Ideals In Beowulf

Heroic people and ideals are frequently demonstrated throughout traditional epics. A hero to most would be someone who has courage and sacrificed his life for others. However, there are also negative traits of a hero. In Beowulf’s three fights against three monsters he uses different methods, techniques, weapons, and he wins different “trophies” each time. He defeated Grendel, the reckless monster, and his malicious mother one-on-one. Nevertheless, he was eventually beaten by the dragon. The sword he used in the battle with the dragon show that he had a god given strength and his courage signifies his royal obligation to people. However, on the other hand, the battle also indicates Beowulf’s arrogance. To begin, the battle with …show more content…
Most importantly, a slave had stolen a golden cup from a slumbering dragon and caused the dragon to attack. Beowulf decided to face the dragon and the narrator describes him as “yet the prince of the rings was too proud to line up with a large army against the sky-plague. He had scant regard for the dragon as a threat, no dread at all of its courage or strength, for he had kept going often in the past, through perils and ordeals of every sort, after he had purged Hrothgar's hall, triumphed in Heorot and beaten Grendel (Pg. 1230, line 2345-2353). It had been fifty years since he defeated Grendel. The narrator relates this back to Hrothgar’s hall when Beowulf fought for the Dane’s peace. Furthermore, the dragon is unbeatable with an entire army, but Beowulf was so determined to fight the dragon because he believes that he was giving so much to his people and being able to kill the dragon was his royal duties to protect his kingdom. He did not fight the dragon for treasure and money, he fought it because he realized it is his responsibility to defend his people so they won’t die. As a king, he puts himself in second and the people first, which signifies his royal obligation to …show more content…
Comitatus is defined as bond of companions, typically between a leader and his followers. Hrothgar once warned Beowulf to avoid pride because it is very dangerous, the god will punish it. Beowulf faced the battle with strong courage, but he is too proud to fight the dragon— he always wants to do thing in his way This cost him dearly, sadly for Beowulf “No help or backing was to be had then from his highborn comrades; that hand-picked troop broke ranks and ran for their lives to the safety of the wood” (Beowulf line 2596). Beowulf never realized the importance of relationship between his men and himself, that’s why ten of his men flee and only one stayed to fight against the dragon. Comiatius never existed between Beowulf and his men because Beowulf never relied on his men like Hrothgar. Consequently, the dragon ultimately killed Beowulf with his poisonous