REFLECTION ON "BEOWULF"

BEOWULF

King Hrothgar of Denmark, a descendant of the great king Shield Sheafson, reigned his Kingom and brought prosperity to his people. He built a great mead-hall, called Heorot. In the mead-hall, his warriors could gather to hold a feast and listened to the stories sung by the scops and bards. But the jubilant noise from Heorot made Grendel angry. It is a horrible monster who lived in the swamplands of Hrothgar’s kingdom. Then, Grendel terrorized the Danes every night and killing them. No one could fight against Grendel, all effort they had done to kill Grendel was always fail, because Grendel could defeat the efforts to fight him back.

The kingdom and its people suffered many years of fear, danger and death at the hand of Grendel. The news spread widely. Eventually, Beowulf, a young warrior of Geat heard the Hrothgar’s plight. Beowulf was a nephew of Geatish king, Hygelac. Then, he decided to sail to Denmark with a small company of his bravest men. He determined to defeat Grendel. Hrothgar, who had once done a great favor for Beowulf’s father, Ectheow, accepted Beowulf’s offer to defeat Grendel. To bring a honor to Beowulf, he held a feast of hero’s honor. But an envious Dane named Unferth insulted Beowulf and accused him of being unworthy of his reputation. He claimed that Beowulf once lost a swimming match against Breca, the sea monster and that he would find his second lost when he faces Grendel in the mead-hall. Beowulf responded with explaining the true version of his battle with Breca. He also described of some of his accomplishment boastfully. His confidence cheered the Danish warriors, and the feast still went into the night. At last, Grendel arrived. Beowulf fought against Grendel alone, unarmed. He wanted to prove himself that he was stronger than the demon. Finally, Beowulf could defeat Grendel and tears the monster’s arm off. Mortally wounded, Grendel slinked back into swamp to die. The severed Grendel’s arm was hung high in the Mead-hall as a trophy of victory.

Because of his victory, Beowulf was showered with gifts and treasure at a feast. They sung the songs in praise of Beowulf, and the celebration lasted late into the night. But another threat was approaching. Grendel’s mother, came to the kingdom to seek for revenge for her son’s death. She could kill Aeschere, one of Hrothgar’s most trusted advisers, before slinking away. To avenge Aeschere death, the company went to the dark swamp. There Beowulf dived into the underwater of her lair and fighting against her. He killed her with a sword which is forged for a giant. He also found Grendel’s corpse, then he decapitated it and brought the head as a prize to Hrothgar.

The Danes are again overjoyed, and Beowulf became popular warrior and the fame spread accros the kingdom. He returned to Geatland. In the Geatland, he recounted his adventure in Denmark to his king and queen, Hygelac and Hygd. Beowulf then handed over most of his treasure to Hygelac, who, in turn, rewarded him.

In time, Hygelac was killed in a war against the Shylfings, and after Hygelac’s son died, Beowulf became the next king. He ruled the kingdom wisely for fifty years, made Geatland as a prosperous kingdom. When Beowulf was an old man, the kingdom was in the horrible obstruction, a thief disturbed a barrow where a great Dragon lied to guard a horde of treasure. The Dragon emerged and triggered horrible destruction to Geatland. To protect his kingdom and sensing his own death approaching, he went to fight against the Dragon. With the aid of Wiglaf, he succeeded in killing the Dragon. But the Dragon could bite Beowulf in the neck and its venom killed him moments after their encounter. After his death the Geats feared that their enemies would attack them now after Beowulf died. According to Beowulf’s wishes, they burnt their king’s body on a huge pyre and then buried him with a massive treasure in a barrow overlooking the sea.

Source:

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/beowulf/summary.html

http://www.humanities.mcmaster.ca/~beowulf/main.html

I like the stories. It is about the traits of hero. Beowulf shows that he cares with plight of his neighboring country and doing all effort to overcome the obstruction. Wow…it is a good deed! That’s the hero. He care with another kingdom’ plight. Can you find the such deed right now? I hope there will be a true warrior like Beowulf in the world and finish all obstructions which is being occurred in this world. I regarded Grendel and all monster of the story like capitalism system which is destroying and dominating the world. The system make many people sad, hungry, and death. So, I hope The next warrior will come to defeat the systemic monster with a sword to kill the system, and of course it must be a system too. The best system, the Islamic system. Rise! Rise!

I guess that why Beowulf wanted to do his best effort to defeat Grendel, it is because his father and Hrothgar had friendship.

His heroism can be explored in two separates phase-youth and age-and through three battle with Grendel, Grendel’s mother and The Dragon. When he was young, he was a great warrior and when he was age, he was a wise king for his kingdom. The ends of his life bring a conflict for himself, in other hand he had to save his kingdom from the Dragon, and also he had to defend his kingdom from another tribes attack. This conflict bring me a good aura of the story. Beowulf finally decided that he must defeat the Dragon, although at a heavy cost, he died. Was it wise choice? As a heroic tradition, I think he must take the best decision. And I think the Beowulf choice is wise. The old king must think best for his kingdom, and maybe he thought that from the kingdom will come a new great warrior to defend it. His virtue make him popular in across his kingdom. so get it and enjoy the story!!!