- - - What warning does Hrothgar issue to Beowulf in Chapter XXIV? Does Hrothgar know something Beowulf does not? Explain this.
- - - Despite the fact that he is too old, too weak, and completely lacks confidence in his ability, why does Beowulf take on the dragon?
- - - Have any new themes emerged in the poem? Explain.
Hrothgar basically tells Beowulf to be smart. Hrothgar is saying do not become to full of yourself and think you can not die. No one lives forever. Hrothgar says this because he probably has witnessed this happen in the past. Hrothgar knows how great Beowulf is but anything could happen, and he wants Beowulf to be prepared.
ReplyDeleteBeowulf has the reputation of being the best of the best. He is a great warrior that has slayed many enemies. He defeated the unbeatable beast that is Grendel. He slayed the unexpected terror of Grendel's mother. He has yet to lose to an enemy. Beowulf is simply going to prove he is still the best to his people, even if he himself does not believe that. If he wins, his reputation grows even larger. If he dies what does he care? He will be dead then. Luckily he is able to achieve both. He defeats the dragon but is mortally wounded. His reputation further grows and he does not need to worry any more because he is dead.
A new theme that I have noticed is that even though people are stubborn or set in their ways, they do change. Beowulf was the warrior who was the best of the best. He did anything to keep that reputation. He even became king because he was so valued as a great warrior and no one could beat him. His people believed this. When a dragon threatens his people and him, he does not send someone else or sit back and say "I'm the best, I'm king i don't need to prove anything now". While this may be true he still faces the dragon with one other person. He still isn't afraid to get his hands dirty to protect his whole kingdom.
1. Hrothgar tells Beowulf in Chapter XXVI about the old king Heremod who brought suffering to his people. Hrothgar said this because he figures Beowulf will eventually become the king and wants him to know how to treat his people right and to be noble.
ReplyDelete2. Beowulf knows that death is soon to come to him, and he wants to prove that he can be noble. He also wants to take vengeance on the Dragon who keeps attacking The Geats.
3. New themes that I see in the passage is the significance of the Heorot. For example, Grendel's arm and head, Hrothgar's mead-hall, and the Dragon's treasure trove.
1. Hrothgar told Beowulf not to become full of himself and succumb to selfish desires. Hrothgar tells the story of Heremod and how he "grew strong not for their pleasure, but for mortal combat and deathblows against the Danish people." He tells this story to show Beowulf that people before him have been strong and courageous and that their lives don't always turn out in the best way. He warns Beowulf what could happen if he becomes self obsessed.
ReplyDelete2. Beowulf takes on the dragon because he simply is too proud not to. Although he knows his chances are quite slim he still wants to prove his greatness as a king and warrior to his people.
3. A new theme is verification of identity. Throughout the poem it has been important to not only Beowulf but seemingly everyone that they be viewed in the best way possible. Beowulf has gone out of his way to prove his greatness through out the story beginning with traveling to defeat Grendal. In his old age, when he was too weak he still ventured to at least attempt to defeat the dragon. He wanted to prove one last time he was still the best there was. He is constantly verifying his identity through courageous acts. This is why I think verification of identity is a theme verified in this section.
In chapter XVIII Hrothgar told Beowulf not to become full of himself and succumb to his self desires. Beowulf choses to not listen to Hrothgar's warning, and continues to carry on as he had before. Hrothgar knows that Beowulf can't continue to fight the he has before. Beowulf is growing older and is not as strong and powerful as he once was.
ReplyDeleteBeowulf decides to fight the dragon because he feels obligated to do so. His people expect him to fend off threats and dangers to their society. It's also more of a personal matter. The dragon burned down Beowulf's home, and he wants revenge. The last reason why Beowulf may have challenged the dragon is because, he is now king. Beowulf feels like with the responsibility of being king he must protect his people and stand up for his people, even though he may not be able to handle the challenge.
No new themes have really occurred in Beowulf. Throughout the book the themes of religion, Bravery and much more have stayed persistent in the poem.
1) Hrothgar praises Beowulf for his humility in success, and prophesies that he will be a great leader of his people ("you are destined to prove a sure and lasting comfort to your thanes..."). Hrothgar recounts the story of a long-ago king who wished evil upon his people, became enraged with them, and did not reward them duly. Hrothgar said: "He endured all joyless, and suffered in woe as his people were estranged from him." The result of this king's actions was ultimately a lack of joy and the necessary companionship of others.
ReplyDelete2) Beowulf goes out to try to conquer the dragon for several reasons: one reason is pride, another is a sense of duty to the people he has long previously protected (he says: "In the days of my youth I ventured on many battles; and even now will I, aged guardian of my people, challenge this destroyer if he will come forth from his den...") Another reason he seeks to do this is because he must live out (or die out, depending on how you choose to look at it) Hrothgar's words in chapter 25: "Your might is in bloom for only awhile... Death will suddenly take even you, o hero of war!"
