Beowulf Vs. Eaters Of The DeadEssay Preview: Beowulf Vs. Eaters Of The DeadReport this essayGreat Literary Epics of the PastThe Roman conquest of England in 43 AD, coinciding with the introduction of Christian values, the alphabet and writing utensils was the start of a new Era. Missionaries sent by the Roman Pope to England influenced the pagan values of the native Britanie, as exemplified in their literature. Anglo-Saxons, whom contributed the features of a literary Epic, were torn between pagan beliefs and Christian values as their predecessors had been. The first literary Epic, Beowulf, illustrates the struggle between these two ideologies, as well as contributes the sought after values of heroism. The Eaters of the Dead also demonstrates this struggle between cultures, playing off Beowulf in theme. Excalibur, the Arthurian Legend, depicts the final battle between Christian and pagan belief, Christianity winning out in the end. Epics such as these express their values through heroic acts and support William Shakespeares quote; “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.”
Beowulf, labeled the first indisputable masterpiece of the English language, follows the Quest of a Scandinavian warrior who embodies the perfect Hero. Beowulfs fearless nature and love for battle make him a sought after idol in accords to the values of an Anglo-Saxon. “Nowhere, they said, north or south between the two seas or under the tall sky on the broad earth was there anyone better to raise a shield or rule a kingdom.”
The main character, and protagonist, Beowulf is first introduced in the novel by means of ancestral lineage. Born into greatness, Beowulf makes his reputation indisputable through action. With the King Hrothgar as witness, Beowulf declares his intentions to aid the Danes by way of slaying the awesome beast Grendel who has caused havoc among the lands. “Now I mean to be a match for Grendel, settle the outcome in single combat.” As every great hero fulfils his boast, Beowulf did not fall short. Though the destruction of Grendel brought relief and rejoicings- a mothers wrath would cause it to fall short. Again, the mighty Beowulf takes on this mighty beast, descendant of Cain. As Hrothgar desperately states: “Now help depends again on you and you alone./ Seek it if you dare.”
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The scene with Beowulf in the King’s tent, as the King approaches, is so familiar today that it even brought me tears. Yet, a story is told of Beowulf’s rise to power before he even knew it. The first step to power in the Danes’ kingdom was simply by their presence. They would help him and help him go forward. Beowulf followed through.
We’ll come to the rest of the story to show that Beowulf, with some assistance-the great king, has now grown into one of the most powerful heroes ever created, and he is still making a statement:
“I’m the King of the people. And for a hundred years I’ve been trying to keep this kingdom under my control. No one is allowed to go up against me. No one. No one is allowed to lead us to the future.”
The king, who was also a part of the House of Y, is responsible for the peace the kingdom is making in the Kingdom of the Three Kings. As a reminder that, if the kingdom wants to continue its struggle against Hrothgar, it will need to come out of the King’s tent with enough strength, some kind of victory trophy, to be able to defeat those who might threaten it. In such a situation, the king will certainly go to war. His main objective, then, will be to establish peace. It isn’t easy to tell when or not something is going right, but there is no denying Beowulf’s message to his fellow warriors and citizens alike:
Beowulf, the king of the Danes, I know of you, and I know that you are all very proud of yourself. You are great. They are just as important to me as yours. You are the men who defend the lands, and you are the warriors who fight. It is your destiny to succeed, and I will make you one of the leaders and the kings of the Danes. When you are ready, please make preparations or you will find nothing better to do than let me lead you on your campaign. All that you have to do is to come out and fight, and to know the truth behind your words. Please be as much as you need to make up your minds. You are not invincible. That is no means to your safety if you can’t make up your minds and stand up for yourself. A word from your face, or my words from your mouth—you are my hero, right beside me in that corner of heaven. I cannot help you, but you will have to find your way home. I only want to say that today is my first day, and my first test in a way I can remember. You shall see where your life has taken you. You will have many opportunities, many sacrifices. The way you will be remembered in this world will be nothing like that I dreamed of. And if you can do it, I want you to know that
₁.
The scene with Beowulf in the King’s tent, as the King approaches, is so familiar today that it even brought me tears. Yet, a story is told of Beowulf’s rise to power before he even knew it. The first step to power in the Danes’ kingdom was simply by their presence. They would help him and help him go forward. Beowulf followed through.
We’ll come to the rest of the story to show that Beowulf, with some assistance-the great king, has now grown into one of the most powerful heroes ever created, and he is still making a statement:
“I’m the King of the people. And for a hundred years I’ve been trying to keep this kingdom under my control. No one is allowed to go up against me. No one. No one is allowed to lead us to the future.”
The king, who was also a part of the House of Y, is responsible for the peace the kingdom is making in the Kingdom of the Three Kings. As a reminder that, if the kingdom wants to continue its struggle against Hrothgar, it will need to come out of the King’s tent with enough strength, some kind of victory trophy, to be able to defeat those who might threaten it. In such a situation, the king will certainly go to war. His main objective, then, will be to establish peace. It isn’t easy to tell when or not something is going right, but there is no denying Beowulf’s message to his fellow warriors and citizens alike:
Beowulf, the king of the Danes, I know of you, and I know that you are all very proud of yourself. You are great. They are just as important to me as yours. You are the men who defend the lands, and you are the warriors who fight. It is your destiny to succeed, and I will make you one of the leaders and the kings of the Danes. When you are ready, please make preparations or you will find nothing better to do than let me lead you on your campaign. All that you have to do is to come out and fight, and to know the truth behind your words. Please be as much as you need to make up your minds. You are not invincible. That is no means to your safety if you can’t make up your minds and stand up for yourself. A word from your face, or my words from your mouth—you are my hero, right beside me in that corner of heaven. I cannot help you, but you will have to find your way home. I only want to say that today is my first day, and my first test in a way I can remember. You shall see where your life has taken you. You will have many opportunities, many sacrifices. The way you will be remembered in this world will be nothing like that I dreamed of. And if you can do it, I want you to know that
₁.
