Beowulf
a Great Warrior and King
Beowulf
has been called many names for being a great warrior. He has defeated many sea
creatures and has always been loyal to the Geats. Beowulf is a study of
kingship. Many people agree that he was a great warrior, but not a good king.
Beowulf fought hard for his people and had the qualities of a good king. This
made him a great warrior and king.
Beowulf
is at least in part a study of kingship. He was well known throughout the whole
country and was labeled as mighty and powerful. “In his day, he was the mightiest
man on earth, highborn and powerful” (Heaney 197). Beowulf showed many
attributes of a good king by being a leader. “Whilst he moved about like the
leader he was, enlisting men, the best he could find” (Heaney 205). He was
eager to go to the aid of lord Hrothgar and fight Grendel the sea dragon. “I
meant to perform to the uttermost what your people wanted or perish in the
attempt…” (Heaney 635). This courageous action represents a great warrior and
king. Beowulf showed qualities of a good king before he became one and was
recognized by lord Hrothgar. “Nowhere, they said, north or south between the
two seas or under the tall sky…was there anyone better to raise a shield or to
rule a kingdom” (Heaney 860). Beowulf
was a great warrior who attributed qualities of a king and that is why he was,
later, named king of the Geats.
Beowulf
has faced difficult challenges throughout his life as a warrior and king. His
courageous battles with different sea dragons have earned him fame and fortune.
“They sang then and played to please the hero, words and music for their
warrior prince…” (Heaney 1063). Beowulf was referred to as a hero and that
represents a king. After Beowulf became king, he was still recognized as a
great king and warrior. He was the leader and protector of his people. “I risk
my life often when I was young. Now I am old, but as king of the people I shall
pursue this fight for the glory of winning…” (Heaney 2514). Even at an old age,
Beowulf risks his own life for his people. This shows what a good warrior and a
king would do for their people. This was Beowulf’s last fight with a sea
creature and this caused great mourning throughout the country. “Mourning his
loss as a man and a king” (Heaney 3172). The Geat people loved Beowulf as their
king and knew there would be no one else like him. “They said that of all the
kings upon earth he was the man most gracious and fair-minded, kindest to his
people and keenest to win fame” (Heaney 3182). Beowulf made fame and fortune
throughout his land and earned the title of a good king and warrior.
Beowulf’s
biggest flaw as a king was not having a son or child. “Now is the time when I
would have wanted to bestow this armor on my son, had it been my fortune to
have fathered an heir and live on in his flesh” (Heaney 2729). He left his
people behind without an heir which could lead to a power struggle throughout
the country. However, Beowulf was still a great king.
Beowulf
characteristic of a warrior portrayed what a king should be like. He showed
courage, loyalty, fame, fortune, leadership, and respect for the people.
Beowulf put his own life at risk for his people to save them from the dragons.
I don’t know anyone else that would have done what he did. Beowulf was a great
warrior and king of the Geats.
Group Project
James Hogg
Condaci Crittenden
Beowulf
as Warrior
C-This
is Beowulf as a warrior. We are going to point out parts that portray him as a
warrior that lead up to his kingship. We start where Beowulf hears about
Grendel attacks in the Danes territory.
J-After
I heard about Grendel I “ordered a boat that would ply the waves to sail the
swan’s road and seek out that king, the famous prince who needed defenders”
(Heaney 198-201).
C-This
shows how Beowulf was heroic and brave. In the book it quotes “there was no one
else like him alive” (Heaney 196).
J-“They
had seen me bolstered in the blood of enemies when I battled and bound five
beasts, raided a troll-nest and in the night sea slaughtered sea-brutes”
(Heaney 419-422).
C-Beowulf
has approached Hrothgar, the Dane King and lets him know why he has come and
lets him know about his “awesome strengths” (Heaney 416-418).
J-I
took off all my armor and laid my sword down.
C-Beowulf
was very confident in his strength. He laid without his armor, waiting on Grendel
to show his face at the hall. He defeated Grendel with his bare hands.
J-My
“doings were praised over and over again” (Heaney 855).
C-Beowulf
was looked up to as a leader and was glorified with many gifts. The Danes
stated “Nowhere north or south between the two seas or under the tall sky on
the broad earth was there anyone better to raise a shield or to rule a kingdom”
(Heaney 855-860).
J-We
were trying to show how everyone thought of Beowulf as a leader and they would
have figured him to be one of the greatest kings due to all of his
accomplishments that he had done up to the point he was appointed King.
Group Project
Britt Wilson
David Gafford
Beowulf
as King
B – “The war-king planned and
plotted his revenge; Beowulf their leader/ and Lord, began to plan it…”
(2335-2337).
D- Beowulf plans for the battle
but does not think about the consequences. He doesn’t think about the future of
his people. His planning isn’t tactical because he doesn’t weigh out the
options. His pride refuses to let him even think of the possibility of death or
defeat.
B- “And now I shall fight for
this treasure, fight with both hands and sword” (2509-2510)
D- This shows he does not fight
for his people, he fights to acquire treasure. If his intentions were to guard
his people he would’ve mentioned it but time and time again he mentions riches
and fame.
B- “I am old now,/ But I will
fight again, seek fame still, …” (2512-2513)
D- This is showing that he is
still only concerned with gaining fame. He doesn’t display selflessness like a
king should but is filled with thoughts of eternal fame. The desire for fame
encompasses his thoughts so much that the idea of someone remembering him is
more valuable than the idea of saving lives or doing what’s best for his
kingdom.
B- “I risked my life often when
I was young. Now I am old, but as king of the people I shall pursue this fight
for the glory of winning…” (1233-1234)
D- This once again shows that
Beowulf is fighting for glory and fame, not for his people. If he were fighting
for his people or for anyone else but himself he would have stated that that
was the reason for his going into battle.
B- “Now is the time when I would
have wanted to bestow this armor on my own son, had it been my fortune to have
fathered an heir and live on in his flesh.” (1238)
D- This is Beowulf’s biggest
flaw as a king. He has left his people behind without an heir which could lead
to a power struggle and that will have a devastating effect of the people. Even
in his death Beowulf still only wants a son so that he could live on through.
He doesn’t want a son to rule the kingdom and serve the people; he’s still
stuck on the idea of remaining in this world after death.
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