Arrogance In Beowulf

Beowulf later demonstrates his understanding that it is important that a powerful man like him and Hrothgar anticipates their death. Lastly this exercise show me how to really analysis and think about what we read and how to compared life back when Beowulf was and my life today. I think the poem of Beowulf open my eyes of how a man should act and should be in

Beowulf, now an old man, says in his final boast, “I’ve never known fear, as a youth I fought in endless battles. I am old, now, but I will fight again” (lines 607-609). Beowulf realizes the dangers of going into battle as an old man, and despite still knowing that his strength and fighting skills were not what they used to be still goes into battle against the ferocious dragon in order to protect his homeland from the villain. Unfortunately, as Beowulf was fighting saw that “for a time (the shield) held, protected Beowulf as he’d planned; then it began to melt, and for the first time in his life that famous prince fought with fate against him, with glory denied him. He knew it, but he raised his sword and struck at the dragon’s scaly hide/And the Geats’ ring-giver did not boast of glorious victories in other wars” (lines 666-671/678). As Beowulf fights the dragon, he comes to realize that he is not going to win and is going to meet his fate. All the battles he had previously fought had him fighting alongside fate, not against it, but now he realized that this is the battle he would not win. Still, Beowulf fights on knowing he would die. He, as stated in the quote, does not seek any pride nor has he in any of his battles and would valiantly fight until his death. These actions Beowulf has portrayed ultimately

For the well-being of his people, Beowulf should have let his warriors fight the dragon in his place in order to win the hoard. Even though Beowulf gains all the treasures of the dragon hoard, his people suffer a greater loss from his death. Beowulf’s death would lay out the welcome mat for eager conquerors to come and attack his land. However, like Sigemund, Beowulf’s glory will always remain and grow with his death.

In this era that Beowulf is in, it's prime time for warriors, and the culture displayed in each poem forwards it. In this time warriors hold the power, possibly even more than kings, and in this way of life Beowulf thrives, and people take notice. Eventually, he obtains a position of power and leads his people to a time of peace. However, the peaceful time is cut short when Beowulf dies and leaves his people with no hair to take over. Beowulf protected his people so well he shielded them from the flaws of their own ways making them ignorant in their own ways of life, and upon his death they were exposed to all the overwhelmingly problems, leading them to a downward spiral towards their own destruction.

This leaves Beowulf as the monster, when we believe him to be the hero. For the rest of the poem this leaves us an opening to judge him on character. Because of this fault, one can believe that he is a faulty king and ruler, even though he does what a king is suppose to do; he gives gifts to his Geats.

The Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf touches on the vice of pride, and is instilled in the main character, Beowulf, the great and mighty warrior. His boasting and arrogance when first dropping anchor at Heorot transitions throughout the poem, and, in contrast with his ideal kingsmanship, motivates him to accomplish and overcome the many challenges he faces as an epic hero. The contrast of his absent humility in the rise and fall of the story help promote the progression of the story, through its different purposes. Beowulf, when first landing upon Hrothgar’s kingdom, boasts, which does not go unchallenged, so that he might gain the trust of the Danes, but when knowingly facing his last battle, uses bragging to comfort and brace himself for his ultimate demise.

Humility is an important lesson all successful people must eventually learn. The epic poem Beowulf written sometime around 1000 A.D. follows the adventure of a great warrior on his quest to greatness. Throughout the poem he is taught that humility is the key to success. Beowulf comes to the land of the Danes to defeat the monster Grendel. Beowulf accomplishes his task and conquers both Grendel and the monster’s mother. After claiming victory, Beowulf earns glory, honor, and respect. The great warrior then returns home to become the king later in his life. Beowulf learns throughout the story that arrogance has consequences and being humble will grant respect from others. Beowulf changes throughout the story ultimately becoming a humble warrior. Beowulf learns humility when fighting Grendel, when fighting Grendel's mother, from hearing legends and from his past.

“Where is the glory in doing something that others have done” (Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief). A quote befitting of the character Beowulf who slew the abomination known as Grendel to save the people of Heorot, then killing his vengeful mother using the sword Hrunting and finally as his last legendary exploit he brought down a mighty dragon to save his kingdom, the most prominent definition of an epic hero and the epitome of what the ideal Scandinavian hero is. On the surface, this may seem like Beowulf is a selfless hero willing to go to great lengths to save the people around him but after deeper analysis of the story, it may be that Beowulf’s pride and search for glory is what truly drives him.

Many people have different opinions when it comes to their versions of a king. When I think about a king, I imagine a caring and mighty man who would risk his life for his people. I also imagine a man who can be boastful and cocky. Beowulf, who was both a hero and king, demonstrates these characteristics.

Beowulf is a story that has been told over thousands of years. Beowulf is the story of one of the greatest warriors known to man. Even the man who claims to be the best of them all has a weakness and has faced temptations. Beowulf's inability to control his lust for women, power, and pride is what continues the deconstruction of the kingdom. The curse continues to rampage through the village of the Danes due to man’s weakness.

Although I can see how being more self confident can help, I don’t understand how people would choose to be more self confident at the cost of becoming arrogant. Odysseus himself is a good example of this, of how pride can get to your head. After escaping from Polyphemus he bragged and yelled out to him telling of how he had tricked him enraging the beast, not caring for the safety of his crew. Not only risking their lives when they should have been safe, but enraging some of his crew as well. In his arrogance he had lost 6 of his crew to Polyphemus, 6 of his crew he could have saved.

Fate has something else in store for Beowulf as the poem leads on to the infamous dragon fight. All along in the poem, Beowulf identifies the fact that he believes in fate and many of his actions are ruled by his strong belief in the fact that whatever will happen is meant to be. In the beginning of the poem, he is an invincible leader but now when it comes down to the fight with the dragon, he is old and not so sure of himself. It is at this point in the poem that the reader is clued in to the future events, which don't look very bright for this hero.

Every hero has a flaw, eventually this flaw will lead to their demise in most cases, but it can also make them into a better hero. In Beowulf's case his flaw was his hubris. Hubris means that one is too cocky or has an excessive amount of pride. “Drive such evil thoughts from you, dear Beowulf, most excellent youth! Choose for yourself a better course of eternal profit, and do not tend toward arrogance, framed warrior! your might is in bloom for only a while, but before long sickness or sword shall diminish your strength, either by fires fangs or the waves of a flood; by the bite of a blade or a wielded spear; by age or by the darkening of your eyes’ clear beam. Death will suddenly take even you, oh hero of war!” (Roberts 61) This is a great

A hero possesses the traits of strength, follows a code of ethics, and more than anything else fights evil. These qualities can be seen in Beowulf, the Knight, and the Squire. Humility though was a favorable trait that the new ideal man possessed, whereas arrogance was more appropriate in Beowulf’s time. Although there are similarities, there are more differences when you compare the new ideal man and Beowulf.

This play has been very important throughout the years. It has been taught in schools a lot. Beowulf was a hero and killed many monster. His army helped him through his fights. This poem was one of my favorite because I thought the fight between the monsters was cool. It kind of related to me when I read this it made me think that there was one person who helped Beowulf kill the dragon. There is one friend that will always stick with you. Then you got those friends you only talk to when you see them. Beowulf was a very tough man. He showed people how much power he really had. This play was very cool to see or as in video. I think that this play we can all relate too. Also that we all have that one friend who is always be with