Mythic heroes are set apart from the known and are expected to do unbelievable accomplishments while facing overwhelming odds. Throughout Campbell’s life, he noticed the same challenges heroes endured and came up with stages that a hero goes through. There are many examples of that prove that Campbell’s theory is true. Beowulf is a prime example of the stages to qualify as a mythic hero because he goes through the three main parts: departure, initiation, and the return.
One way Beowulf is a mythic hero is because he goes through the departure stage. During the departure stage, the hero will go through a process if changes or the Call to Adventure. According to Campbell the hero must go away from the comfort of his/her normal life and go into
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When going through the initiation phase the hero has to Cross the First Threshold. The threshold is a boundary between the world of the known and unknown. Most of the time there is a threshold guarding trying to block the hero from getting past. The hero has to be determined to go on the journey because fear keeps them within the boundaries and to go on the hero’s journey there can be no fear. In the myth The Russian Wild Women, the handsome women were threshold guardians because were very dangerous. They liked to tickle people to death and if one was to stumble upon their invisible party they would die. Basically, they were trying to stop the people who were trying to cross into the unknown. In Beowulf, Grendel was the threshold guardian because he tries test Beowulf courage and braveness, but he was very confident and was able to beat Grendel and cross the threshold. After crossing the first threshold, heroes will encounter the belly of the whale stage. The belly of the represents rebirth or transformation. The hero dies to old self in order to be reborn and made new. For example, in The Eskimo of Bering Strait, there were many examples such as the mother being swallowed by an elephant to improve her vision and the Maui being swallowed by his great-grandmother to get more wisdom. Heroes can go back and forth, in and out of the belly without fear. As stated in the novel, Beowulf goes into …show more content…
During the return stage, the hero is ending its journey. There is apotheosis, rescue from without, crossing the return threshold, and master of two worlds. The hero will go through a period of peace before he/she has to begin the return process. The return process is the heroes last battle before death. The hero may need help or a rescuer to complete the task. Before death, the hero will share his/her wisdom with the people. After death, the hero has achieved the balance between the physical and spiritual world. Beowulf successfully completes all stages. Be rules Geatland peacefully for fifty years until a dragon came about trying to destroy the kingdom. During the battle, Wiglaf saves Beowulf while his other men sit there and watch him die. After Beowulf wins the battle he passes on the treasure realizing his death is near. His legacy lives on after he asks for a tower so people can tell his story and remember
In the poem, Beowulf follows the adventures of the hero described in Campbell's monomyth. In order to be acknowledged as an epic, a story must have many stages, according to the monomyth format. The hero’s journey consists of three main stages. These stages are separation, initiation, and return. And ofcourse, Beowulf encounters each one of these stages
In M.A Roberts’ Beowulf the story of a great hero, Beowulf, is told. The story follows Beowulf as he goes from being a warrior, simply trying to pay off a man-debt, to becoming a king who is later forced to return to battle for a final time. He was truly qualified as a hero being that he was characterized as both abnormally strong and courageous. However, the main reason he is characterized as a hero is due to his story, similar to other epic heroes Beowulf is no different and had to endure the hero cycle containing flaw, restitution, and resurrection.
Sissel supplied for a Hero’s Journey Archetypes, there are many stages of the hero’s journey. Some of those stages are; Call to Adventure, Refusal of the call, Supernatural Aid, The Crossing of the First Threshold, The Belly of the Whale. Campbell, Joseph. " A Hero's Journey Archetype." Google Docs.
Beowulf is obviously an archetypal hero, being one of the first heros created in a writing. In Beowulf there is a hero, outcast/scapegoat, and many symbols. Beowulf is the hero because he is
Meghana Sunder Mr. Wachtor English 12 31 August 2015 Beowulf Character Analysis In the poem Beowulf, we see the Anglo-Saxon hero. It is an epic of a hero who embodies the honor of the Anglo-Saxon culture and tradition. The poem in itself is an elegant script of Anglo-Saxon times. Composed in 8th or 9th century the epic was passed down from generation to generation orally and has no known author.