3) New themes of honor and dignity unto death are brought up in this portion of the book (as Beowulf continues his tradition of honoring his people and history, through risking his life yet again with this new dragon).
1. Hrothgar tells Beowulf that he knows of his greatness and the good things he will do for his people. He then mentions their former king Heremod. Hrothgar explains how this man brought the people great suffering. He mentions this to Beowulf so he can warn him of what leadership can do to someone and how the people will be treated in return. Hrothgar knows that one day Beowulf will become king of the Geats. He is trying to show that there are bad and good leaders and Beowulf should choose to become a good one that his people will respect and prosper from.
ReplyDelete2. Beowulf takes on the dragon because it is his destiny. Destiny is mentioned a lot in this book and it is taken very seriously in this time period. Beowulf, even as he gets older, is still looked at as a hero. Beowulf knows that it is his fathers destiny to come out on top and always serve and protect his people. He takes on the dragon for his father and for his own destiny.
3. A theme that has newly emerged in Beowulf is that destiny can outshine personal want. Beowulf knows his destiny is to protect and fight and win battles. He explains how god has granted him with supreme strength and he must use it. It is also in his destiny that he follows after his father and protects and serves for him. Beowulf surely knows before fighting the dragon, that his is old and the result may not end in his favor as all prior battles have. He doesn't want to fight this battle, for he can predict the poor outcome, but it is written in his destiny that he must.
--- Hrothgar issues a warning to Beowulf telling him to not stray from his current character. In the chapter, Hrothgar compares Beowulf to Heremod, an evil king who abused his power and killed anyone who stood in his way. Beowulf is nothing like Heremod and Hrothgar warns him to continue to be an honorable and wise man, for he will become a great ruler one day.
ReplyDelete--- Despite all the factors against Beowulf, I think he decided to take on the dragon to get revenge on the dragon for burning down his hall. Also, before Beowulf fights the dragon he tells his men "This is not your fight, nor is it fitting for any but me alone to test my might against this monster here and achieve heroism. I shall win that wealth mightily, or war shall seize your king and lord with cruel killing". This tells me that the fight is a final test of strength to prove that Beowulf is a strong warrior who can still obtain wealth from his conquests. He knows he might die, but since he thinks its a test, he is willing to risk everything.
--- One new theme might be following your kingly duties to save and protect your people. Even though the fight with the dragon may be the end of Beowulf, he accepts anyway because he is fulfilling his duties as a king and protecting his people. Beowulf can win the wealth and distribute it to his warriors. Before Beowulf became king, he had the opportunity to become king before he was originally supposed to. That moment tested Beowulf as an honorable man, who would always do what he is supposed to.
Hrothgar studied the hilt and knew that Beowulf is powerful enough to fight off anything that may come in his way. He urged Beowulf to return back to Denmark for he knew that he would never get to see him again. Hrothgar knows Beowulf would take place of any king if needed and knows that trouble is coming his way by the description on the hilt. The hilt could be cursed because it was previously used in battle fighting off giants that went after lords. He encourages him before he left by showering him with treasure to thank Beowulf for all he has done.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Beowulf is now older and isn't as mighty as he use to be, Beowulf figures that the dragon was Gods way of punishing him for something that he has done. He does not want to invovle others in the battle because he knows that this battle is strictly between him and the dragon. He knows that in the past he has won his own battles against many monsters such as Grendel and feels that it is only right to defeat the dragon on his own. He still does not want to bring any weapons into the fight and only wears the armor that was made for him.
Reputation can not always be fufilled is a theme emereged in the poem. Beowulf is known as a strong solo fighter that can defeat anything with his bare hands. When it came to him slaying the dragon he could not complete his duty without the help of another person. Wiglaf had to step in by stabbing the dragon in the stomach to stop him from destroying Beowulf. Although Beowulf's reputation was long lasting, it eventually came to an end by his first and last defeat.
Hrothgar tells Beowulf a story of a ruler such as he, with as many followers as him and Beowulf, who was not modest in his accomplishments. Hrothgar states, “He grew strong not for their pleasure, but for mortal combat and for deathblows against the Danish people.” This means that the ruler did not consider his people in making decisions, but was just looking to add numbers to his body count. He uses this story to warn Beowulf to remain a “nobly-born hero.” Hrothgar has ruled for many years and has the Scyldings’ full support. He has done this through remaining loyal to them and putting them before himself. He utilizes his prior knowledge to give advice to Beowulf when he returns to his people. I believe Hrothgar knows what it takes to be a successful leader and is aware of what can be the demise of a leader. This telling foreshadows what could possibly happen if Beowulf refuses to take help from his people in regards to fighting the dragon. This event foreshadows Beowulf’s greatest flaw.
