of himself and his abilities, which becomes very apparent to the readers through phrases like “I can calm the turmoil and terror” (282), “all knew of my awesome strength” (418), “I was the strongest swimmer of all” (534), and “such night-dangers and hard ordeals I have never heard of nor of a man more desolate in surging waves” (575-577). He states during these conversations that he does not mean to boast, but clearly he has a high unwavering view of himself, even when he is challenged.
However, his view of himself is shared. Many of the characters throughout the book talk of Beowulf’s greatness. Therefore, I can come to the conclusion that although Beowulf may think more highly of himself than he deserves, the respect and praise he receives from others, as well as his ability to perform gallant tasks, fuels his belief in himself and pride. Even Grendel, who is described in the novel as such a villain and follower of the Devil, is completely awestruck by Beowulf’s power. “The captain of evil discovered himself in a handgrip harder than anything he had ever encountered in any man on the face of the earth” (749-752).
The only person who even questions Beowulf’s integrity is Unferth. He strongly brings forth the opposite side of Beowulf many of the characters do not recognize. When questioning Beowulf about the swimming competition, he states, “It was sheer vanity [that] made you venture out” (509). Unferth can recognize Beowulf’s pride, and I am interested to see as I read further whether or not I will be able to make a clear distinction between the sides. As for now, I am stuck in the middle. I see a character that is self-centered, but according to the public, has all the right to be.
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ReplyDeleteAlisha Newton (I don't know why my picture isn't showing or my last name)
ReplyDeleteI agree with, as others have said, that Beowulf seems to be much like Odysseus in the sense that he is very much praised at the beginning of the book. We hear first about Beowulf from his victories in battle and about how much of a skilled fighter he is. His ancestors/lineage seem to be very important and like Odysseus, he is seemingly automatically granted trust because of it (370-380). For one, we are told "There was no one else like him alive. In his day, he was the mightiest man on earth...." (195-196). Also, Hrothgar’s watchman seems to think very highly of him when he says,” Nor have I seen a mightier man-at-arms on this earth than the one standing here: unless I am mistaken he is truly noble." (248-250). Also, we are told "There was no one else like him alive. In his day, he was the mightiest man on earth...." (195-196).Through theses quotes we are able to see that like, Odysseus, Beowulf is very beloved by many, if not all, and he is looked upon as a very great warrior. I agree with Annie when she says “Although Beowulf's reputation is fantastic, we really need him to follow through in his actions. If he's going to be a true hero, he needs to stop drinking and storytelling and start coming up with a strategy.” Here, she is talking about the watchman’s feelings towards Beowulf. This seems to sum it up perfectly.
Currently, I think I see Beowulf, as Crystal put it, as the look-at-me-I'm-totally-awesome type of person and that this is the ‘real’ Beowulf. It’s like what Annie said when she quoted the watchman, if Beowulf can back up all of his fantastic reputation with actions and if he succeeds and all of his boasts are backed up then I will see him as an awesome warrior that is a true hero. I remember reading this book in high school and I think that how I see Beowulf will not change but I cannot completely remember, so I could be wrong.
I believe that Beowulf is honorable and is worthy of praise in this story. I say that because although he was praised and perhaps conceited like Odysseus, he did whatever he could for the benefit of others.
ReplyDeleteOne example of this was when Beowulf received fine gifts from Hrothgrar, instead of keeping them all for himself he offered them to his beloved friend King Hygelac. He said to him, "I am happy to present to you as gifts. It is still upon your grace that all favor depends"(2149-2150). Although he recognized the good in himself, he also cared about the good of others which is exhibited through his generosity. Also, as a side note, Odysseus rarely gave gifts to anyone throughout the Odyssey, which makes Beowulf seem less self absorbed.
