The Literature course is filled with essays on classical books that help to understand the specific period of time better. Beowulf research paper topics are among them because without this Old English epic story you will hardly explore the classics of the literature in a full. Samples of Beowulf research...paper topics aren’t rare inhabitants of the internet which makes it easy for you to create the outline, introduction, and conclusion of the papers.
The power of the main character, Beowulf, is constantly emphasized in the text. The passage I have selected depicts a scene in which he is praised like a demigod and shows his ability to triumph in adverse circumstances while a suspenseful build up intentionally leaves...
What comes to mind when you hear the word, ‘hero’? Now, when most people hear that word, a variety of different images and concepts come to mind. Superman, Optimus Prime, Wolverine; the list goes on. What if I told you there are a film and...
Beowulf’s fight with Grendel proves his heroic credentials and strength. Grendel, the unstoppable demonic troll, all but surrenders at Beowulf’s squashing grip. The bone-crushing grab, however, raises a crux debated by Beowulf scholars: Does Beowulf make the first move and put the death clamp on...
In the Anglo-Saxon literary work, Beowulf, heroic culture is presented in the values that heroes should possess and is one of the most prominent themes presented throughout the work. The values that the heroes should possess include bravery, strength, loyalty, and honor. The author exposes...
Traditionally, light means good and dark means evil. This assumption is proven in many instances of Beowulf, though in all three battles we also see contradictions to this assumption. Sometimes, what we see or assume may not always be just that. The light and dark...
Monsters have been a part of humanity since the beginning of time. Whether they be humans and hiding in plain sight or the grotesque beasts that have been painted in our heads for centuries. Nonetheless, each of them plays a major role in everyday life,...
Throughout history, humans have needed leaders, people who have special qualities to help them through situations. Leadership goes way back to the dawn of human history, In this case, Beowulf. The tale of a Danish warrior told by Swedish Vikings. These people take charge when...
When we read fiction, it takes us to a place that we can only make up in our heads. However, these same stories teach us valuable lessons. Usually these lessons are ones we may not pick up usually in everyday life. These kinds of values...
In most people’s minds a monster is always qualified as hostile and ugly, while heroes are qualified as good and beautiful. Through mythology, ancient scripts, literature, movies and real life we see, hear and read about monsters and heroes all the time. Examples of “famous”...
The question being asked is if Beowulf is a work of paganism with Christian remarks or if it is a Christian work with pagan remarks. The unknown author of Beowulf creates a mystery in regards to their beliefs; however, Dream of the Rood, also an...
“Vengeance and feud were an essential part of medieval England and Iceland; revenge was considered both a right and a duty and was legislated and regulated by social norms. It was an important tool for obtaining justice and protecting property, family, and reputation. Accordingly, many...
The heroism portrayed by Anglo-Saxon heroes was defined by many different and diverse qualities. Most importantly, heroic figures in German history all shared one trait — they are all extremely selfless and put others before themselves. While some may argue that Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon...
While life was harsh and bleak in Scandinavia during the Dark Ages, people were much the same as today and the stories they told then are, in essence, the same as the ones we tell today. In modern America everyone knows that Batman guards Gotham...
Beowulf if a hero that changes through time in a way that is unique to his story. As the poem goes, he faces three different monsters. From each monster to the next, Beowulf has different motivations and fighting styles that reflect the situation, how prepared...
Grendel, the infamous, wretched monster introduced in the legendary epic of Beowulf, was described as a mass-murdering devil-like monster that represents many killers in real life, one of them gives such representation and is known in the real world as the “Nurse Murderer.” Richard Speck,...
The story of Beowulf shows the effect of the spread of Christianity in the early Danish paganistic society that values heroic deeds and bravery above all else. The mythical creatures that Beowulf kills with his supernatural strength make the story into an epic celebrating the...
The phrase “he was a good king” appears three times in Beowulf. The first iteration (line 11) is a homage to Shield Sheafson. By describing Sheafson in honorific terms, the poet suggests that Sneafson’s offspring are also worthy of respect. The second iteration refers to...
Beowulf: Written Oral Literature Beowulf, transcribed by Christian monks around the eighth century, is originally an oral piece of literature meant to be performed. To keep the listener interested in the piece and to make it easier to remember and retell, Beowulf uses the conventions...
The stories of yesteryear provide incredible insight to the cultures of the past. The renowned tale, “Beowulf,” entails the journey of a heroic figure and through the storyline presents aspects of the Danish people. Monsters, socially moral corruptions and the hero himself depict the fears...
“In peaceful times the warlike man sets upon himself.” The poem “Beowulf” illustrates the violent, primitive reality of the truth in Nietszche’s aphorism. The monster Grendel plays a symbolic role as the primordial, inalienable instincts that exist on the fringes of human civilization whose existence...
Christianity in Beowulf Beowulf is set between the years of 480 and 520 c.e., however it’s not actually written down until around 1000 c.e. This is a conflict because the poet is a Christian, but the characters are part of a non-Christian belief system. By...
