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beowulf Essay Examples

1216 total results

Heroism Lies Within One’s Self as Portrayed in the Play “Beowulf” (699 words, 1 pages)

Heroism Lies Within One's SelfHeroes have played a part in society for a long time. They started long ago and sometimes people actually overlook that. Beowulf, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and The Faerie Queene all show aspects of heroism. The characters approached their heroism with different tactics but ... Read More

An Analysis of the Hero in the Play “Beowulf” (618 words, 3 pages)

Websters dictionary defines a hero as one greatly regarded for his achievements orqualities. This is only a rough definition, and applies only somewhat to Beowulf. A hero isusually the main character he is, according to Mr. Renn, a man who fights for the rightreasons, usually confident and possessed of superhuman ... Read More

The Relations Between John Gadner’s Book “Grendel” and the Poem “Beowulf” (1044 words, 2 pages)

During the c.750s the world was not at all like it is today. The land was rugged and wild, and the people were just as untamed as the world they lived in. The kingdoms and people, such as the ones portrayed in poems and stories like Beowulf and Grendel, led ... Read More

An Analysis of the Character of Grendel in Beowulf (244 words, 1 pages)

From the poem Beowulf i cant tell if the character Grendel is truly evil. I know that he is not good because he kills people yet this does not let me know that his soul is evil.In the poem Beowulf they state that Grendel is the son of Cain. They ... Read More

A Review of the Character in the Anglo-Saxon Epic “Beowulf” (824 words, 3 pages)

The Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf is the most important work of Old English literature. The epic tells the story of a hero, a prince named Beowulf, who helps rid the Danes of the monster Grendel and tells of his heroic acts fighting Grendel's mother and a Dragon. Throughout the epic, the ... Read More

A Literary Analysis of Beowulf and His Great Qualities (216 words, 1 pages)

Beowulf and His Great QualitiesThe story of Beowulf describes a man who has many great qualities. He is known as a true hero, having risked his own life to save those in danger. He has superior physical strength and is highly moral. However, at times, he is a bit foolish.Beowulf ... Read More

Brief Review About Beowulf (605 words, 1 pages)

In the beginning of the book, Beowulf goes to help the Danes out by killing Grendel. Grendel is a ferocious monster that has been killing the Danes in the mead hall. During this time period, warriors will celebrate their victories and tell of their accomplishments by singing. This social gathering ... Read More

Emotions Shown in the Legend of Beowulf (417 words, 1 pages)

"Beowulf"Beowulf had a lot of anger in his battles. He used the rush of energy to conquer his most horrid opponents. I will show a few things in these paragraphs. Beowulf's anger helped in his battles, hurt him in his battles, and fueled him to fight the battles. His anger ... Read More

An Analysis of Wiglaf Character in Beowulf (215 words, 2 pages)

Beowulf character analysisOf all the characters in the poem Beowulf, only one appeared to be completely "good." This character, Wiglaf, possessed such traits as courage, strength, and honor, while also being loyal and bold. He appeared to be a person who was true in his actions and his words.When Beowulf ... Read More

A Comparison of Great Heroes Between Beowulf and King Arthur (1004 words, 2 pages)

The Great Ones Reveled Numerous stories about numerous heroes have been told and then retold. All of these heroes do different things and all of them have a different set of qualities which make them heroes. Due to the fact that there are only so many heroic adventures and qualities, ... Read More

Conflict Between Good and Evil in Beowulf (373 words, 1 pages)

Beowulf Writing AssignmentThrough the use of the conflict between good and evil throughout Beowulf, it was shown that two opposites could not peacefully coexist. Beowulf, with fourteen of his finest men, crossed the sea to help Hrothgar. Upon hearing of the Danes horror, the hero decided to come to their ... Read More

Differences and Similarities of Beowulf, Alien and Aliens (1152 words, 2 pages)