ReplyDeleteBeowulf had a sense of overconfidence when he offered aid to the Scyldings. The reader can attribute this characteristic to his reoccurring boasts in the earlier chapters of this poem. Beowulf was successful in all of his endeavors on the Scyldings’ land, morphing his confidence into cockiness. As he aged, he became reluctant to admit that his strength diminished, as he grew older. His extreme pride, in regards to self-help, inhibits him from thinking rationally about the situation. This is the exact problem that Hrothgar had warned Beowulf about. Beowulf is going to take the dragon based on the fact that he is too proud to allow himself any help from this demon, the same way he hadn’t needed help years ago considering Grendel and his mother.
A central message I am retracting from this poem is that working with others will prove essential to life, for one will not always be strong enough to complete all tasks on their own. This is exemplified in the paragraphs above considering Beowulf’s refusal for help from any other men. He is insistent upon doing things for himself; however, with his old age he is unable to do so. Help from others is essential to sustain his life, but by denying these, the poem states Beowulf’s “dreadful end.” As parents grow older and can no longer take care of themselves, often times their children take on a new role as their caretaker. If this person’s parents were loyal to them and offered support as they became adults, the child would be more willing to give up their time to benefit their parent. However, if the parent has betrayed the child, the child would not be willing to do so. No one on this earth would have been able to grow into an adult without at least minimal care from another adult. The exchange can become true later on and throughout life. All humans have to be reliant on other humans at one point or another to stay alive. Beowulf’s inability to comprehend this central message will lead to his greatest downfall in the next few chapters.
The message Hrothgar is trying convey to Beowulf is to always respect his fellow thanes and acknowledge that his gifts were given to him by God for a purpose. He believes that Beowulf should continue to use these gifts for a just cause. As Hrothgar relates the story of Heremod, he indicates the potential for Beowulf's natural desire for renown to get the best of him. The king warns Beowulf not to tread this path, for there is only "suffering and woe" at the end of it. He also reaffirms God's superiority to man, and the respect he commands. "The wide world bends to his will, and no one opposes it." Ultimately, Hrothgar seems to believe Beowulf's quest for legendary status will lead to his demise.
ReplyDeleteWhile Beowulf is old, he is not weak, nor does he lack confidence in his ability. The poet explains: "He did not fear the battle, nor think the dragon's warcraft a threat to his might and valor." This statement also illustrates why he accepts the challenge of the dragon. As were the battles of his past, he fights for his own greatness without the help of others. Perhaps this time, he fights for redemption because he believes the evil monster is a curse from his angered God, and that he must save himself from eternal damnation.
One new theme that has become increasingly apparent in the past few chapters is that no mortal man can conquer death. Beowulf begins to learn this as he prepares to fight the dragon in what seems like an unwinnable duel. Despite all his physical prowess, achievements, and titles, Beowulf is still doomed to die like a common man.
1. Hrothgar warns Beow to not allow himself to get carried away with himself. He relates a tale of Heremond, who estranged himself from everyone around him, whilst hoarding wealth, to reenforce the point.
ReplyDelete2.Beow takes on the dragon because he feels it is his duty to protect his kingdom. He regrets decisions from the past, such as running from a battle instead of dying, and feels the best way to redeem himself is to fight the dragon.
3. The theme of wealth being corrupting emerged in Beowulf. In Beowulf, Beow is warned not to let his fame and fortune corrupt him like it did a fellow warrior, Heremond. The theme is also reenforced with the tale of the dragon. The greed of the slave to have some treasure for himself resulted in the devastation of the Geats, and ultimately the death of Beow.
Hrothgar warns Beowulf to not be like the previous king. That king did not care about his people. He is telling this to Beowulf because Hrothgar thinks that after a reign is over Beowulf would take over. Beowulf, according to Hrothgar is a man of great wisdom and is popular among the people. Over all, Hrothgar is warning Beowulf to not be like the king of the past. Hrothgar knows that Beowulf will become king someday, and he is a man of high respects and will serve his people well in the future.
ReplyDeleteBeowulf decides to slay the dragon because he feels obligated to do so. He is now in charge of the people of his clan, therefore as the leader he is obligated and willing to protect his people. With the reason of being obligated to protect his people, he decides to go after the dragon and risk his life for the life of the others
A theme that has emerged is that valor does not die with age. This theme means that when one possesses valor, it is a quality that stays with and individual their entire life. This has emerged through the novel as Beowulf shows courage in the face of Grendle and his mother. Many before him did not poses the courage to go against the beasts, but Beowulf. He showed courage in the face of death, even though many before him had died because of those beasts. Beowulf also shows that his valor does not die with age. Although he is in old age, he decides to take on the dragon. That shows his courage with old age knowing that his skills are weak, he still attempts to defeat the dragon.
