Beowulf vs. Grendel | Characteristics, Story & Differences, Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare: Study Guide, CSET English Subtests I & III (105 & 107): Practice & Study Guide, CLEP English Literature: Study Guide & Test Prep, College English Literature: Help and Review, AP English Language: Homeschool Curriculum, 9th Grade English Curriculum Resource & Lesson Plans, 11th Grade English Curriculum Resource & Lesson Plans, 12th Grade English Curriculum Resource & Lesson Plans, Create an account to start this course today. Finally, Beowulf locates an ancient sword on the cave wall and kills Grendels mother with it. ;m7j#mjv=?o/^5Yi2?e|h%S^;~Y\)m*e0ck He is easily the best warrior in the country, which he demonstrates by killing Greened. He is ethical because he asked permission to kill Grendel. Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Education. The powerful, memorable story of Beowulf has value as a vehicle for leadership instruction. He is the only person who can fight with monsters. Although we can view these three encounters as expressions of the heroic code, there is perhaps a clearer division between Beowulfs youthful Although we can view these three encounters as expressions of the heroic code, there is perhaps a clearer division Though only a man, Beowulf pits his strength against giants, demons and mythological beasts. Our contention here is that Beowulf exemplifies charismatic leadership as detailed in the model detailed by Conger and Canungo (1994) in their article, Charismatic Leadership in Organizations. After killing Grendel's mother, Beowulf is given many gifts by Hrothgar, including an heirloom sword. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Another ways is when he instead of winning the swimming match with Brecca, Beowulf fight the sea monsters and cleans out the seas. Beowulf is challenged by Unferth, one of Hrothgar's warriors who doubts him. The poem explores his heroism in two separate phasesyouth and ageand through three separate and increasingly difficult conflictswith Grendel, Grendels mother, and the dragon. He is young, around twenty years of age, and most likely good-looking according to Anglo-Saxon standards. y`/DP`x( Beowulf Mastiffs are raised in a family situation. Ethics in the story A. When the fight starts Beowulf tries to hit the dragon with his sword but it does not work out and the sword breaks. Cartwright, S. (2002). Commonly epic heroes have superior strength, have strong love for their people, are fearless of death, and are very ethical people. Most scholars read Beowulf as a multi-sectional poem, with the first being the story of Heorot, where the Danish warriors celebrate their heroic deeds in song until the attacks by Grendel begin. Evil. Many incidents, such as the tearing-off of the monsters arm and the heros descent into the mere, are familiar motifs from folklore. Hotei Publishing 1962. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. author Unknown. 2019 Association of Leadership Educators, all rights reserved. Beowulf is what is known as an ''epic hero.'' At the victory celebration that evening in Heorot, King Hrothgar gives fabulous gifts and praise to Beowulf and his companions. The work deals with events of the early 6th century, and, while the date of its composition is uncertain, some scholars believe that Critical Paper Sydney Grimes English 2322 Prof. Blomberg Dec. 9, 2012 Outline THESIS: The themes of morality and ethics play a crucial role in the story. During that earlier period patches of tribal and sub-tribal leadership were beginning to reveal what would eventually become nation states. Works Cited Chickering, Howell D. Beowulf: A Dual-language Edition. Log in or sign up to add this lesson to a Custom Course. and then says, ''The ocean swayed, / Winter went wild in the waves, but you vied / For seven nights; and then he outswam you, / Came ashore the stronger contender'' (Heaney). For his part, Beowulf, through his heroic exploits, is an abundant fountain of treasure during his years as the leader of his warrior band, and as king of the Geats he is a renowned ring-giver. This line seems to test the ethical reasoning in the time that Beowulf was written. In the case of Beowulf, we witness a good example of the heroic ideal that in several important ways fits well the Conger-Kanungo charismatic leader model summarized in the previous section. When Beowulf and his entourage arrive on the Danish shores on their way to Hrothgar's home, the sentry says of Beowulf, ''Nor have I seen / A mightier man-at-arms on this earth / Than the one standing here: unless I am mistaken, / He is truly noble'' (Seamus Heaney's translation). Another important characteristic of the epic is the theme of ethics throughout the story. Many morals are presented in Beowulf to be understood, although these morals are often times explained very briefly, they are all intertwined with the over-arching theme of good vs. evil. Within the last three decades, charisma has in organizational studies become associated with the concept of transformational leadership, elucidated by Burns in his 1978 book Leadership. A vacuum of leadership has been created by Beowulfs death. Beowulf is a heroic epic, a long poem which recounts the deeds of a legendary warrior. And he is on the alert for wrongs to be righted. Many morals are presented in Beowulf to be understood, although these morals are often times explained very briefly, they are all intertwined with the over-arching theme of good vs.. Beowulf is the main character of the epic poem Beowulf. The art of creating leaders: Popular culture artifacts as pathways for development. genre Alliterative verse; elegy; resembles heroic epic, though smaller in scope than most classical epics. Commonly referred to as an Old English epic poem, it consists of more than 3,000 lines, all of which use alliteration. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. This he does by swimming down to her underwater lair, holding his breath for several hours. She also serve as the vice president and philanthropy chair for Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. Beowulf: The heroic, the monstrous, and Anglo-Saxon concepts of leadership. Because of his civic duty to his people, Beowulf must fight the dragon and, to protect his men, he insists he do it alone. Most of the Beowulf descriptions in the poem pay more attention to Beowulf's actions than his physical appearance, but it is possible to get a few more details about what he looks like. Beowulf. Presently we are at the confluence of major cultural currents that bring the elements of the Beowulf story to the forefront of popular appeal. Beowulf. Gwara, Scott. The process of moving from one open window to another is called what? Wiglaf, Beowulf's companion and kinsman, remains by his side. Cunning, strength, and courage were obviously prized in the warrior, and especially in a leader who maximized these warrior traits and upon whom the band depended. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, Beowulf: Story, Characters, and Old English, Who Was Beowulf? It is always better to avenge dear ones than to indulge the mourning (Beowulf 61). The work deals with events of the early 6th century, and, while the date of its composition is uncertain, some scholars believe that Most of us would say its knowing the difference between right and wrong. Increasingly over time, Beowulf was influenced by Christianity to include Gods help in order to remain moral and win battles of good vs.. No one has time to read them all, but its important to go over them at least briefly. The sword Beowulf uses against Grendels mother proves useless; it did not penetrate through the skin and bone. Heaney, S. (2000). Beowulf exemplifies the traits of the perfect hero. Beowulfs father once started a feud, which Hrothgar helped to end. Order your assignment! 99 lessons Beowulf tears Grendel's arm from its socket with his bare hands, leaving the monster to limp away to his death. These traits demonstrate which things Anglo-Saxons valued the most. God is associated with good C. Characters look to praise God when good things happen Sydney Grimes Prof. Evert Blomberg English 2322 9 December 2012 Critical Paper The battle of good vs. evil has been one of the most recognizable themes of literature throughout time. His comrades willingly go with him because of their confidence in his ability to lead them and to achieve their objectives. First, the idea of a fatal flaw is one that is most readily found in the Christian literary canon, not something that exists regardless of culture and throughout history. The protagonists actions highlight the human struggle between good and evil. An in-depth Beowulf character analysis is essential for anyone who is interested in studying the poem in detail. Or, according to Maria Dahvana Headley's more irreverent translation, the same lines read, ''And, also, who's the giant? The dragon, angered, attacks Beowulf's kingdom. This is demonstrated in the Hoarders Sermon where Warthogs says, Do not give way to pride. By the time Beowulf was published, the idea of Christianity had spread wildly throughout England. One of Beowulf's traits that gets a lot of scrutiny is his arrogance. WebBeowulf is then drug to the bottom of the lair by Grendels mom to her court. His people mourn him but celebrate his noble death in battle. It spared her and failed the man in need (Heaney 1522-1525). In the modern organization, the question of who or what will take the place of the charismatic leader should be on the minds of all those responsible for seeing the organization live long and prosper, especially if relying upon leaders After Beowulf slays him, Grendel's mother attacks the hall and is then defeated. Some have suggested that this arrogance constitutes a ''fatal flaw'' on Beowulf's part. He asks, ''Are you the Beowulf who took on Breca / In a swimming match on the open sea, / Risking the water just to prove you could win?'' Amsterdam Archaeological Studies, 5. Most importantly, they embody the characteristics most highly praised by their societies. In the modern organization, the question of who or what will take the place of the charismatic leader should be on the minds of all those responsible for seeing the organization live long and prosper, especially if relying upon leaders with charisma means neglecting to develop leadership ability in others. After Beowulf slays him, Grendel's mother attacks the hall and is then defeated. / He's no small-time hall-soldier, but noble!'' Te_>pH-bRMn%9M>tl? In the poem it says:' He leaped into the lake, would not wait for anyone's answer :The heaving water covered him, over. With a sharp blade in Grendels mother possession, Beowulfs defeat seemed certain and his confidence was lost for an instant. Print. Beowulf is, above all, a story about one man's life. The poem includes many histories of various warriors: their ancestry, deeds of valor and debts they owe or have paid. Callahan, J., Whitener, J., & Sandlin, J. In the mead hall of Heorot on the first night, after introductions, drinking, and boasting, the Danish King Hrothgar and his retainers go to their bedchambers while the visiting warriors bed down in the mead hall. It is also part of the broader tradition of heroic poetry. Beowulf's characteristics are aspirational; they are often hyperbolic, but they provided Anglo-Saxon men with a role model. Dating back to between the 8th and 11th centuries and set in Scandinavia, the poem likely was used to teach lessons to young warriors of the day, said Alexander M. Bruce, in the free online journal "The Heroic Age." He is ethical because he asked permission to kill Grendel. Throughout the poem, we see Beowulfs bravery and courage again and again, together with his true heroic Beowulfs father once started a feud, which Hrothgar helped to end. Enrons ethical collapse: Lessons for leadership educators. The warrior bands had to be highly adaptive units whose members were ready to pick up at a moments notice, alter course as sea winds changed, and opportunistically choose proper targets. Another major current involves the large number of popular accounts of legendary and mythical heroes, many of whom display their heroism in struggles with monsters. One major similarity between the charismatic and transformational leaders is their ability to empower employees to exceed normal expectations of achievement. Broken down into 2 categories of morality and ethics B. Noble! he does by swimming down to her underwater lair, holding his breath for several hours Beowulfs!, memorable story of Beowulf 's how is beowulf ethical are aspirational ; they are often hyperbolic, but they provided men! Hrothgar 's warriors who doubts him the dragon with his sword but it does not work and. Indulge the mourning ( Beowulf Mastiffs are raised in a family situation incidents, such as the of! 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