A Comparison of Beowulf, Alien, and Aliens Differences and Similarities.It would never occur to one to compare the great medieval tale Beowulf with the Common Era horror films Alien and Aliens, but in doing so you uncover some very striking similarities. Beowulf is the story of a Geat who upon ... Read More

A Description of Beowulf Steeped in a Pagan Tradition (569 words, 1 pages)

Beowulf is steeped in a pagan tradition that depicts nature as hostile and forces of death as uncontrollable. Blind fate picks random victims man is never reconciled with the world. Beowulf ends a failure. There is some truth in this conclusion, but for the most part, someone who didnt have ... Read More

Anglo-Saxon Beliefs Portrayed in Beowulf’s Story (787 words, 3 pages)

Beowulf is a terrific example of a story that portrays the beliefs the Anglo-Saxon people. Their entire culture was based on heroism and loyalty. They encouraged heroic action in the face of doom and generously rewarded bravery. These charcteristics instilled a sense of courage and loyalty in many individuals. They ... Read More

Character Analysis of Wiglaf in the Poem Beowulf (580 words, 1 pages)

In the poem Beowulf there are many characters that play important roles. There are many characters that help Beowulf through his troubles and battles. One of the most loyal and crucial of these characters is Wiglaf.Beowulf returned to his kingdom to become king after he helped Hrothgar defeat Grendel. He ... Read More

Metaphors and Exaggeration Used in the Epic Poem Beowulf (258 words, 2 pages)

The epic poem Beowulf, written in Old English by Christianmonks around 750 AD, is a wonderful adventure story about a warrior whokills ferocious monsters. The use of description and imagery enlivensthe story, making it possible for a reader to really see in his or hermind the characters and events. Metaphors ... Read More

Character Analysis of Grendel: The Legend of Beowulf (870 words, 1 pages)

GrendelBeowulf has been a very good and controversial piece of literature since it was first written back in the 14th century. John Gardner, an American author was born in Batavia, New York. Gardner was novelist, epic poet, and a scholar. He was born on July 21, 1933. There he attended ... Read More

Beowulf – One of the Most Renown Heroic Epic During Angolo-Saxon Period (3843 words, 4 pages)

Beowulf - the AngloSaxon Epic Poem History can be found through stories, books, poems and other literary works. Examples of the lifestyles, society, aesthetics, philosophical values, politics and economics can be found and are shown in all works and writings. Authors of all times reveal the attitudes around them every ... Read More

Qualities of the Fearless Beowulf (1274 words, 2 pages)

D.J. HudsonThe Fearless BeowulfFear is a painful emotion excited by the expectation of evil. In Beowulf, translated by Charles W. Kennedy, fear is not an option, or emotion, nor does it even exist for the hero. The hero, Beowulf, is also given strength equivalent to thirty men. These things are ... Read More

An Analysis on Beowulf’s Projection as a Villain (1023 words, 2 pages)

Beowulf as The Bad GuyBeowulf is portrayed as the hero of the epic poem Beowulf (c1200), although he is in reality the villain. Throughout the poem the poet, who is unknown, believes Beowulf to be a hero because of his strength and loyalty to his people. However, his pursuit for ... Read More

Finding Christianity in the Character of Beowulf (373 words, 1 pages)

During the early middle age the civilizations in Briton did not have a religion. They were between pagan and Christianity. In the epic Beowulf the culture is predominately Christian.One aspect of Christianity is shown when they state words pertaining to the Christian religion. He spawned in that slime, conceived by ... Read More

A Comparison in Similarities in Ideals of Beowulf and Oedipus the King (582 words, 1 pages)

Beowulf and Oedipus the King Two Different HeroesIn both of these epics, Beowulf and Oedipus are seen as heroes and as saviors of the cities. Oedipus saves the city by solving the riddle of the sphinx, and Beowulf save the city by slaying Grendel and his mother. They both do ... Read More

An Analysis of Beowulf as a Representation of Art in the Society and Community (280 words, 1 pages)