1. Hrothgar warns Beowulf about questing for popularity. He believes that if Beowulf tries to become to famous he may fall of the top and lose followers and supporters. Hrothgar knows that Beowulf is going to try and seek popularity. Beowulf is to worried about winning everyone over and isn't thinking about the big picture.
ReplyDelete2. Beowulf took on the dragon so he can make a payment to the king of the Danes. Him fighting will completely show that he is truly a honorable warrior and should be viewed that way. Also his pride and warrior code could not let him chicken out of the battle.
3. Tradition- when Beowulf fights the dragon his warrior code would not let him back out of the battle. Courage- even though he was older, weaker and didn't believe in himself he still had the courage to fight the dragon so he could honor the King of the Danes.
1. Not to let his strength and power get to his head because one day he will understand what its like to be mortal and may get himself into a predicament. Hrothgar seems to have known someone that it has happened to or he wouldn't go into such detail. He talks very deeply about how people forget what they were taught and start letting things get to there head about being better then everyone.
ReplyDelete2. He believes the king must protect his land. In order to feel like he did everything to protect his land he decided to take on the dragon on his own and may god be on his side.
3. I think Beowulf keeping that same reputation is a big theme in this story. Beowulf was known for being brave, loyal, and strong. So in order to keep that same reputation he felt he must face off the dragon for his final battle and if he goes down then hell feel like he did as much as possible.
Hrothgar tells Beowulf the story of Heremod who was not noble and selfish in his quest for fame. All he wanted was the fame which led his people to hate and estrange themselves from him to leave him alone. Hrothgar issues the warning to Beowulf to not let the fame go to his head and to stay a noble warrior. Hrothgar might have issued this warning because he does not want to see Beowulf lose his nobility and have to find a new warrior to take care of his problems.
ReplyDeleteBeowulf takes on the dragon because it killed his people and he wanted to take revenge on it. His whole kingdom sees him as the great and powerful which is why he has to protect them even if it means hurting himself. He does not want his people to seem him act cowardly.
A new theme that ties in is revenge. Beowulf is angry that his people were targeted by the dragon and vows revenge. There is also theme of keeping your reputation which shows values of characters. Beowulf does not want to lose his noble warrior reputation even though he is now older and weaker.
Hrothgar warns Beowulf to stay modest with his gift from god. Some men use the wisdom and power so much they forget they are mortal. When they get to proud they begin their downfall. They begin to ignore all signs of doom which ends badly for them.
ReplyDeleteDespite being too old, too weak, and completely lacks confidence in his abilities, he fights the dragon because he believes it is in his destiny. He needs to defend his people who are so good to him.He believes his destiny is for him and the dragon to die in battle together, as said in the story.
The new theme is that people change through their experiences. In the begining, Beowulf wqnts glory to his name and that is why he fights. Now, he sees that he should be fighting to defend the people of his land instead of himself.
1. In chapter XXIV of Beowulf, Hrothgar told him to not become too full of himself because of his accomplishments. He also told him to not give in to his selfish desires. Hrothgar knows that Beowulf will become hateful if he gives in. He strongly urges Beowulf to remember that God’s grace has given him glory. Hrothgar is just looking out for him by telling him what will happen. He knows that the people strive for a faithful leader and if he does not meet what the people want, he will become hated.
ReplyDelete2. Beowulf takes on the dragon to become true to himself and the people. He wants power, and by fighting the dragon he is gaining just that. This fight symbolizes Beowulf’s stand against evil and destruction as well as hero. If he fails, he knows that it will disappoint the people and he will lose trust and become weak as a king. Beowulf’s willingness to fight the dragon shows a relationship developing between Hygelac and the Danish king. This relationship is built through trust and loyalty, something Beowulf is giving them by fighting the dragon. In the scene where Beowulf and Hrothgar are saying their goodbyes because of Grendel and his mother being slain, Beowulf’s actions show how he is loyal following the warrior’s code. He has to protect his people from beasts and give them protection. By fighting, he does so.
3. One theme emerging from the poem is the theme of a good king looks after his warriors. By fighting the dragon, Beowulf gives trust and power to the people by giving them protection. Fighting the dragon shows he has bravery and strength and does not give up on anything, including the people he is ruling. He does not give up during the fight, showing a good quality as King for the people.
