Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Question for August 29, Beowulf (47-61)
Is Beowulf a braggart? That is, does he boast too much about what he has done and can do? Discuss, referencing today's reading and the comments of at least one other student. (The first student to post a comment obviously does not reference another student comment.)
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ReplyDeleteBeowulf is somewhat of a braggart before he fights Grendel in the story. One of the ways he brags is by not using armor or any weapons when fighting Grendel. Instead he “remove{s} his iron breast-mail, took off his helmet, and handed his attendant the patterned sword”. He expects that the fight will be easy and that he will not break a sweat. When he lays down to sleep he boasts about what a great warrior he is to his men. He says that he “counts [himself] as dangerous any day”, and that he expects to “mow him down easily as I might”. Since he has excellent swords man skills, he will not need to wear his usual armor. He wants to show the men that he is great and that nothing can stand in his way. After he kills Grendel and tears his arm away as reward, the men celebrate. Beowulf is given the floor to speak to Hrothgar and he reveals that he is not happy about his battle. He expected more from himself because he did not “pin him down in a tight grip and grapple him to death”. To Beowulf he did not win the fight because he did not kill Grendel. Instead Grendel “bought his freedom at a high price, for his left arm and shoulder”. Beowulf expected to have the full body as a reward and not just a piece. Beowulfs boasting to the men ended in frustration and disappointment. He wanted to show off to the men that he was a fierce warrior because he considered himself a dangerous warrior.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Beowulf was disappointed with the outcome of the fight I believe that he is still being boastful. I agree with the original commenter that Beowulf is meant to sound disheartened in his speech when he explains how he had originally planned to pin Grendel to the ground and choke the beast to death, but the emotions of his victory definitely shine through. For example at the beginning of his speech after killing Grendel, Beowulf says, “We dared against the unknown.” This shows that although Beowulf had boasted that he was as strong as Grendel he had only heard stories of the monster. After the ordeal is over he begins to let people know that the action was more impressive because he had had no idea how strong Grendel was. Beowulf wanted to take the action a step farther than just destroying Grendel. He wanted to do it with his bare hands to win recognition. The end of his speech states Grendel’s condition after the battle, “He is hasped and hooped and hirlping with pain. Limping and looped in it.” Beowulf is bragging at how badly he hurt Grendel without receiving any wounds in return. None of Beowulf’s triumphs are taken with a stoic nature. Even his failures, such as the swimming race story, have intense trials that he overcomes. All of his tails are given in a boastful manor as if no other man could have accomplished so much. Beowulf is an extremely prideful character who needs to be praised for his good deeds.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Beowulf presents himself as a braggart in several ways. First is that Beowulf refuses to use tools and armor to aid himself in his battles. Though he is gifted with superhuman strength, this does not defeat the fact that he is still human. I truly believe that Beowulf has convinced himself that he is immortal and cannot be defeated. Aside from all this Beowulf (as previously stated in a blog) boasts to his men about his excellent swordsman skills as well as others and presents himself to be the greatest warrior that has ever lived. Though he defeated Grendel, he had done it in a way that he could receive the most glory and fame possible, and to add to that he brought back his head.
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