Art always manifests itself into life. The philosophy of art states that life is always portrayed in art but very vaguely, you have to see beyond its word and visions. Other than teaching a moral or serving an underlying theme, art always represents life and its surrounding. There are hidden ... Read More

The Ideal Anglo-Saxon Hero Personified by Beowulf (415 words, 1 pages)

Anglo Saxon HeroismBeowulf was an epic poem and an excellent portrayal of the perfect Anglo-Saxon hero. my lord Higlac might think less of me if I let me sword wander where my feet are afraid to(180). This line from Beowulf exemplifies the Anglo-Saxon ideal of bravery in heroism. Not only ... Read More

The Themes of Good Versus Evil Sets the Story of Beowulf (1065 words, 2 pages)

Beowulf begins with a history of the Danish kings, starting with Shild and leading up to the reign of king Hrothgar, Shilds great-grandson. Hrothgar is well loved by his people and is successful in war. He builds a lavish hall ,called Herot, to house his vast army, and when the ... Read More

The Justification for the Abandonment and Solitude of Beowulf (1175 words, 4 pages)

Justification for the Abandonment and Solitude of Beowulf Beowulf is the classic tale of a mighty and heroic Geat leader who comes to anunpleasant and seemingly early end. Throughout his life, Beowulf had been an excellentleader and had led his army to many victories over many foes, of his land ... Read More

The Qualities That Makes Beowulf a Hero (935 words, 2 pages)

Within the first piece of written literature known to man during the early Middle Ages comes a character which exemplifies the characteristics of a hero. A hero possesses certain qualities which include the desire to help others, bravery, courtesy, courage, superhuman feats, and the ability to boast about his accomplishments. ... Read More

An Introduction and an Analysis of the Monster Grendel in Beowulf (1068 words, 2 pages)

A Summary of Beowulf (823 words, 2 pages)

BeowulfPeople have been telling stories for centuries. During Anglo Saxon periods, since very few people could read or write, oral tradition was the only way people remembered, and told of dangerous stories. Transcriptions written were those done by many order of monks among those the Benedictine monk. Men in this ... Read More

An Analysis of Pride in Beowulf the Great English Poem (790 words, 2 pages)

Beowulf, one of the longest poems ever written in the English language is a great epic that allows us as readers to learn many different aspects on life. Although we may not all gather the same information from the poem, it is apparent that everyone will at least learn one ... Read More

Published: Friday 25th of January 2013

Tips for Writing Your Beowulf Essay

Who doesn’t love watching a great monster movie? There’s nothing more exciting than watching the climatic and gruesome battle between the story’s hero and the evil enemy. The majority of all the Hollywood blockbusters in theaters today are based on this good vs. evil dynamic. But this isn’t something new. There have been stories written in this genre for thousands of years, and one of the most famous of those is Beowulf. There is a chance that sometime during your educational journey you will be assigned to read and write an essay on this topic. If you're used to experiencing the battles on screen, then reading an epic poem translated from Old English may require some patience. Once you’ve mustered up enough enthusiasm to actually sit down and read the epic poem, you’ll be glad you did. Beowulf is actually a very interesting and fun story. It may not pack the same punch an action movie has, but you will enjoy it. If you've read the story but still have a hard time writing an essay about it, no need to worry. We will go over some tips and examples that will make writing your paper easier. Now let's get started!

Ideas to Help You Get Started

Anytime you want to earn a passing grade for literary analysis, you will need a plan. This may sound like common sense, but you’d be surprised how many students start an essay with no focus or clear thesis in mind and just wing it. This very rarely works, and you'll end up spending extra time rewriting it. To help you get focused on your paper, we've come up with a few fresh ideas:

1. Analyze Beowulf as an Epic Poem

An epic poem is a long poem in which the hero of the story goes on a great adventure or journey and usually battles other forces including nature, man or beast. In the story of Beowulf, the hero battles a supernatural monster. Your Beowulf essay can be about the key components in the story that makes it an epic poem:

