Good vs. Evil in Beowulf - 1456 Words

Good vs. Evil in Beowulf Beowulf is longest and greatest early Anglo-Saxon poem which was composed in England sometime in the eighth century AD by a literate scop. This poem was created in the oral poetic tradition. This poem is considered as an epic because it is a long narrative poem which composed in an elevated style, dealing with the glories of hero (Tolkien 24). The setting of this epic is the six century in Denmark and southern Sweden. The protagonist, Beowulf is a noble warrior represents the goodness battles against the evil monsters- Grendel, Grendel s mother and the fiery dragon in order to save his country. Beowulf s victory over Grendel and his mother shows the power of goodness can defeat the evil forces. Even though†¦show more content†¦The dragon is the evil force like Grendel; it directs his wrath towards the dwelling of men (Halverson 103). Beowulf is an agent of God (Huppe 85), a warrior brave and gentle, blameless in thought and deed (Niles 89). His battle against the evil drago n is not merely for his glory and praise but rather for the people of his country. In scholar R. E. Kaske s work, The Governing Theme of Beowulf.Beowulf: the Donaldson Translation Backgrounds and Sources Criticism, he mentions, For one thing, the theme of Beowulf s defending the Great nation certainly gains added significance from his not only facing death, but undergoing it bravely and willing for his people s sake (127). Beowulf remains loyal to God and his people as a model of heroic conduct (Magennis 120). He has the courage that he is willing to sacrifice himself in order to save his people s lives. Even though Beowulf is old and his strength becomes weak, he still insists on fighting the dragon alone. However, his trusted sword, Naegling, is no use for fighting the monster. Seeing his king in trouble, Wiglaf, a young warrior goes to assist Beowulf. They finally kill the dragon, but Beowulf is also mortallyShow MoreRelatedGood Vs Evil In Beowulf1618 Words   |  7 Pages Bertha 2 Caroline Bertha Mrs. Morris English 11 28 August 2017 Beowulf The Anglo-Saxon people seemed very spiritual. They seemed to support proper burials of the dead, as seen when Shield passed away at the beginning of the story. They tried to live by peace and only get involved in conflict when necessary. Some similarities between their culture and our culture wouldRead MoreGood vs. Evil Found in Beowulf807 Words   |  3 PagesGood vs. Evil Found in Beowulf In the story of Beowulf, there are many different themes found. Many people argue the main theme found in this story. This has been argued for a very long time and will go on for many more years to come. Although many themes in this story stick out and a main theme will never be accepted, one main theme is very noticeable in the story of Beowulf. The main theme found in Beowulf is good versus evil. 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In order to further evaluateRead MoreGood vs Evil in the Epic of Beowulf Essay examples498 Words   |  2 Pagespoem Beowulf, there is an obvious distinction between good and evil. The hero and his foes play roles that are commonly associated with Anglo-Saxon literature. The lines are clearly drawn and expressed in the poem. As the story moves, the reader cannot mistake the roles being played, based on the characterizations in the epic, one recognizes each character for their purpose and place. The epic is named after the hero, Beowulf, who is a man â€Å"with gleaming armor.† (line 130) Because Beowulf is â€Å"theRead MoreGood vs. Evil1659 Words   |  7 Pages Good Vs. Evil In Beowulf, the conflict between good and evil is the poem s main and most important aspect. The poet makes it clear that good and evil doesn’t exist as only opposites, but that both qualities are present in everyone. Beowulf represents the ability to do good or to perform acts selflessly and in help of others. Goodness is also showed throughout this epic as having the ability to cleanse evil. Even though evil is presented by Grendel, Grendel s mother, and the dragon, who are filledRead MoreBeowulf vs Grendel Essay713 Words   |  3 Pages The roles that Beowulf and Grendel played in the story were very easily deciphered. Beowulf being pure good, and Grendel being pure evil. One of the reasons of why the book â€Å"Beowulf† is so well known is because of the fact that it is one of the first stories of good vs. evil, or light vs. dark. In modern good and evil stories, there are super heroes with super powers. They use these powers for the good of the world and to help innocent people. In most cases there is a villain