Another specific example was when Beowulf was speaking at a celebration at Heorot after being victorious in battle against Grendel and his mother, he said to the people " It was hard-fought, a desperate affair that could have gone badly; if God had not helped me, the outcome would have been quick and fatal. (1656-1657)" Here Beowulf specifically mentions God's help in his battle, and he mentions that he would have died without the help of God. This tells me that Beowulf, although a glorified and praised character was also humble. Overall, I was not annoyed by Beowulf like I was with Odysseus because I believe that Beowulf deserved the praise he received by proving time and time again his nobility and strength against enemies.
Lastly, I would like to conclude with the fact that Beowulf risked his life in battle against the dragon. Although he died, he gave treasurer to his men at the expense of his life. He will forever be renowned for his generosity and risking his life for the good of others. This seems like a very humble and noble thing to do.
I see many similarities between Beowulf and Odysseus mainly in their confidence. Both being war veterans and heroes in the past, they have many things to boast about. Beowulf immediately presents himself to Hrothgar and all of Hrothgar's people that he is the one who will vanquish the evil Grendel. When introducing himself, Beowulf even goes so far to say that he will not fight with swords nor weapons but "hand-to-hand is how it will be" (438-439). Although Beowulf may come off as cocky and arrogant, if you're going to go head to head with a monster that's been terrorizing and murdering people, don't we want our hero to possess a little self-confidence?
ReplyDeleteI think it's interesting and perhaps even a bit humorous to note the passage where Unferth calls out Beowulf in an attempt to make a blow at his ego. We don't know too much about Unferth at this point--only that he was "crouched at the king's feet" (499). That to me does not sound like a man of glory nor fame but merely a tag-along of the king. In refute, Beowulf immediately fired back saying, "Now I cannot recall any fight you entered, Unferth, that bears comparison (582-584)... The fact is, Unferth, if you were truly as keen or courageous as you claim to be Grendel would have never got away with such unchecked atrocity..." (590-593). It was somewhat satisfying to hear Beowulf put Unferth in his place, and if anything this little discord accredited Beowulf's confidence and determination to kill Grendel.
I have never read the book or even heard much about it so I had no idea what to expect when I began reading it. I find Beowulf to be incredibly cocky. In the beginning of chapter 6 he's boasting all about himself. He says he's going to kill Grendel with his bare hands since Grendle doesn't use weapons. Well if your ten times taller than everyone else then you don't need a weapon. He reminds me of high school boys bragging about themselves in the locker room. It makes me want to slam the book on the table a few hundred times.
ReplyDeleteI am having trouble determining how I feel about Beowulf. At times, is arrogance and boastfulness is almost overwhelming, but at other times, I feel that his actions are noble and heroic. Perhaps, Beowulf is both arrogant and heroic at the same time.
ReplyDeleteAt certain times, it seems like Beowulf just acts in order to prove that he is the best. For example, it seems that his adventure in the sea with Breca started out simply as a competition to prove who was better at swimming (529-543). In fact, Beowulf says that they each dared the other to "outdo each other" (536). In this instance, Beowulf was not doing anything heroic. He simply wanted to be boastful.
In contrast to my previous example, at times, it does appear that Beowulf acts out of the goodness of his heart to help others. For instance, it appeared that he wanted to destroy Grendel as a means to help people. In fact, he said, "I meant to perform to the uttermost what your people wanted or perish in the attempt, in the fiend's clutches" (634-636). In this instance, his intentions were noble and heroic.
Overall, I feel Beowulf is a noble character, who certainly likes playing the part of a hero. At times his boastfulness is off-putting, but his intentions are often honorable. Regardless, it appears many of the individuals in his company find it appropriate to regard him as heroic (384) and "worthy of respect" (369). I feel it is important to note that others' opinions of Beowulf may suggest that his arrogance is perhaps negated by his fame and heroism, at least in their eyes.
