Beowulf Epic Hero Essay - 880 Words

Analysis of Beowulf as an Epic Hero The definition of a hero from ancient times to present day has evolved greatly, but they often still possess characteristics synonymous across all cultures and timespans. In modern times, they are often thought of as role models for others to live up to, and are generally humble, honest, and not afraid to put others in front of themselves. In ancient times, more emphasis was put on strength and fearlessness, and epic heroes were often saviors of the land, sent down to Earth in its time of need by God’s hand. Beowulf, the main character in the epic poem Beowulf, is blessed with superhuman strength, a magical weapon only he can yield, as well as a fierce sense of loyalty to his people and an obligation†¦show more content†¦419-424). These last words truly wrap up the character of Beowulf as the courageous and loyal hero he is, knowing that his actions will have made his name memorable for ages to come. The epic poem, Beowulf, clearly demonstrates the Anglo-Saxon ideals of bravery and loyalty, which also happen to be traits that make Beowulf an epic hero, as well as possessing a magical weapon and wanting his legacy to live on. Although these traits were valued much more long ago, devotion, strength, and courage are still important to many of us today. This text, as it was one of the first written stories that has survived to this day, gives us an insight into what was valued back in that time period, and what people looked up to in a hero. Despite some differences, there are many similarities between the ancient Anglo-Saxon hero and the modern hero, making Beowulf relevant to thisShow MoreRelated Epic of Beowulf Essay - Beowulf as Epic Hero844 Words   |  4 PagesBeowulf as Epic Hero Epic heroes usually exemplify the character traits most admired in their societies, and Beowulf is no exception.   Beowulf is set in the Anglo-Saxon society, a time when war was rampant among the many peoples trying to take over the different kingdoms of England.   In this dangerous, violent time people lived in constant peril and jeopardy.   These conditions only allowed people of great bravery to survive and men of outstanding courage were admired the populous.   TheseRead More Beowulf - An Epic Hero Essay710 Words   |  3 PagesBeowulf An Epic Hero Beowulf: An Epic Hero Being a hero can be defined many different ways. Several qualities like courage, respect, and strength can define heroism. A hero is noted for his or her actions for being brave, powerful, and acting with honor. In the epic poem, Beowulf, the main character Beowulf shows all of these characteristics by defending the Danish king, Hrothgar, and his people. He is a true hero by honoring his country and exerting his power and strength to protect othersRead More Beowulf As An Epic Hero Essay971 Words   |  4 Pages Every epic hero possesses certain heroic characteristics. Beowulf, like other epic heroes, possesses the following heroic qualities: epic heroes are superhuman types of beings. They have a noble birth and show great bravery. They display great intelligence and resourcefulness. They have a reverence for G-d and for the values of their society. They are dominant male figures and suffer severe pain, but in the end, they conquer evil (Vivone 9/27/99). 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However, his humanity is exposed by his death. Heroes all share the characteristic of their willingness to die in their effort to accomplish their heroic act, thus making the actRead MoreEssay on Beowulf is an Epic Hero1415 Words   |  6 Pages Epic battles, terrifying monsters, extraordinary strength, and great leadership; these characteristics and encounters are what make up the epic hero that is Beowulf. The heroism exemplified by Beowulf is defined by many different qualities. Beowulf is truly a hero because he is willing to put himself at great risk for the greater good. Beowulfs defeats of Grendel and Grendels mother establish him as a hero because he did it to save his people, rather than for his own glory. Beowulf isRead More Beowulf is an Epic Hero Essay469 Words   |  2 PagesEvery epic hero possesses certain heroic characteristics. The epic poem Beowulf describes the most heroic man of the Anglo-Saxon times. Beowulf is the hero. He shows that he is a great man by always putting other things before his own needs. He is important and needed by his people and is known by many as a strong, courageous and a helpful person. He shows all of the qualities and traits that a true hero possesses. Beowulf, like other epic heroes, possesses the following heroic qualities: epic heroesRead More Epic of Beowulf Essay - Beowulf as Tragic Hero1432 Words   |  6 PagesBeowulf as Tragic Hero By definition, a tragic hero is a protagonist that due to some tragic flaw loses everything he has. Throughout history, literature has always been filled with main characters possessing some tragic flaw. In Macbeth, Macbeth’s tragic flaw is his enormous ambition to become king. In Hamlet, Hamlet’s tragic flaw is his need for revenge for the death of his father at the hands of his uncle. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh’s tragic flaw is his need to be remembered. InRead MoreEssay on Beowulf - Profile Of An Epic Hero586 Words   |  3 Pagesmemory, but are lost in time, and some write them down to be remembered forever as a part of history. Beowulf is one such story that has been mysteriously remembered for many centuries. I’ve very much enjoyed reading Beowulf. However, since this story has been around for so long many people have added, reduced, or omitted bits and pieces of the story. In other words, it has become an almost epic legend, never knowing if it was real or if it is rumor. And like any rumor being told to others, the storyRead MoreBeowulf: Epic Hero Essay example961 Words   |  4 PagesBeowulf: Epic Hero An epic hero, an Anglo-Saxon hero, a modern-day hero; A hero is is often defined by certain qualities, looked upon traits. We have heroes amongst our lives everyday, from saving a life to simply helping someone out. In the epic poem, â€Å"Beowulf†, Beowulf was the most heroic man of the Anglo-Saxon times. The Anglo-Saxon code reflects much of the code of Chivalry, the code of the Samurai, to the modern-day code of just doing good. He embodied courage, honesty, loyalty, and much