Hrothgar Beowulf that their former king, Heremod, was a violent leader, who brought suffering to his people. Beowulf is warned to not act like Heremod, and that his cruel actions should be a lesson to him. He also tells him not to become full of himself, because everything he has been given was a gift from God, and he should not take anything for granted. Hrothgar knows something that Beowulf does not by his tone of voice. He knows just how bad it was to witness Heremod's ruling methods. Hrothgar realizes Beowulf's full potential, and he does not want to see him end up like their previous leader.
ReplyDeleteThough Beowulf has grown old and weak, he knows he must take on the dragon. The dragon had not only destroyed Beowulf's home, but it made him do and feel things he had never done before. For the first time in his life, Beowulf dwelled on his sufferings and believed that he was being punished by God for some reason. Beowulf knows that he must take on the dragon because of how much of a bad impact the dragon has put on his life. In spite of being old and weak, Beowulf must avenge the loss of his home and the new feelings on his heart.
An emerging theme would be that no matter the age of a person, they can still have the same passions and heart they had when they were young. Even in Beowulf's advanced age, he still feels the need to take revenge on his enemies who interfere with his life. He could have sent an army to take on the dragon, or just accepted defeat, but he chose to put matters into his own hands and defeat the dragon with just eleven other men, most of which retreated into the woods. Beowulf's actions prove that one does not need to be young to be passionate about something, that they can do whatever they set their mind to.
1) Hrothgar warns Beowulf not to become full of himself. He tells him not to be arrogent. If he turns into the wrong person, his strength and power will deminish. Hrothgar knows what power and leadership can do to a person. He spoke about, Heremod, whome was a horrible king. He sees that Beowulf is a strong warrior, but is not sure if he would be able to handel being a king. He wants to give him fare warning from experience and help him be the best he can with whichever path he chooses.
ReplyDelete2) As a payment to the king of the danes, he decided to fight the dragon. Although he was old and knew his strength was weak, he was not going to let fear of a dragon take away his pride and inner warrior.
3) The theme of never letting fear overpower true destiny is emerged. Beowulf realizes his match for the dragon is not in his favor. But, loyality is his religion. All his life Beowulf wanted fame and fortune, and with that became loyalty to himself and his people. He knows that it is only right for him to take on the dragon and stay loyal to himself. He wants his strong warrior aspect to never die.
Hrothgar tells Beowulf that god gives special gifts to men and he should not use his gifts so much that he forgets he is mortal. Such a man thinks that nothing can do him harm. If he becomes too arrogant then he mine as well consider himself dead.
ReplyDeleteBeowulf takes on the dragon because he is now the king of the Geats and he must protect them at all costs. He believed god was punishing him when the dragon destroyed his home and plotted his revenge on the monster. He thought that him and the dragon were destined to die together. He must defeat the dragon to protect his honor
The theme that has emerged from Beowulf is there is a difference in what makes a warrior and leader. At the beginning of the story Beowulf goes to Denmark as a warrior and seeks riches and honor. The people of his country see him as lazy and weak, so he feels if he is able to defeat the beast then he would finally be seen as a hero. He helps the people of Denmark for selfish reasons which are not the qualities of a good king. He later learns when he becomes king that he must protect the people of his country over himself. He decides to take on the dragon alone not for glory but to keep his people safe and to not risk the lives of his warriors in the battle.
1.) In chapter eighteen, Hrothgar warns Beowulf not to become too arrogant. Hrothgar knew Heremod. Heremod was similar to Beowulf in his ability to fight and his confidence. Heremod, however, endured everything without happiness and suffered greatly as the people turned away from him, because he kept himself isolated. Hrothgar points this out in particular, because of the common qualities that Heremod and Beowulf shared, and because Beowulf was beginning to become arrogant and isolated. He constantly boasted about his accomplishments and threw away weapons saying he didn't need them. He also points out, when reporting to the king, that he was "friendless". He was beginning to take too much pride in being a loner.
ReplyDelete2.)Beowulf takes on the dragon for three reasons. First he wants to protect his home. It is human nature to protect what one owns. Since he is a hero and his home was attacked, he wants to defend his territory. The second reason is to further boost his reputation. Everything he has accomplished up to this point was so that he could make a legend out of himself. Why would this be any different? The last reason is that he is arrogant. He was overconfident with grendel, when he talked about his accomplishments which still are unconfirmed. He was self-absorbed with Grendal again when he reported the problem solved. This was a huge lie, because Grendal crawled off to his mommy and ended up getting a favorite counselor killed. If he hadn't been so arrogant he would have pursued Grendal and his mother would never have entered the picture.
3.) The theme of the value of the worker is more important than the tool is verified, because Beowulf discards his sword to attack Grendal's mother with his bare hands before finding another to kill her with. The theme of True friends never lose faith arrives when Beowulf's fellow warriors stayed by the water even though the water was blood red, and the other people had left. They stayed behind, because they knew their lord would prevail.