As many others have said, I too am having trouble figuring out the real personality of Beowulf. When he first appears in the story, he is portrayed as this incredible hero who has the "strength of thirty in the grip of each hand" (pg. 27). And when he introduces himself to Hrothgar he speaks very highly of himself, giving the audience the impression that he is wrapped up in his own fame & glory. He says, "So every elder and experienced councilman among my people supported my resolve to come here to you, King Hrothgar, because all knew of my awesome strength" (pg. 29). He then goes into details of the victories he has accrued over the years. This particular example screams self-absorption but then I'm brought back to the fact that he traveled to Heorot to save OTHERS from a deadly monster. He was not directly affected by Grendel yet he chooses to fight him for the sake of those living in Heorot.
ReplyDeleteThis brings up another question: Is he fighting because he truly cares for the people or because he wants to show off his mighty power? I think this question is still to be answered (as I have only read about a quarter of the book as of yet). We shall see how he acts upon defeating Grendel and then perhaps we will get a clearer image of who he really is and what lies behind his motives.
At this point, I admit that I really WANT to believe that Beowulf is a good-hearted man who is simply confident in his abilities. However, based upon his few comments, I'm not sure this is the case. I'm hoping that the rest of the book fulfills my wishes and shows him as a generous hero, rather than a self-centered, attention-seeking man.
When I began reading Beowulf, I was surprised to find myself thinking I was reading the Odyssey all over again. The constant reminders of Beowulf being a hero and a great warrior, makes it seem like he is just another fame seeking hero.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised to find that the narrator in this text was referring to Beowulf as “Hygelac” this name sounds more like a god name than just a general character. After reading further in the text I started to see why this name applied so well. Beowulf is a very arrogant person, in many scenes he is talking about how great he is. As in line 677 pg 47 “When it comes to fighting, I count myself as dangerous any day as Grendel. So it won’t be a cutting edge ill wield to mow him down easily as I might.” He is very confident in his fighting, in my mind I feel like he sees himself as invincible. Another line that drew my attention was on pg 35 line 506 when Unferth asks Beowulf this “ Are you the Beowulf who took on Breca in a swimming match on the open sea, risking the water just to prove that you could win?” This clearly defines what Beowulf is really about, being the best and having everyone know he is the best. I do not see my opinion of Beowulf changing later on in the book, but I have never read this book before so maybe he will prove me wrong and actually be a good hearted hero!
From what I have read of Beowulf so far, I am having a very hard time determining his true personality. He has certainly shown that he believes himself to be the best, which suggests that he might be arrogant, but his accomplishments have always backed up his boasting, which suggests that he deserves all of the fame and honor given to him. Pride certainly seems to be one of his defining characteristics, but his bravery and prowess in battle make me think that it is not just "plain ol' pride."
ReplyDeleteI think that the biggest reason why I can't figure out his character is that it seems to me that there isn't a whole lot going on in this story below the surface. We know that Hrothgar is a good, rich, generous king, and he is called "our noble king, our dear lord, friend of the Danes, the giver of rings" (lines 351-353). We know that Beowulf is a brave, powerful, successful warrior who is very confident in his own abilities. He says of himself, "When I was younger, I had great triumphs" (lines 408-409). This seems more like a simple statement of fact than an arrogant boast.
Not only are the depictions of the characters very one-dimensional, but the plot is as well. The plot up to about two thirds of the way through the book can be summarized as: the kingdom is in trouble, Beowulf kills a monster, Hrothgar gives him gifts, the kingdom is in trouble again, Beowulf kills a monster again, Hrothgar gives him more gifts. All of this simplicity makes me think that Beowulf's character is meant to be taken at face value. He is depicted as a very heroic and well-respected warrior, and the fact that he knows the extent of his power and talks about it shouldn't really come as a surprise in my opinion. I do not think that it makes him truly arrogant, it just further enhances his heroism and gives the common people a model of strength and confidence to look up to.