Gentiles, And Galileo Galileo A Comparison Of The...

Aristotle in Nicomachean Ethics, Thomas Aquinas in Summa on Gentiles, and Galileo Galilei in â€Å"Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina† all touch upon the notion of reason. Although all three authors have different interpretations of the nature of reason, they all impose limitations on utilizing reason to understand theology. These limitations are ultimately of two natures: a limitation on the ability of human reasoning and whether a non-rational component is necessary, or a limitation of the subject matter. Furthermore, the goals in utilizing reason appear to differ amongst the authors. While Aristotle considers reason as a method of imitating God and a sufficient tool to attain a likeness of God, both Galileo and Aquinas view reason as a†¦show more content†¦The bible â€Å"is not chained in every expression to conditions as strict† and â€Å"differ[s] from the absolute truth as far as the bare meaning of the words is concerned†¦to be accommodated to the understanding of every man† (Galileo 162-163). Since the true meaning of the words must be extracted from the Bible, there is an inherent uncertainty that must be illuminated with the truth of science. The only way to ascertain the true meaning of Scripture is through referring to scientific conclusions, â€Å"the physical conclusions which manifest sense and necessary demonstrations have previously made certain† (Galileo 246-247). According to Galileo, therefore, â€Å"we ought to utilize [any certainties in physics] as the most appropriate aids in the true exposition of the Bible† as â€Å"these must be concordant with demonstrated truths† (Galileo 175-177). Demonstrated proofs are not only necessary for reaching scientific conclusions, but are also critical in the interpretation of theological concepts. Galileo’s interpretation of reason, then, is based completely upon demonstrations and is a form of purely rational thought. Aquinas’ e valuation of reason appears similar to that of Galileo at first glance, but is ultimately of a different nature. Aquinas argues that â€Å"things that are not perceived by the senses cannot be grasped by the human intellect except in so far as knowledge of them is gathered from the senses† (13-14). As

Bureaucracy and Democracy Free Essays

Bureaucracy and Democracy Assuming that the court’s interpretation of the law was accurate, do you believe that the state’s power to regulate in these matters should outweigh the federal government’s right to do so? What, if anything, should be done? No I do not think the state’s power to regulate in these matters should outweigh the federal government. Independent Agencies help execute policy or provide special services. Independent Agencies also exist outside of the departments of the executive branch and have three separate branches: Executive – President of the United States, esponsible for administering and enforcing the laws of government Legislative – Congress responsible for the creation of law Judicial – Supreme Court responsible for administering Justice, resolving disputes, and interpreting the law. We will write a custom essay sample on Bureaucracy and Democracy or any similar topic only for you Order Now This system establishes a strong central government, while insuring a balance of power. Agencies can be characterized as being either executive agencies or independent agencies. How do they differ and, from your standpoint, which is preferable in terms of maintaining agency focus and controlling the actions of the agency? Independent agencies are those that exist outside of the departments of the executive branch, executive agencies are not How to cite Bureaucracy and Democracy, Papers