ReplyDeleteIn Chapter XXIV, Hrothgar is essentially warning Beowulf not to become so hungry for the lust for fame that it overwhelms him, consuming him to the point beyond retribution. He uses the example of Heremod, who was offspring of Ecgwela of the Scyldings. He speaks of how "he grew strong not for their pleasure, but for mortal combat and deathblows against the Danish people." Here, Hrothgar is stating that Heremod was indeed a respected and intrepid hero. However, his own skills and abilities and the fame and glory all consumed him, and he found a lust for war and such events of that magnitude. He also states that it had consumed him to the point of leaving "far from human society," and that he had become "bloodthirsty in its passions." He warns Beowulf of this, because he knows that there is something behind pride and glory. Fame can reach a point of infamy, and he is well aware, as he has seen it; he speaks "from the wisdom of many bygone winters," meaning that he has seen it before, and wishes it not again upon the new hero, Beowulf.
ReplyDeleteEven in his old, degrading health, Beowulf feels an obligation to protect the treasures of that "old and long-forgotten prince in ancient times." He wants to keep the memory of his friends who have since fallen, and preserve them even despite the fear of the dragon. He also says that he came to the dragon's den "not by his own will, but under dire threat of death." This meant that he felt compelled to honor his fallen comrades of years past, and that it would be a disgrace that he would spend his life in disrespect to them. He tries to overcome his lack of confidence for them, for the Danish king and those that have fallen. He says, "for death had driven them all hence, and he alone was left alive," which reinstates this point that he feels obligated to take down the dragon to honor those that fell since he was appointed under them.
One of the themes that emerged along with Chapter XXIV is that the lust for fame and adulation can often consume one, causing them to change for the worse, becoming blind to their own degradation. This is warned about by Hrothgar so the author could make a point of this theme, and that such a fate often emerges from it. This speaks volumes about the values they believe were present in society back then, as to how this lust can lead to ones downfall. This is seen even in the bible, when I believe King Saul turned from God's word after he was placed in a position of power and will. Then, he was demolished by God for betraying him for his own ideals. The same value applies today as it did then, and the lesson to take from it is the same. We have seen the rise and fall of dictators and even media stars at this same theme. And yet, we humans have still not learned from our past mistakes. Very interesting...
Hrothgar tells Beowulf to not let his glory make him bloodthirsty and to not turn on his comrades or people. Hrothgar tells Beowulf the story of Heremod, who did let this happen. As a result, Heremod left his people and was estranged. Hrothgar tells Beowulf if he is like Hremod, he would also be estranged, honor-less and without fame.
ReplyDelete- I believe Beowulf takes on the dragon despite his odds because he wants to retain his honor and to retain his reputation as a strong king and leader. He wants to prove that even though he is getting weaker, he still wants to fight and to lead his men through battle, even though he might die.
- I believe a new theme has emerged. While Beowulf was fighting the dragon with all his might, he was surrounded by fire with a broken sword and a shield. To his rescue, came Wiglaf.Wiglaf was the only comrade of Beowulf that did not run and stuck by Beowulf to fight the Dragon. I believe the theme of this is that loyalty and courage can overcome fear.
ReplyDelete1.)Hrothgar warns Beowulf not to become too cocky over all of his success and also not to give in to selfish desires. Hrothgar knows that if Beowulf changes then he will become vile. He strongly urges him to keep in mind that God’s grace has given him glory. Hrothgar means well when he is telling Beowulf all of this and his intentions are good. He is also correct about how Beowulfs reputation will change if he becomes arrogant.
2.) Beowulf takes on the dragon even though he was old because his pride and would not let him chicken out of any battle. The most apparent motivation has to be his own honor and glory. When he first arrives he boasts that “I meant to perform to the uttermost what your people wanted, or perish in the attempt, in the fiend’s clutches. And I shall fulfill that purpose, prove myself with a proud deed or meet my death here in the mead-hall.” His boasts continually get more challenging such as killing Grendel with his bare hands. Beowulf’s boasts help make his victories seem all the more magnificant and praise worthy. He knew he was, said he would be, and was victorious. When all looked hopeless in the battle, the one thought that motivated him was his reputation. Even when he was figthing the dragon at the end of his life, the thought of glory encouraged him to take that one last hit at the dragon before he died. The thought of the dragon’s treasure was also quite motivating.
3.) A new theme that has emerged in the poem is the idea of morality. Hrothgar reminds Beowulf of their mortality as a warning against excessive pride. Within these chapter, the predictability of Beowulf's death becomes more and more deeply felt.
Hrothgar warns Beowulf to not become so full of himself and succumb to his selfish desires. This speech happens in the hall of heorot where it is ignored by Beowulf. Hrothgar has been around for a long time and he knows that the warriors that do this are doomed to fail on their own journey.
