preview

Motivation In Beowulf

Decent Essays

Glory, Wealth, or Fate?
(An analysis of the motivations of Beowulf in Beowulf)

“All men want, not something to do with, but something to do, or rather something to be.” (Thoreau) Motivation drives all men and women. The motivation to do something great, to be someone great, is too alluring to ignore. Beowulf is one of the classic epic hero’s that explains this phenomenon. Beowulf, the story of this great hero, is an Anglo-Saxon story, though its origin is unknown, making the story of courage and monsters even more mystical. Beowulf is from the great land of the Geats. When he hears about the terrible monster, Grendel, that is plaguing the land of the Danes, he gathers fourteen men to accompany him to fight. When the Geats arrive in the land of the Danes, Beowulf is granted permission to attempt to kill the terrible Grendel. He goes forward with this quest, ultimately saving the Danes while risking his own life. Quickly after, he risks his …show more content…

In Dante’s famous Inferno, a story of the journey through the rings and stages of Hell, Dante gives us crucial advice, “Do not be afraid; our fate cannot be taken from us; it is a gift.” (Dante) Our fate is our fate. It will find us, no matter how hard we try to avoid it. This is something that Beowulf took very seriously. He often stated that the events in his life were driven by fate and that he understood that he simply had to face these events head on. He explains that fate was one of the reasons that he was compelled to come help in the land of the Danes. “Now Grendel and I are called together, and I’ve come.” (Pg. 48) Upon hearing of Grendel and the destruction that he continued to wreck upon the Danes, Beowulf knew that it was his fate to fight Grendel. He knew that he and only he would be able to defeat the horrible monster. Knowing that it was his fate, Beowulf bravely and willingly faced Grendel, prepared for

Get Access