I have been asked to analyse and compare the way Shakespeare has portrayed the reactions of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth Essay Example For Students

I have been asked to analyse and compare the way Shakespeare has portrayed the reactions of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth Essay I have been asked to analyse and compare the way Shakespeare has portrayed the reactions of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to the murder of King Duncan. For this I will be using act 2 scene 2 and act 1 scene 5 as well as quotes from other scenes in the play. I will start with analysis, first of Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth has always been cold and calculating in previous scenes. A good example of how Shakespeare portrayed Lady Macbeths character is in act one scene five. Here I have quoted her speech from this scene The raven himself is horse That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncanà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ You shall be what you have been promised. Yet Im worried about your nature. You are too tender hearted to take short cuts. You want greatness. You are not without ambition. But you lack the ruthlessness thats needed Come home quickly, so that I can inspire you with my passion. My brave words will overcome the scruples standing between you and the golden circle Here she talks about Duncans entrance into Macbeths castle as being fatal. She then talks about Macbeths wishes to become king but she also talks about his lack of courage to kill Duncan so that he may rise to the throne. She then tells the audience about how she will attempt to talk Macbeth into murdering Duncan. Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe-top full of direst cruelty! Make thick my blood Here she is starting to ask the spirits to take away her feelings of compassion Unsex me here she is asking for her womanly qualities or weaknesses to be removed. By this she means feelings of remorse, pity, guilt and compassion. This next part is spoken as though said to Macbeth. He thats coming serve the thoughts of mortals: rid me of the natural tenderness of my sex, and fill me from head to toe with direst cruelty! Thicken my blood. Make me remorseless, so that no feelings of conscience can alter my foul plans, nor stand in the way of what must be done. Come to my womans breasts and turn my milk sour, you abettors of murder, wherever you lurk invisible, awaiting evil deeds! Come, dark night, and shroud yourself in the blackest smoke of hell, so that my sharp knife wont see the wound it makes, nor heaven peeping through the blanket of darkness à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" cry Stop! Stop! Here she is again asking the spirits to remove her softness Rid me of the natural tenderness of my sex. She repeats the part about shrouding herself in shadows to conceal what she is going to do from heaven. Maybe she is talking about how she will make Macbeth murder Duncan rather than do the deed herself. Another one of Lady Macbeths speeches which depicts the  character Shakespeare intended her to be is from act one, scene seven. I have given suck, and know how tender tis t love the babe that milks me à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" I would while it was smiling in my face Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums. And dashed the brains out. Had I so sworn to you Have done to this. Here she is comparing her womanliness to her husbands manliness. Shakespeare uses quite shocking imagery in Lady Macbeths speech here to further depict her ruthlessness. Now I have shown a couple of examples of the character of Lady Macbeth I will continue onto my analysis of the murder scene. Lady Macbeth is nervous, paranoid as she waits for Macbeth to return after she has sent him to perform the murder. Hark! Peace! It was the owl that shriekd, the fatal bellman, Which gives the sternst good-night. He is about it: Shes jumpy. The sound of the owls hoot scares her. Lady Macbeth is imagining her husband killing Duncan à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" He is about it. She then hears Macbeth shouting something from outside the room. She is then very afraid. Alack! I am afraid they have awakd, And tis not done; the attempt and not the deed Confounds us. Hark! I laid their daggers ready; He could not miss em. Had he not resembled My father as he slept, I had donet. Here she worries about getting caught. We also see a side of Lady Macbeth which has not been shown before. She is vulnerable, nervous and not at all like her former self. She also shows some emotion Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had donet. She