Beowulf certainly has the strut and style of a man who is very full of himself. Throughout the first several hundred lines Beowulf comes off as a very confident but not necessarily cocky warrior. It is on line 530 that Beowulf begins to show his cocky mannerisms. He describes his ordeal with the sea monsters and he seems to embellish the story a little bit. "Shoulder to shoulder we struggled on until the long flow, and the pitch of waves... drove us apart." (544) His arrogance just go up from that point on he takes off his mail before he goes to bed and proclaims to his attendant that "When it comes to fighting I count myself as dangerous as any Grendel. So it won't be a cutting edge I'll weild to mow him down easily as I might. He has no idea the arts of war." (679)
ReplyDeleteIn Beowulf's defense valor and honor were very important in his society but I wonder does he really have to be so annoyingly cocky? He knows of the many men that Grendel has killed yet he refuses to fight him with his armor on. In the end Beowulf wins out but that does not mean that he was not arrogant and pompous.
Beowulf might seem a bit arrogant, but it is in a deserving way. His boasts about his accomplishments like his swimming contest, where he had to kill many sea beasts to survive (559), are all backed by action. With his defeat of Grendel he shows that he is truly a hero among men. I do not view Beowulf as arrogant, I see him as confident. In every battle he enters he fully recognizes the possibility of death. For example when he faces Grendel he says, "And i shall fulfill that purpose, prove myself with a proud deed or meet my death here in the mead-hall." (636). Another example is right before he confronts Grendel's mother. He makes plans for his death and acknowledges its possibility (1480). An arrogant person would just assume he was going to win and not worry about death. But by recognizing his mortality he shows that he doesn't think that victory is assured, but he is confident that he can deliver. It is a greater sense of purpose that drives him. He wants what all men wanted at this time, fame and honor. He is just much more capable then most.
ReplyDeleteBeowulf is indeed as hard to characterize in a single category as Odysseus. I do not believe Beowulf belongs in one category; I believe he is complex and falls into both. In the beginning of Beowulf, there is evidence that he is a “heroic” character. He is referred to as “a man whose name was known for courage” (340), a “deliverer to ease their afflictions” (627-628), a “ hero” (399), and he is “with the strength of thirty in the grip of each hand” (380-381). He is not all talk though, because “the captain of evil discovered himself in a handgrip harder than anything he had ever encountered in any man on the face of the earth…” (749-756). This proves that he may very well live up to his heroic character.
ReplyDeleteBeowulf may be heroic but there is no doubt that he boasts about how awesome he is. He actually states this: “Every elder and experienced councilman among my people supported my resolve to come here to you, because all knew of my awesome strength” (415-418). Beowulf has no problem telling of how he “suffered extremes and avenged the Geats (their enemies brought it upon themselves; I devastated them)” (422-424). He is definitely about himself, always adding up his wins. He believes he is a match for Grendel--“I count myself as dangerous any day as Grendel” (677-678), and he wants to fight Grendel alone, with neither others nor weapons. This is proof that he is trying to prove himself worthy of honor and glory, and that he does not just care about fighting to end turmoil.
I think what makes his character hard to pin is that in between the heroic side and the boastful side, there is a famous side to Beowulf. He KNOWS he is known as “the mightiest man on earth, highborn and powerful” (197-8) and that “there was no one else like him alive” (196), so why wouldn’t he boast? -Especially if he is insulted as Unferth did, saying “it was sheer vanity made you venture out on the main deep” (508-510).
The line that best suits Beowulf, at this point, is that he is “A daunting man, dangerous in action and eager for it always” (629-630). Even when Unferth brought up Beowulf’s loss to Becca, Beowulf replied, “Such night dangers I have never heard of nor of a man more desolate in surging waters…Now I cannot recall any fight you entered, Unferth, that bears comparison” (575-577). Beowulf knows that no other man compares to him, and he wants it kept that way. Yes, he is courageous, he is a hero; however, at the same time, he knows how many wins he has had, and he also yearns for more to continue proving himself.
