Relationship of Virtues in the Epic Poem, Beowulf - 577 Words

According to the epic poem Beowulf, there is a close relationship between the virtues of a good king and the virtues of a good warrior and these virtues create Beowulf’s definition of courage, which is similar to Aristotle’s definition of courage. The close relationship in the definition of courage of Beowulf’s definition of courage to Aristotle’s is shown by the codes of the heroic world that guides a warrior’s life or in other words the Vikings heroic code, which is to have courage, glory, and selfless acts to protect the Lord as well as the people even when one is risking his or her life which displays loyalty. The virtues of a good warrior is described by the main heroic character, Beowulf, when he responds to King Hrothgar who has summoned him due to the fact that Grendel’s mother is now attacking the Dane’s to avenge for her son. When Beowulf, the son of Ecgtheow, speaks to King Hrothgar, he declares one of the Vikings heroic code that guides a good warriors life, which is to â€Å"†¦not grieve† but to have the courage â€Å"to avenge dear ones than to indulge in mourning† which is what Hrothgar is not doing (ll. 1384-1385). According to Beowulf, it is not right for a man as well as a warrior who is honored by many to grieve over loved ones deaths, but instead to take action by getting vengeance because if not then those who died will not be remembered and he will not gain a good and memorable reputation for he did not take any action of vengeance. Instead, a kingShow MoreRelatedBeowulf as Epic823 Words   |  4 PagesWhat makes an epic? Is Beowulf an ep ic? ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · What is an epic poem, and how does it differ from other kinds of poetry or storytelling? How have epic poems traditionally been transmitted from generation to generation? How do tellers remember these long and complicated stories? According to Robert Harris’s Glossary of Literary Terms, he defines an epic as the following: Epic. An extended narrative poem recounting actions, travels, adventures, and heroic episodes and written in a high style (withRead MoreBeowulf Is The Oldest Recorded Poem1328 Words   |  6 PagesThe epic poem, Beowulf, is the oldest recorded poem in English and at 3200 lines long, comprises roughly ten percent of the surviving poetry in Old English. Although written in this language, Beowulf focuses on the feats of the poem’s namesake Beowulf, a Geatish prince, and the invading Germanic tribes in Denmark. Understood early on in the poem, these tribes have a lengthy and powerful warrior culture; a culture heavily influenced by heroic virtues, blood vengeance, and paganism. Along with theseRead MoreThe Power and Importance of Treasure, in Beowulf882 Words   |  4 PagesThe power and importance of treasure, in Beowulf An epic, is a lengthy narrative poem concerning about social and political organization, and events significant to a culture or nation. In Fred Robinson words, much of Beowulf is devoted to show the Germanic heroic code, in different aspects, which values strength, courage, bravery and loyalty in warriors; hospitality, generosity, responsibility and political skill in kings; ceremoniousness in women; and good reputation in the inhabitants. Read MoreReligion in Beowulf1385 Words   |  6 Pagesin Beowulf Throughout the story of Beowulf, the concept of religion plays a significant role. The Christianity ideology views state that man can survive and do great things through the protection of God. A strong desire of pride is also represented in the form of a hero in Beowulf, which in a sense goes against Christian morals. This clash with Christian morals in Beowulf was in the context of pride vs. humility and selfishness vs. sacrifice. In the book, Hrothgar first explained to Beowulf thatRead MoreTheme Of Death In Beowulf1097 Words   |  5 PagesBeowulf is an anglo-saxon epic that details the life of Geat warrior Beowulf and his dealings with 3 monsters. The society surrounding this epic is one that values lineage, glory, and success. Although these values are perceived as positive, they are often the root causes of the more malicious aspects of this society: blood-feud and tribal war. It should be duly noted that the poem is bookended with two very meaningful deaths. At the beginning of the poem the death of Scyld Sheafson, founder of theRead MoreRoles Of Religion In Beowulf1369 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout the story of Beowulf, the concept of religion plays a significant role. The Christianity ideology views state that man can survive and do great things through the protection of God. A strong desire of pride is also represented in the form of a hero in Beowulf, which in a sense goes against Christian morals. This clash with Christian morals in Beowulf was in the context of pride vs. humility and selfishness vs. sacrifice. In the book, Hrothgar first explained to Beowulf that pride without humilityRead MoreEpic of Beowulf Essay1106 Words   |  5 PagesThe 8th century epic poem Beowulf illustrates a loss of community, cultural values and tradition. On the other hand, an elegiac passing of an extraordinary hero and the relationship between the themes of mortality and heroism are well discussed in Beowulf. Beowulf’s character exemplifies the German ic and the Anglo-Saxon ideals of the hero: strong, fearless, bold, loyal, and stoic in the acceptance of fate. Despite his lack of humility, Beowulf was the definition of a hero in his own time by hisRead MoreAnglo-Saxon Heroic Poetry5673 Words   |  23 Pagesof which are pre-Christian Germanic myth, history and custom; and the Christian. Heroic, or Epic Poetry belongs to one of these two types and refers to long narrative poems celebrating the great deeds of one or more legendary heroes, in a grand, ceremonious style. In its strict use by literary critics, the terms Heroic Poetry or Epic are applied to a work that meets the following criteria: such a poem must be related in an elevated style, and centered upon a heroic or quasi-divine figure on whoseRead More King Arthur Essay1428 Words   |  6 Pagesknights, or thanes, who swore allegiance in battle in exchange for gifts of gold, armor, and land. There are stories that depict Arthur in this role, similar to that of Beowulf an d Hrothgar in the poem Beowulf. However, later stories show Arthur in a different light. There are three basic character descriptions of Arthur. Arthur as epic hero The earliest depiction of Arthur is that of a fierce, feared warrior, capable of tremendous prowess in hand-to-hand combat. As described by a Welsh priest namedRead More Sir Gawain vs Beowulf Essay2076 Words   |  9 PagesAlthough Gawain and Beowulf share many similarities, their characters are almost complete opposites. Both aim for some sort of fame, one more than the other; differing in the way they attempt to achieve this success. Gawain remains true and looks to humility to guide him, whereas Beowulf is very prideful and selfish, loving nothing more than boasting about his virtues. Regardless, both go through tremendous changes throughout their quests, dealing with repercussions, and many challenging obstacles