ReplyDeleteBeowulf fought the dragon out of a cultural aspect. He was a anglo-saxon warrior who believed that honorable warriors should die in battle rather than die of old age. This is why he vows to kill the dragon and travels to the den.
I dont believe any new themes have emerged as Beowulf is still struggling to meet his goal of living up to his fathers legacy while dealing with his own personal desires. This is why he ignores Hrothgars warning and ravels to the dragon's den knowing that death may await him. It is what is culturally right to Beowulf and he would never let his people down.
1.) Hrothgar basically warns Beowulf not to appreciate what the people of Dane are giving him and to be more proud of himself independently. In other words to not share his accomplishment with everyone but share it only with himself and spirit. The reason Hrothgar says this to Beowulf is because he knows that from past experience the same thing has happened before to an important person who acted as a hero and he wants Beowulf to learn from that mistake.
ReplyDelete2.)Beowulf takes on the dragon because he wants to protect the Saxons and most importantly he wants the treasure that he will receive after he fights off the dragon. Also he is trying to prove that he is a strong fighter and for the popularity of course.
3.) I think that "doing something for yourself before others" is a new theme in Beowulf because at this point he wants to prove that he is loyal and wants the people of Dane to like him, but he also wants to feel the confidence inside of him that he has never felt before. Also by not just accomplishing one heroic issues, he accomplishes two and believes he has a good chance of gaining likes from people and reflecting on the past Saxon heroes. However he wants to listen to what Hrothgar says, he somehow feels something on the inside that is telling him something different.
Hrothgar warns Beowulf of arrogance. He reminds him that no matter how much bravery and glory he posesses that he must stay humble. If he takes too much pride in his accomplishments, he will become hateful. Hrothgar tells him he must always remember his glory is a wonderful gift from God.
ReplyDeleteBeowulf takes on the dragon despite his weaknesses because he must defend his town. He already defended the land of the Danes, and now a beast is wreaking havoc on his own town. He must seek revenge for the chaos the beast has caused. Also, Beowulf lacks fear. He will take on any battle, big or small, to prove he can do anything.
A new theme that can be seen emerging is, "In the absence of fear, bravery appears". This has become very apparent in the story, as Beowulf is fearless in all his battles, giving him the bravery to defeat these monstrous beasts that have been ravaging the towns.
He warns him that he isn't as strong as he thinks he is.
ReplyDeleteHe takes on the dragon because it's his job to protect the danes and he would look like a bad leader if he let it go. The theme is that a hero is always loyal to his people just like Beowulf is in this chapter by deciding to fight the dragon.
Heathgar warns Beowulf not to get into anything over his head because he has seen kings before him only care about themselves and not their warriors.
ReplyDeleteBeowulf wants to remain a loyal warrior and wants his legacy to remain great. He takes on the dragon even though he may not be able to defeat it.
A theme of trying to relive your youth has emerged. Beowulf is not capable of fighting the dragon but in the past he would've been able to. Many people go through midlife crises and try to relive your youth and I think this is what Beowulf is doing.
---Hrothgar warns Beowulf that great people (which Beowulf is) can become full of themselves and greedy. He tells the story of Heremod who became too strong and started killing his own men. He kept treasures from the people how deserved them. It seems as if Hrothgar fears Beowulf may become like this.
ReplyDelete---Beowulf's home was destroyed and believed he was being punished by god. So he had nothing to lose. We was the only one capable of fighting the dragon with his experience from all the other monsters he fought. He also wanted to either achieve one last bit of honor or die doing it.
--- In these chapters the theme that is emerging has to do with leaving a legacy is more important the living with one. Beowulf wanted to fight the dragon alone so he could be remembered for something great. He had to know he was going to die but still went to be remembered as the king who fought the dragon.
Hrothgar warns Beowulf not to let all his success get to him. Hrothgar is a afraid that if Beowulf lets down his guard he will be of little worth or value. Hrothgar tells beowulf his reputation will change if he becomes arrogant.
ReplyDeleteBeowulf has to much pride to back out of a fight. He has to much honor and glory.The though of glory encouraged Beowulf to take on the dragon.
Morality. Hrothgar warns Beowulf of their morality as a warning against excessive pride.
Hrothgar told Beowulf not to become full of himself. He didn't want him to get a big head. He says to him "Thus, exalted, your fame, oh Beowulf my friend, will spread on fleet wings, far and wide over the realms of many folks. Nevertheless, you carry your might with modesty and wisdom." He's reminding him of his wisdom and to say modest in what he does.
ReplyDeleteBeowulf knows he is dying so he wants to take on another battle to keep proving himself to the people. He wants to die memorable. He already took on Grendel so now he want to take on the dragon to keep proving himself the people. He doesn't listen to Hrothgar when he tells him to not take on the dragon and does it anyways.