I think that Beowulf is a lot like Odysseus. Both of them are great warriors and very proud. Although I havent read the whole book yet so far I think that Beowulf is a good man who is aware of his talents. In the beginning of the book Beowulf was said to be " the mightiest man on earth, high-born and powerful." (lines 197-198) Many people think very highly of Beowulf and he has won many battles in his time. Beowulf is risking his own life to help Hrothgar and his people. (lines 277-280) "I come to proffer my wholehearted help and counsel. I can show the wise Hrothgar a way to defeat his enemy and find respite." Beowulf does like to boast a little especially when talking about his successes in battle. (lines 419-424) They had seen me boltered in the blood of enemies when I battled and bound five beasts, raided a troll-nest and in the night-sea slaughtered sea-brutes. I have suffered extremes and avenged the Geats..."
ReplyDeleteBeowulf can sometimes come across as self centered and very proud. But his goodhearted nature makes him a good man. He is strong and godlike just like Odysseus in the Odyseey.
Just like many others in the class, I too am having difficulty deciding how I feel about the personality of Beowulf. He must be admired in the fact that he is so willing to risk his life in order to help another society. The text does not go into details about his motivations for doing so. It simply states that, "When he [Beowulf] heard about Grendel...He ordered a boat that would ply the waves. He announced his plan: to sail the swan's road and search out that king...who needed defenders" (194-201). This passage makes him seem quite heroic. There is no mention of personal motivation or gain, it seems as if he simply sees a problem and wants to fix it for the good of others.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, when the coast guard stops them to ask Beowulf and his crew what their business is for travelling to Danish country. This seems like a perfect opportunity for one such as Odysseus to boast about his accomplishments, yet Beowulf seems somewhat modest. He says, "We come in good faith to your lord...I come to proffer my wholehearted help and counsel. I can show...a way to defeat his enemy and find respite- if any respite is to reach him ever" (267-281). Here, Beowulf even seems to admit that he is not completely confident he can offer relief to the Danes, but he will certainly try his hardest. I think this speech illustrates respect and I admire him for his willingness to attempt to spare human suffering.
As I keep reading, I am sure I am bound to see more arrogance from this character, but for now, I'd say I'm on Team Beowulf.
Scott Evenson
ReplyDeleteWhen we are first introduced to Beowulf he has much to say about himself. When he retold the story of swimming against Breca I thought he was possibly holding himself up a little too high. “However as it occurred, my sword had killed nine sea-monsters. Such night-dangers and hard ordeals I have never heard of nor of a man more desolate in surging waves,” (pg 39, 575). His strength is being played out to the max. There is no doubt he thinks highly of himself but as of this point we don’t really know what he is capable of.
I think after the encounter with Grendel in Heorot that Beowulf really is what he says about himself. The line, “He was overwhelmed, manacled tight by the man who of all men was foremost and strongest in the days of this life,” (pg. 53, 788). This is the monster that has been coming into this hall for twelve years and not having to worry about a fight granted many of the warriors he ate might have been sleeping. For Grendel to be frightened says something about the strength of Beowulf. Then on pg. 57 Beowulf holds up, “the whole of Grendel’s arm and shoulder.” If he can pull an arm off then maybe his other tales of ridiculous endurance or strength have a ring of truth.
Beowulf is a more honorable-fame-and-glory guy. He would like to be remembered in the future and not just for the moment and he gets recognition from Hrothgar after defeating Grendel. “But you have made yourself immortal by your glorious actions,” (pg. 63, 954). Instead of being cocky and pompous on page 65 he admits that he would have liked to have killed Grendel in the hall but his “lock on him wasn’t strong enough.” I wouldn’t say that Beowulf is cocky like Odysseus was. Both can back up their words with actions but Beowulf has a more confident air about him rather than a full of himself air.
