Beowulf ||

Beowulf

An Epic Poem

 

            Beowulf is regarded a great attribute to literature, and it is so. Beowulf is proof of the importance of literature in culture and to humanity, it was written for a reason, and which ever it may be the end result is amazing. The heroic poem narrates the tale of the hero, he who must embark on a journey to overcome what troubles the needed. Now, due to the poem’s ancient character it may be difficult to provide an appropriate critique; regardless, one can appreciate various aspects present in mythological critique that many have addressed and I now must do so too.

 

            Mythological literature is characterized by its archetypes, and Beowulf lacks not in that aspect. Beowulf, the protagonist, is the hero that sets on the quest to achieve greatness, and in that manner earn his title and honor as the hero. The herald of the story is self-awareness and pride in the hero’s own abilities. He decides to face Grendel, the shadow, with his bare hands, since he—Beowulf—is Grendel’s match. Beowulf does succeed to achieve his goal as he ripped of his arm and the creature flees in terror. Finally dying from his fatal wound. In the poem Grendel’s mother, mad at the loss of her child proceeds to attack Heorot. To take vengeance for what they had done to her. However, in the movie, she is portrayed as the femme fatal. A creature of great beauty to which Beowulf losses and commits sin as he embraces the monster and procreates—later giving birth to the dragon. Whereas, in the poem, Beowulf slays the creature in the cave under the lake where she resides.

            Knowing the mythological symbolism, why would the author choose water as the barrier that separates the creature from the outside world? Could it be that the world to which Beowulf belongs is pure? That lacks not in sin, or is it the other way around? Could it be that the creature is pure and is serving the purpose of eliminating the ones whom threaten the good? What if the water meant that he whom passed must have been pure to have the capacity to end the vile being. Whichever the case, the beast was slain. Beowulf as the hero returns to his land to rule as its king.

 



After many years from the battle Beowulf loses his battle to a dragon, a dragon that attacked enraged by the theft of a golden cup he possessed. The golden cup could mean greed, the greed of humanity for riches and sin. The dragon is then the punishment that they must face for the sin committed. Here is where pride takes the final toll on the hero, Beowulf, filled with pride thinking of defeating the dragon on his own. Which he does, but not before the dragon gives the hero a fatal strike which set the hero on the journey to the other world. Beowulf then is not as much a hero as he is a defender, a defender of those whom sin. A defender that is burned with fire so that his death is accepted and he shall live forever as a legend.

 

What do you think is the moral of the story? Share your answer I'd like to know what you think.

Thank you for reading, cheers!