could not have performed the awful deed herself as it would have felt like she was murdering her father. William Shakespeare Argumentative EssayShe is thinking about hell. She is now afraid of damnation, as Macbeth was in act 2, scene 2. Earlier she had asked evil spirits to assist her and now she is terrified of hell. She is remembering mocking Macbeth. Maybe now she feels bad for pushing him into the first murder. The thane of fife had a wife: where is she now? No more o that, my lord, no more o that: you mar with all this starting. She is thinking about McDuffs wife. Macbeth no longer talked with Lady Macbeth about his plans after Duncans murder. She is supposed to be unaware of these murders. She is annoyed at Macbeth for his continued killing and she has realised that she no longer has power over him. Its almost as if shes asking him to stop. Heres the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes Of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh! Oh! Oh! Again she is showing how haunted she is by the blood on her hands. This speech is very similar to Macbeths earlier Multitudinous seas incarnadine speech. Banquos buried; He cannot come out on s grave. This is a reference to the earlier ghost scene when Macbeth saw Banquos ghost at the banquet after he had him killed. Lady Macbeths descent into madness has taken longer than Macbeths and her guilt is expressing itself in a much more subconscious way than Macbeths did. Earlier she talked about a little water clearing them of the guilt but now she is haunted and terrorised by what they did. Lady Macbeth and her husband appear to have switched roles with their expressions of their guilt. While Macbeth appears to feel nothing and continues to murder Lady Macbeth is slowly going mad. Shakespeare tries to evoke feelings of pity in the audience for Lady Macbeth. The words this little hand are an example of this. Macbeth expresses his guilt in a conscious, public way, his continued killings are the main sign he has been driven  mad by guilt. Lady Macbeth on the other hand shows her guilt in a private way. Her sleepwalking is a subconscious expression of her innermost tormented feelings. This is her sign of madness. Lady Macbeths madness has also taken longer to manifest itself. Macbeths guilt was immediate but Lady Macbeth has taken several scenes to show hers. Macbeth spoke about no longer being able to sleep in the murder scene but several scenes later we see it is in fact Lady Macbeths sleep which is disturbed. This could be Shakespeare trying to show us how Lady Macbeth was a lot more open to suggestions that she ever appeared to be before the murder scene, when she was a very cold, hard woman who used a lot of shocking imagery and was really quite a scary person. Act 5 scene 1 is a performance of Lady Macbeths guilt. Until this time she had suppressed her feelings. She even asked the spirits to take away her feelings of compassion so she would feel no guilt. It would appear that this had no effect and she feels terrible and that manifests itself in her sleepwalking and talking. Macbeth was originally paralysed by his guilt and was unable to even wash his hands clean of the blood without Lady Macbeths instructions to do so. Later on Macbeth seems to have taken control to the extent where he is continuing to kill without first talking with Lady Macbeth about it. The blood symbolises the guilt felt by both plotters. Macbeth was earlier scorned by his wife for his guilty feelings. Lady Macbeths fragmented language in act 5 scene 1 makes her harder to understand than she had been in previous appearances. I believe that Shakespeare is using her language to show her mental breakdown. Macbeths guilt was shown then suppressed and the opposite is true for Lady Macbeth. As the play continues Lady Macbeths madness gets to the point where she can no longer live with her guilt and she eventually commits suicide. Macbeth and his allies prepare for battle with McDuff. After Lady Macbeths death a messenger informs Macbeth that Birnam Wood à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Malcolms army is approaching. The battle begins and in the final showdown McDuff kills Macbeth and Malcolm is hailed as the new king. In both the case of Macbeth and the case of Lady Macbeth their guilt eventually killed them but in different ways. While Lady Macbeth was driven mad by her guilt and killed herself, Macbeth went on a killing frenzy from his guilt and was eventually killed by someone who was his friend in the beginning when he went too far. In conclusion, while Macbeth and Lady Macbeth may have shown their reactions to Duncans murder in totally different ways both of them got their comeuppance eventually.