I believe Beowulf is more of a honorable fame and glory guy. Even though he can be pretty cocky and boasts about his accomplishments sometimes, what guy wouldn't be if he had all this strength and done the most ridiculous things? Most of the times when he is telling others about his accomplishments it isn't for the purpose of showing off, "because all knew of my awesome strength. They had seen me boltered in the blood of enemies when I battled and bound five beasts, raided a troll-nest and in the night-sea slaughtered sea-brutes. I have suffered extremes and avenged the Geats[...]" (418-423). When Beowulf is saying this he is merely establishing his credibility in the area of monster killing and to show King Hrothgar that he is fully capable of killing Grendel.
ReplyDeleteAnother time when it seems like Beowulf is boasting but has other implications is when Unferth upsets him, "I don't boast when I say that neither you nor Breca were ever much celebrated for swordsmanship or for facing danger on the field of battle. You killed your own kith and kin, so for all your cleverness and quick tongue, you will suffer damnation in the depths of hell"(583-589). Beowulf is not being cocky or mean but is just pointing out facts and defending his pride and ego when it is being wrongfully challenged.
Beowulf is someone who wants to be remembered in history and wants to make his name known. He is searching for fame and glory and does so by lending his help in killing monsters. He is brave and heroic because he is helping other people and willing to risk his own life to help others. He also fights honorably by not giving himself any sort of advantage when fighting, "He has no idea of the arts of war, of shield or sword-play, although he does possess a wild strength. No weapons, therefore, for either this night: unarmed he shall face me if face me he dares" (681-685). Even when fighting a monster he feels the need to fight fairly and honorably and to prove his strength and skills as a warrior.
A good ending quote which displays what sort of person Beowulf is states, "Thus Beowulf bore himself with valour; he was formidable in battle yet behaved with honour and took no advantage; never cut down a comrade who was drunk, kept his temper and, warrior that he was, watched and controlled his God-sent strength and his outstanding natural powers" (2177-2183).
So far, I am slightly torn as to how exactly I feel about Beowulf. He definitely has an ego problem, but he is also doing something to help out others. His ego and boast ful nature was the first thing that stood out to me initially in this story. In explaining his reasons for coming to see King Hrothgar, he says, “because all knew of my awesome strength” (line 418). It is one thing to have things like this said about you which he also has, but the fact that he describes himself in this way made me think of him as an egotistical jerk initially.
ReplyDeleteI am still not completely convinced otherwise, but there have been instances that have lead me to believe that his ego is not the only part of him. The first event that began to change my perceptions of him took place as he was talking about his purpose. I fully expected him to think that this would be an easy battle and that there was no chance for him to even get hurt, let alone die. However, he is a lot more realistic in speaking of the battle, and surprised me with his dedication even to his death. He states, “And I shall fulfill that purpose, prove myself with a proud deed or meet my death here in mead-hall” (lines 636-639). Although there is still a trace of his boastful nature, in saying that he will prove himself, this is a much more realistic view of the event than I originally expected from him.
My overall feeling, thus far in the story, is that it could go either way depending on how the battle turns out as well as his actions following the battle. The reason I am still so torn between his heroism and boastfulness is that every time I am slightly swayed in one direction, I am then reminded of the other side of his personality. As I begin to believe he is ful of honor, he makes a comment such as, “I count myself as dangerous any day as Grendel” (lines 677-678) which sends me right back into my state of confusion. For me, I think I am just going to have to wait for the whole story before I am really able to get a firm grip on what type of guy Beowulf is.
I think that Beowulf is a complex character because of the time in which he existed. I think that we see many aspects of him being cocky as well as being the hero that the people in his time wanted him to be. I think the mixture of the two is hard for people in our world to wrap our minds around this type of behavior. It is not normal now to go out and fight and kill things all of the time. In our world it is only normal or “okay” if you are in war—even then it is a very personal and quiet thing. However, he does seem to boast at times on his accomplishments. He states, “’Time and again, foul things attacked me, lurking and stalking, but I lashed out, gave as good as I got with my sword. My flesh was not for feasting on, there would be no monsters gnawing and gloating over their banquet at the bottom of the sea,” (559-564). In this quote we get a sense of him bragging about his accomplishments. However, I honestly think that in his time this would be completely normal. I think that he is just a hero that is aware of his accomplishments. If I did all of the things he did, it would be hard not to tell people especially in this type of world. In this type of world doing these is considered great. So I think that it is a mixture of both.