Within the Old English epic poem entitled ‘Beowulf,’ one theme dominates: to overcome chaos and establish order, a fearless individual must continually fight the force of evil. Even after the poem’s protagonist, Beowulf, victoriously destroys Grendel, the personification of chaos and evil, Beowulf’s battles are...
Loyalty and vengeance at times go hand in hand in many chivalrous stories like Beowulf. To understand the connect you must know the meaning of both themes. Loyalty means the strong feeling of support and allegiance while vengeance is to enact retribution for an injury...
Beowulf, as a character, is often described as the original model for the hero found in literature from antiquity to the modern day. New interpretations of the text, however, focus more on Beowulf the man rather than Beowulf the hero of Heorot. If we focus...
Within the pages of “Beowulf” there is a constant struggle between good and evil. The epic poem is a classic tale of good versus evil with Grendel and Grendel’s mother being the embodiment of evil and Beowulf being good. Both sides share contrasting qualities. The...
“Once upon a time, someone decided that we were the losers. But there are two sides to every story. And our side has not been told!” says Prince Charming to a room full of “villains” who are left to rot after their adversaries were given...
Leaders bring a sense of order and everybody has the desire for said order, in short leaders guide people to the point they want to be. When times are good and when times are bad, a leader stands strong and puts their needs and wants...
In Beowulf and Beroul’s The Romance of Tristan, the heroes Beowulf and Tristan are magnificent fighters. Their numerous victories against seemingly insurmountable odds and powerful enemies are testaments to their battle-talents. Yet the two heroes employ violence in their exploits for different reasons and for...
Like many other epic poems, Beowulf was designed to be orally recited. In order to ease the difficulty of such a laborious undertaking, speeches made during the epic are scarce and establish an implicit aura of importance within the composition. These lapses in narration serve...
Rings are to medieval lords and retainers as medals are to athletes: a reward that is earned through hard work and dedication to a cause that makes them feel both empowered and worthwhile, while at the same time reminding them to work harder and strive...
It mixes together various fictional, legendary, and fiction elements that relate to 7th century epics
Symbols/motives
Heroism, competition, faith, monsters, honor, deeds of valour, and the battles
Influence
It is a reflection of strength and coming at impossible missions by showing how supernatural powers and faith can defeat the monsters
Plot
It tells a story about Beowulf who is considered a hero of the Geats who comes to help Hrothgar, the Danish king. His great hall is affected by the monster called Grendel. As Beowulf kills Grendel without any weapon, he has to start with another mission to prove his strength.
Interesting facts
Beowulf represents the longest poem written in Old English with entire action related to Scandinavia.
It does not mention the British Isles even once although it is exactly where Old English has been in use.
The original manuscript of Beowulf was damaged on October 23, 1731 because of a fire. The original manuscript of Beowulf was damaged on October 23, 1731 because of a fire.
As the heroic poem, Beowulf implements 36 different words that all stand for "heroism", "heroic", or "hero" because of the various dialects that represented Old English.
Some scholars believe that Beowulf could be influenced by Homer since it shares similar structure and the epic element of the famous Iliad.
The author of Jurassic Park (Michael Crichton) even made a bet whether he could use Beowulf as a foundation for something entertaining and accessible. It was his Eaters of the Dead novel that was published in 1976.
When Beowulf manuscript has been discovered, archeologists were convinced that they have found the remains of the famous Heorot Hall, which has been concluded by reading the epic.
Quotes
“It is always better to avenge dear ones than to indulge in mourning. For every one of us, living in this world means waiting for our end. Let whoever can win glory before death. When a warrior is gone, that will be his best and only bulwark.”
“Behaviour that's admired is the path to power among people everywhere.”
“Anyone with gumption and a sharp mind will take the measure of two things: what's said and what's done.”
“And a young prince must be prudent like that, giving freely while his father lives so that afterwards, in age when fighting starts steadfast companions will stand by him and hold the line.”
“Death is not easily escaped, try it who will; but every living soul among the children of men dwelling upon the earth goeth of necessity unto his destined place, where the body, fast in its narrow bed, sleepeth after feast.”
Why is this topic important
The main purpose of The Beowulf is to tell a heroic story and entertain the readers since the epic poem must offer an inspiring storytelling. Since it relates to the late sixth and seventh century with the Scandinavian influences, it represents an oral tradition that has been written down. It is an important aspect for linguists and those who want to study heroic literary representations.
Why should this topic be used
As the famous Old English epic, Beowulf represents a rare heritage in terms of oral word comprehension and a linguistic structure that tells an epic story. It can be useful not only for those who study Linguistics or English literature because it also brings up the topics of courage, dedication, faith, and the responsibilities that come along with power. Some essay topics that deal with Beowulf focus on the socio-cultural aspect of relations in this important epic. Since it deals with Scandinavia, some cultural traits are studied through the lens of the Western society by comparing things to anything from the Civil War in the United States to modern society.
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