The scene with Beowulf in the King’s tent, as the King approaches, is so familiar today that it even brought me tears. Yet, a story is told of Beowulf’s rise to power before he even knew it. The first step to power in the Danes’ kingdom was simply by their presence. They would help him and help him go forward. Beowulf followed through.
We’ll come to the rest of the story to show that Beowulf, with some assistance-the great king, has now grown into one of the most powerful heroes ever created, and he is still making a statement:
“I’m the King of the people. And for a hundred years I’ve been trying to keep this kingdom under my control. No one is allowed to go up against me. No one. No one is allowed to lead us to the future.”
The king, who was also a part of the House of Y, is responsible for the peace the kingdom is making in the Kingdom of the Three Kings. As a reminder that, if the kingdom wants to continue its struggle against Hrothgar, it will need to come out of the King’s tent with enough strength, some kind of victory trophy, to be able to defeat those who might threaten it. In such a situation, the king will certainly go to war. His main objective, then, will be to establish peace. It isn’t easy to tell when or not something is going right, but there is no denying Beowulf’s message to his fellow warriors and citizens alike:
Beowulf, the king of the Danes, I know of you, and I know that you are all very proud of yourself. You are great. They are just as important to me as yours. You are the men who defend the lands, and you are the warriors who fight. It is your destiny to succeed, and I will make you one of the leaders and the kings of the Danes. When you are ready, please make preparations or you will find nothing better to do than let me lead you on your campaign. All that you have to do is to come out and fight, and to know the truth behind your words. Please be as much as you need to make up your minds. You are not invincible. That is no means to your safety if you can’t make up your minds and stand up for yourself. A word from your face, or my words from your mouth—you are my hero, right beside me in that corner of heaven. I cannot help you, but you will have to find your way home. I only want to say that today is my first day, and my first test in a way I can remember. You shall see where your life has taken you. You will have many opportunities, many sacrifices. The way you will be remembered in this world will be nothing like that I dreamed of. And if you can do it, I want you to know that
The mighty Beowulf also exemplifies his greatness through his wisdom. Knowing of politics, Beowulf interprets the grim consequences of a proposed marriage between the daughter of Hrothgar and the “gracious Ingled. Hence, Beowulfs wisdom and heroic reputation lead him to become ruler- turning down the offer for the first time, only to have it thrust upon him in a series of unfortunate events. For many years the kingdom remains peaceful under Beowulfs rule until yet another beast presents itself. In Beowulfs final battle he reconciles with the inevitability of foretold death and marches into battle with the same bravery he is praised for. “Beowulf spoke, made a formal boast for the last time: I risked my life often when I was young. Now I am old, but as king of the people I shall peruse this fight for the glory of winning, if the evil one will only abandoned his earth-fort and face me in the open.”
In the final moments of the valiant life of Beowulf he bids a noble warrior by the name of Wiglaf to ensure a portion of the hoard to his people. Though the hero knows of his fast approaching death he thinks not of himself, but of the people that so strongly idolized his bravery. The death of Beowulf washes the land with sorrow, for all knew of the greatness he was born into, the greatness thrust upon him, and the greatness of his actions.
Holding a similar plot line, The Eaters of the Dead, tells the epic of a man who achieves greatness not through birth or by force, but with experience. The main character, Ibn Fadlan, is an exile of his native land of Baghdad, forced on a journey as a representative of the Caliph. Upon his travels, Fadlan encounters Viking warriors en route to the barbaric North. Set in the year A.D. 922, the first impressions of these people are appalling to Fadlan, who is ignorant of all customs other than his own. The story line soon takes off when the reader finds Fadlan is forced to play the role of the thirteenth warrior in a quest to destroy the terror that plagues these people.
Being a common man of middle age, the protagonist fears for his life so refuses the position of greatness- only to have it thrust upon his as Beowulf did.
“I protested I was not a warrior. Verily I made all the excuses and pleadings that I could imagine might have effect upon this rude company of beings. I demanded that the interpreter convey my words to Buliwyf, and yet he turned away and left the hall, saying this last speech: Prepare yourself as you think best. You shall leave on the morning light.”
As weeks pass Fadlan is forced to do battle with the Northerners, for, as he sees it, either course of action may end in death, so why not go forth in battle.
Growing more accustom to the brutish ways of the Vikings, Fadlan soon sinks into their lifestyle, feeling proud of himself in battle, as well as partaking in the Northerners- once discomforting – openness of sexual pleasures. Though adapting to much of the Viking way of life, Fadlan continues to express his fears openly, only to overcome it faced with his most feared obstacle- heights.
“Also it is true that I was much aggrieved at the prospect of climbing down the cliff. Verily I felt in this manner: that I should rather do any action upon the face of the earth, whether to lie with a women in menses, to drink from a gold cup, to eat the excrement of a pig, to put out my eyes, even