Generosity is a big theme in this book. Hrothgar displays this theme the most during the book. He shows generosity when he tries to stop Beowulf from taking on the dragon. The whole book Hrothgar shows himself to be sort of like a"background" hero because he's doing all things good yet he isn't acknowledged as much as Beowulf is.
1) Hrothgar tells Beowulf to not "tend toward arrogance" because he will eventually become old and weak and will not have his strength forever. Beowulf was the strongest warrior of his time and he needs not to be oblivious when he loses the fight in him. Hrothgar tells him this because he was once young before and he realized that his big ego got to him. Hrothgar doesn't want what happened to him to happen to Beowulf.
ReplyDelete2) Beowulf takes on the dragon because he is too proud to create an army to fight against it. When Beowulf was young and strong he destroyed Grendel with his bare hands; now that he is older and weaker he wants to show his people that he is still able to protect them on his own.
3) A new theme definitely emerged in the poem. Beowulf was a heroic warrior at one point in the poem and he only wanted to be known as a great warrior for his own self glory. Now that he is a king he realizes that he must alter his views a little bit because other things such as his people's safety are more important.
1. Hrothgar warns Beowulf that power and wealth will make him greedy.
ReplyDelete2. There is a sense of destiny on Beowulf's part to fight this dragon. He seems to have a clear idea and want to fight this dragon. However the narrator re-enstills Beowulf's strong sense of fate and even foreshadows to Beowulf's death.
3. I think these chapters reinforce the theme of heroic reputation, but also introduce a new theme. There is a new theme of recalling Beowulf's prior acheivements in an epic statement
1. Hrothgar warns Beowulf and tells beowulf the bad things that can happen when questing for fame. He believes that if Beowulf tries to become to famous he may fall of the top and lose followers therefore losing what he could have had like being king. Hrothgar knows that Beowulf is going to try and seek popularity. Beowulf is to worried about winning everyone over and is not thinking about the what the end reaction from the people could be.
ReplyDelete2. Beowulf took on the dragon so he can make a payment to the king of the Danes. Him fighting will completely show that he is truly a honorable warrior and should be viewed that way. Also his pride and just him being a strong warrior wouldn't let him back down from a fight. He shows just how brave he is by fighting this dragon.
3. Tradition- when Beowulf fights the dragon his Pride, honor,and code would not let him back out of the battle. Courage- even though he was older, weaker and didn't believe in himself he still had the courage to fight the dragon. He was trying to impress the Danes and show them that he wont back down and how much bravery and courage he really has.
Hrothgar indicates to Beowulf that is is great to have strength and bravery, but if he gets too caught up in all the glory he will lose focus. Beowulf loves being in the spot light such as him getting all the treasures from Hrothgar and his people. Beowulf needs to keep focus on his goals and less on him getting honored.
ReplyDeleteBeowulf takes on the dragon to show his people that he is still strong and brave. Beowulf wants the town to trust him that he can still protect the town. He did not even make an army to help him, so he really wants the people to know he is a noble leader.
The one new theme that is shown is "You may think that it is easy to do something by yourself, but having people help you will be best for everyone". Beowulf thinks he is still as strong when he was young, but he is actually a lot older and weaker. He could of made an army to defeat the dragon.
Hrothgar warns Beowulf of arrogance and greed. He tells Beowulf the story about Heremond and how he became selfish. Hrothgar wants him to stay thankful and humble throughout his reign.
ReplyDeleteBeowulf takes on the dragon to keep his reputation of being strong and reliable. He wants to continue to be a hero for the people. He feels he needs to protect his town. He cannot let the dragon get away with putting his people in danger.
A new theme has emerged in the poem. The theme is too much wealth and power can change a person for the worst. If someone like Beowulf lets things get to their head, the end result may not be positive.
1. Hrothgar informs beowulf that he is aware of what he is capable of and the greatness he can achieve for his people. Comparing himself to heremod, a very selfish leader, he told beowulf about different leadership styles and which were more efficient. He reminded beowulf, they way he leads his people(successfully or unsuccessfully) could determine how his people will act towards him in return. Hrothgar is convinced that Beowulf will be a great leader.
ReplyDelete2. Beowulf defeats the dragon because that is the type of challenge best fit for only beowulf. Because of his great power and strength most people rely on him. Through out beowulf's life he will always be looked highly apon.
3. Beowulf is told to not become cocky and to not allow his success to get to his head. Heremod let all his success get to his head and ended up making him a bad leader later on needing beowulf's help. A good example would be the tale of a dragon. The greed of the slave resulted in heart ache for the geats, and was the reason for beowulf's death.