ReplyDeleteI don't like Beowolf. He introduces himself with: "I am Hygelac's kinsman, one of his hall-troop. When I was younger, I had great triumphs...I have suffered extremes and avenged the Geats (their enemies brought it upon themselves, I devastated them). Now I mean to be a match for Grendel" (408-426). He has no problem in talking himself up. Sure, he did end up defeating Grendel, but he went about talking about it like an arrogan pig. He probably only did it so he could brag because he hasn't been able to brag since he was "younger." He did that swimming challenge for bragging rights. Such a middle school boy. He seems to me, so far, to be like one of those guys who is hung up on his glory days in high school football and still can't get over how awesome he was then... Except he killed nine monsters this one time, which makes him better.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree with most of the other posts, Beowulf does have a bit of an ego problem, I really feel that it's not as annoying and boastful as it was with Odysseus, mostly because Beowulf has done some really impressive things, and deserves all the glory he has gotten. "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. The deep sea boiled up and its wallowing sent the sea-brutes wild" (544-549). He was in a swimming contest with a friend, and it lasted 5 days, in the waves, the cold, and the wind, and then he has the strength to kill 9 sea-monsters! "However it occurred, my sword had killed nine sea-monsters. such night-dangers and hard ordeals I have never heard of nor of a man more desolate in surging waves. But worn out as I was, I survived, came through with my life" (574-579). If he can't boast a little about all his achievements, then nobody can.
ReplyDeleteOdysseus never really looked for fights, other than when he left for Troy, and all his battles and situations he gets into are not by choice, he didn't go out looking to blind the cyclops, or have to fight Scylla, these things happened to him by chance. Beowulf on the other hand is always ready for a fight. He doesn't just wait for things to happen to him, he looks for ways to prove himself and earn glory, even in his old age. "This fight is not yours, nor is it up to any man except me to measure his strength against the monster or to prove his worth. I shall win the gold by my courage, or else mortal combat, doom of battle, will bear your lord away" (2532-2537).
Beowulf is, of course, a lot like Odysseus. Both characters have honor and haughtiness. Although there is a fine line between the two traits, I think that Beowulf's true personality is that he is honorable and a hero, and not full of arrogance and pride.
ReplyDeleteHe obviously has done a great many deeds at such a young age already, at the start of the story(409). He has swam out at ocean for five days and killed nine sea beasts(575). It is said that he has the strength of thirty men in each arm (380-381). He is a man that the gods favor, and none can best him. As many have said, he is very noble(370). It makes sense for him to be confident, because he is a leader. A leader cannot be timid. Beowulf comes from a different land to help Hrothgar, simply because he had heard of Hrothgar's troubles. He went to help a land and risk his life instead of staying at his home, living in luxury and feasting. This is something a man of honor would do.
Am I allowed to say both? I think, in Beowulf's case, the two are one and the same. I think that he is after fame and glory, not for the greater good of his people, but for all the back pats. He seems to be going into these battles in nothing more than a totally egotistical, self-righteous way.
ReplyDeleteWe know that being recognised and respected for his actions is very important to Beowulf, as he says around line 1385, "Let whoever can win glory before death. When a warrior is gone that will be his best and only bulwark." However, it seems that, more than being a warrior to protect the general population, his priority is making himself look good.
An example is around line 1490, when Unferth has given Beowulf his sword to use in battle. Beowulf says, "With Hrunting, I shall gain glory or die." That is to say that he will become famous for surviving his fight against Grendel's mother, or he will die trying. He doesn't say, "I will do everything I can to kill her so everyone here is safe, and if it kills me then so be it." This suggests that he is not, in fact, being altruistic and fighting for the greater good, but for his own notoriety. Again, at line 1530, we read, "[Beowulf] kept thinking about his name and fame: he never lost heart." This reaffirms for us that he is only helping people in order for himself to become famous and revered.