A lengthy story told in the form of a poem. Anybody that has read Beowulf can agree that at over 3,000 alliterative lines, it is definitely not a short poem.
The Hero. The majority of epic poems feature a hero that has performed heroic deeds during an adventure or event that is significant to a nation or culture. Beowulf battles and beats the monster Grendel, who has been attacking the king of the Danes.
The nemesis. Epic poems also feature an antagonist that the hero must battle. In Beowulf, the antagonist is Grendel and then Grendel’s mother, both of which are supernatural beings seen as a monster.
Compare to other well-known epic poems. One of the best ways to show why Beowulf should be considered an epic poem is by comparing and contrasting the story to other famous epic poems like Homer’s Odyssey or Virgil’s Aeneid. How are they alike? How are they different? What components do they share that makes them epic poems?

2. Compare Beowulf to other Interpretations

Beowulf is often considered as one of the most important surviving works of Old English literature. It is no surprise that there have been many different interpretations done in several different styles, including graphic novels, films, video games, and plays. If you are planning to write a compare and contrast paper about Beowulf, then you will need to use at least two different interpretations. If the length and depth of your essay are longer or deeper than normal, you may even have to use more interpretations. To make writing a compare and contrast paper, you should first establish a few key points that you can compare to the different formats. Here are a few that might help you out:

How are the main characters of Beowulf and Grendel portrayed in the movie or graphic novel compared to the original poem? How are they alike and how are they different?
What differences in the storylines can be seen in the other interpretations? Why do you think these changes were made and how does it affect the overall story?
What visual interpretations were used for the characters or scenes? How do they add to the story?

3. Why Point of View is Important

The point of view a story is told from can make a big difference on how it is perceived. Beowulf is a poem that is narrated from a third person standpoint. Although you are told how the characters are feeling and what they are thinking, you are still reading it from an objective viewpoint. What if the story was told from a different point of view? Would the story be the same if it were told from Grendel’s perspective or Beowulf’s perspective? How would the story change and what information would be left out if the point of view were changed? These are interesting factors that you can examine and maybe even help you see the story in a different light. You can also write about how important the point of view is for the story-telling and how it can totally change the reader's perception of the characters.

4. Theme

The theme is the recurring idea that pervades a piece of literature or work of art. Most great stories usually feature a number of themes. Beowulf also contains several different themes and trying to write on all of them can lead to a messy essay. The best thing to do if you decide to write about a theme is to choose one that really sticks out for you and dissect it. When writing a literary analysis, it's important that you provide enough evidence to back up your position. You can add specific examples, dialogue, and scenes that support the thesis of your essay. If you're having a problem deciding on which theme to write about, here are some choices:

Loyalty: The story's hero, Beowulf, often puts his life at risk for the king, country and his men. His men also risk their lives fighting for the hero. Later, Beowulf is rewarded for his loyalty by being named king, which shows loyalty from the people he saved.
Good vs. Bad: This is a theme that is very common in epic poems, and this is no exception. Beowulf represents the good in the world as he fights to protect the people of the land. Grendel and its mother represent the bad in the world and want to destroy and cause pain in the world. It's a classic theme that can be explored in many ways.
Identity: Throughout the story, you will find that the one thing that almost all the characters have in common is their desire to prove themselves and create their own identity. Whether it's through fights, bragging or contest, the characters are often trying to best one another.

5. Symbolism

You will often find a lot of symbolism in literature. For example, there are many objects that you’ll find in stories that represent something else. The color black often represents death or evil and fire can represent passion, pain or anger. Beowulf also contains a lot of symbolism in the story, and this may be a good topic to write about. However, you can't pick out every little thing and write about it, so choose a few things that are key to the story. Consider these examples:

The cave: The cave is where the monster Grendel and its mother live. It is dark and away from the rest of the world. The cave can represent the seclusion they must live in because they are different. Could this also be their reason for being evil?
The mead hall: In the story, this is where all the soldiers gathered to eat, drink and brag. It is very much like a club or social gathering. This represents community and togetherness.