A hero's journey is a pattern of narrative identities that appears in many dramas, storytellings, myths, and psychological development. The journey consist of twelve different steps and in the story Beowulf we read about the magnificent and rough journey that Beowulf and this men accomplish. Many people question if Beowulf is considered a hero and if what he did was good. The journey that he embarked on, leads me to believe that Beowulf is a hero and always will be. The first step in the hero's journey is called the “call to adventure” this is when something is disturbed from external pressure of from inner conflict.
Christopher Reeve (AKA the 1978 superman) said that, “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles”. Both Beowulf and Modern day heroes are similar in that way in that they fight for the common good of people. That quote from Christopher Reeves on what a modern day hero is, also applies to the epic hero qualities that Beowulf has. Similarly Beowulf and a modern day hero defeat an evil so that good can prevail. Some examples are, Beowulf Slaying Grendel and Grendel's mother to save the land of the Danes, and soldiers fighting enemies that threaten the lives of a country, and police officers putting criminals behind bars.
Beowulf’s closest companion was not planning to join the fight but stepped in, as he could not bear the sight of Beowulf suffering; however, Beowulf only somewhat applies to the Return, specifically, when he battles the dragon, since he does not continue his reign or return to Geatland (Sweden). Due to the untimely death of a hero, the Return is unfinished and, in general, the Hero’s Journey. Excluding the fact that he does not transgress through all stages, Beowulf is relevant to the Hero’s Journey due to his persistence and heroic deeds. Frequently used in plays and movies, this template serves as a guide for storylines; additionally, the values of the people who passed on these meaningful stories are implicated in the hero’s personality and the decisions he makes. Beowulf’s heroism defines the archetypal hero and represents the cultural ideals of the Anglo-Saxons.
In today’s society, anybody can be considered a hero. A hero is a selfless person who is admired for their courageous achievements. A mother, celebrity, or even a mailman can be a hero to someone. In Beowulf, the epic poem translated by Burton Raffel, Beowulf is recognized as a hero who craves too much glory. In today’s world, Beowulf is viewed as an irrelevant hero since he displays poor qualities of arrogance and selfishness.
As the story progress, Beowulf became king of the Geats for 50 years when suddenly a dragon emerged from slumber began to burn down villages. However, Beowulf didn’t pay the slightest attention, but instead ignored what was happening. Finally, when the dragon burns down Beowulf’s throne room Beowulf decided that he needs to deal with the dragon. In Beowulf 's eyes, the lives of his citizens couldn’t even compare to his throne room. When Beowulf prepared to fight the dragon he said, “Now I am old, but as king of the people I shall pursue this fight for the glory of winning” (lines 2512-2514).
In the end, both the dragon and Beowulf die. THEMES: Inevitability of death- When Beowulf and the Dragon both kill each other the cycle of losing a great king begins again.
Once upon a time, there was a marvelous warrior that was a hero to so many and king to some. In the story of Beowulf, the hero, Beowulf, must follow and go through the hero’s journey. The hero’s journey has twelve stages, or three acts. The stages go in the order: 1) The Call to Adventure, 2) Assistance, 3) Departure, 4) Trials, 5) Approach to the Inmost Cave, 6) Crisis, 7) Treasure, 8) Result, 9) Return, 10) New Life, 11) Resolution, and 12) Status Quo (Winkler). Since Beowulf is facing three different monsters, there is not only the story’s significant journey, but also multiple inside it.
The story of Beowulf isn’t just any ordinary story, but a story that has been told for centuries. A story of a hero who’s legacy has been told for so long. Beowulf’s life shows the characteristics of a true epic hero. He showed bravery, he used his strength against his enemies and in the end gave the ultimate sacrifice for his people.
Beowulf: Epic Hero or Proud Fool? So what exactly is a hero? A hero to most is a person idealized for their courage and their outstanding achievements and qualities. Some may even consider Beowulf a hero due his never backing down and risking his own life for the safety of his people.
Beowulf assumes the throne and reigns peacefully for 50 years, though there is still a trial to be completed. His final test is the hardest in terms of the monster he has to face and how high stakes the battle is. A dragon is razing all the villages and burning them down. Although Beowulf knows that this fight could be his last, he chooses to face the Dragon anyway, because if he doesn’t it could ensure the destruction of all of his kinsmen. This conforms to the Resurrection stage of the hero’s journey as the dragon is nothing like anything he faced in the