Beowulf is definitely a multi-faceted character. He has the ability to be good, but also we see that he is a warrior, which could allow for monster like qualities much like Odysseus.,"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. The deep sea boiled up and its wallowing sent the sea-brutes wild" (544-549). This passage is where he is in a contest with his friend. They are out in the water for 5 day, which is crazy and would take a super human to complete. Also in this passage then he kills 9 sea monsters. This makes me believe that Beowulf is not human and also by him killing the sea monsters is there not a god like Poseidon that will reign upon his journey.
ReplyDeleteThis passage makes me believe that he is just trying to show off. You do not need to swim against someone for five days to prove you are faster or have more endurance. Also by killing the sea monsters after the race he is just like hey that was nothing look what I can do. As I like Beowulf, I believe that he is a bit of a show off.
The "real" Beowulf is hard to determine. He is definitely a great warrior, which in his time was a large measure of success, but sometimes he lets his arrogance get the best of him and he says something stupid. Like on line 415 when he says " So every elder and experienced councilman among my people supported my resolve to come here to you, King Hrothgar, because all knew of my awesome strength." He really enjoys telling everyone how great he is. However when Beowulf is confronted by the Danish coast guard he responded in a way that showed maturity and intelligence. Page 17, line 234 "So he rode to the shore, this horseman of Hrothgar's, and challenged them in formal term, flourishing his spear:" My initial thought was that Beowulf would be offended and might attack the guard, but instead he responds as a leader instead of a child; "The leader of the troop unlocked his word-hoard; the distinguished on delivered this answer: 'We belong by birth to the Geat people and owe allegiance to Lord Hygleac. ... We have arrived here on a great errand to the lord of the Danes, and I believe therefore there should be nothing hidden or withheld between us... I come to proffer my wholehearted help and counsel.'" Page 20, line 258. Beowulf uses his "word-hoard" or his entire vocabulary to deliver a response that is respectful and almost cunning instead of boastful and challenging. The maturity he displays shows depth in his character. He is a great, skillful warrior, who can be arrogant and boastful, yet he is wise enough to recognize the appropriate behavior in a formal situation.
ReplyDeleteWhen we are first introduced to Beowulf we immediately get a sense of his arrogance and assertiveness. Even those around him describe him as, "the mightiest man on earth, high-born and powerful"(197-198). It is said that there is no other man like Beowulf alive. His prestigious reputation leads me to believe that some some of his arrogance is warranted however, we have no real evidence of this yet. When Beowulf arrives at Heorot and announces his plan to the king of Danes, his true character begins to reveal itself.
ReplyDeleteImmediately after Beowulf enters the great hall of Hrothgar he begins to discuss the great triumphs throughout his own life. He goes on to give an account of his heroic exploits and declares that, "every elder and experienced councilman among my people supported my resolve to come here to you, King Hrothgar, because all knew of my awesome strength"(415-418). Beowulf finally announces his plan to fight and kill Grendel, relieving the Danes from their huge distress. He is so confident in his god-like power that he even brags about his decision to fight Grendel without a sword because it would be to easy for him. No other man, even with a weapon, has been able to kill Grendel. This statement confirmed my belief that Beowulf's true character is that of "look-at-me-I'm-totally-awesome."
In an era when fame and glory were the goal of every warrior, Beowulf is probably the most arrogant and famous warrior of them all. While some of his assertiveness is justified, Beowulf appears to be extremely cocky and in it for the fame and glory, not the honor. I'm intrigued to learn more about Beowulf and see if my opinion of him changes.
In the modern day world, there are people that are routinely in the media who are classed as being famous simply for being famous.
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