Examples Of Archetypes In Beowulf

In addition, Grendel’s mother does the same thing and makes other people feel the way she does. When she finds out that her son died, Grendel’s mother is in agony and so she takes revenge because she wants people to feel the torment she does. In

The use of archetypes in literature has a rich history, and the epic poem "Beowulf" is a testament to this tradition. One of the most notable archetypes found in the poem is the Quest archetype, which is a journey taken by the hero in search of something valuable. In "Beowulf," the Quest archetype is used to develop the theme of heroism and the struggle between good and evil. Showed throughout the quest with the decendent’s of cain.

Beowulf exemplifies the concept of good and evil. It includes the archetypical hero who battles multiple monsters and faces struggles along the way. Even though Beowulf is thousands of years old, the theme of good vs evil is still seen in modern literature, on television, and in many other places. Good vs evil is seen in many places in the present time period, especially in superhero comics and movies.

In the epic poem Beowulf passed on by the Anglo-Saxons, the alienated character of Grendel and the heroic character of Beowulf underscore the values, assumptions, and morals of the Anglo-Saxon culture.

Although the battles Beowulf fights differ in terms of theme, they all demonstrate archetypes, an important element of Anglo-Saxon culture and writing. In Beowulf’s battle against Grendel, multiple archetypes are illustrated. There are the more obvious ones of heroes and villains, but if you dig a little deeper and take a look at the book as a whole, you could find the archetypes of heralds, or possibly allies. When looking at the archetypes of heroes and villains, you could easily label Grendel as the villain and Beowulf as the hero.

Beowulf states that Grendel's mom will not be able ti hide from his wrath. Beowulf assures that Grendel's mom will be eliminated. After Beowulf gets to be ruler in Geatland, he demonstrates his awesome unselfishness yet again by promising to execute the flame mythical serpent. Beowulf is said to have sworn to murder the mythical serpent, which has brought on an unsettling influence among his kingdom. These brave acts offered by Beowulf shows a great part of his integrity.

Grendel’s mother never did much. Often, she would sleep in her marsh den and hug her son when he returned home. For twelve years she would hunt, sleep, and sit all day. However, after Grendel’s accident this triggers her into becoming more monstrous than she had ever been.

Beowulf took on both Grendel and his mother with the intentions of saving the Danes, whether he survived or

When Grendel, her only son,her last companion in this world dies she feels the need for vengeance. Unlike the other Grendel 's mother was very sacrilege and had physical power

Masculine Ideals in Anglo-Saxon Society The concept of a hero is prevalent through all generations because it presents a template for ethics and behavior. Beowulf is a pivotal epic told by poets throughout early european society and mirrors the manly nature of their ideal hero. The patriarchal values of the Anglo-Saxons are displayed through the epic Beowulf. The characters’ loyalty to their leaders as well as their conventional sense of masculinity indicate that the values of a society determine the values of an individual.

In the epic poem, Beowulf, there are clear distinctions between an epic hero and a monster. Beowulf is the prime example of a epic hero possessing characteristics such as superior strength, courage, and loyalty. On the other hand, Grendel and Grendel’s mother are characteristized as evil and immoral based off of their actions. These characteristics are presented throughout the poem, and monsters are given grotesque, hideous appearances to further prove that they are evil. After Beowulf kills Grendel, Grendel’s mother reaction revealed how the full presentation of a character can allow readers to react differently than before and even sympathized with them.

In the epic poem Beowulf, the protagonist, Beowulf, faces three “monsters” at different times in his life. The poem begins with Grendel, a monster who attacks only in the dark of night, tormenting the kingdom of Hrothgar. The last two sections of the epic detail the conquering by Beowulf of Grendel’s mother and the dragon. The battle between the monsters and Beowulf represent the theme of good versus evil in the poem, as well as the fusion of pagan and Christian ideals in the changing Germanic society. Grendel’s mother’s actions directly juxtapose the role of a woman in this time period, and the greediness of the dragon with his treasure contrasts with the virtues of what would be considered a good king.

When Grendel dies from the power of Beowulf, this does not leave Grendel’s Mother amused. Grendel’s Mother is attacking Herot and “she’d killed a glorious soldier,cut a noble life short. No Geat could have stopped her”(Beowulf 416-417). As seen in the quote, Grendel’s mother is very upset about what happened to her son. By killing a soldier and terrorizing Herot, she is getting revenge for the death of her son.

Mythological or Archetypal philosophy has been around for centuries and is used across numerous cultures. Carl Jung, a close colleague of Sigmund Freud, defined the word archetype as “a figure...that repeats itself in the course of history wherever creative fantasy is fully manifested.” Archetypes can come in various forms: characters, images, and situations. Though many different forms of archetypes appear in the tale of Beowulf, specifically, the archetypal character roles of the hero and the outcast are major aspects of the story. The role of the hero is a popularly recognizable element of many stories.

Beowulf uses the sword to fulfill his second task of the story, which essentially saves his life but would have been useless if not for his persistence and strength. Additionally, character archetypes are also very present in Beowulf. The archetypes present help depict what kind of character Beowulf is, and establish his leadership skills over his men. In the story, Beowulf is a Hero, and he is accompanied by his Loyal Retainers, who will do anything to protect Beowulf and stay by his side in