It is common opinion that Beowulf was written by a Christian poet. ... I do not think that Beowulf is a Christian allegory because Beowulf had very little in common with the Biblical figure of Jesus Christ. ... The themes of wealth and fame in Beowulf are interesting ones. ... Combining the two systems of thought simply gave the writer a bigger pool of themes and ideas to draw upon. ... The conflicting ideas in Beowulf invite the reader to take a more active role and question their own ideas about some of the themes presented. ...

• Word Count: 1464
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

Probably the most common referent for the allegorists is the Christian story of salvation. ... The first is Beowulf's battle with Grendel, next is Beowulf descending into the mere, and last is Beowulf's mortal battle with the dragon. ... The Danes needed a savior and Beowulf comes to save them. ... Even though there are two conflicting allegories, both could equally be correct because the author and the true underlying themes of the poem are unknown (Goldsmith 67). ... This makes it hard to choose which one is the actual underlying theme, but it does allows the reader to choose ...

• Word Count: 953
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Beowulf: Themes and Motifs Beowulf is the most important work of Old English literature, and is well deserved of the distinction. ... Wild themes. ... In Canto 1 the story teller describes his wealth and importance, not as mounds of gold or jewels, but instead as his ability to "[lead] the Danes to such glory." and as his tendency to "In battle, [leave] the common pasture untouched, and taking no lives." ... Biblical themes and motifs, character is also shown through a certain Man vs. ... Beowulf has many other such archetypal, symbolic themes and motifs, but the most important ...

• Word Count: 1009
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Wild themes. ... In Stanza 1, the storyteller describes his wealth and importance, not as mounds of gold or jewels, but instead as his ability to "[lead] the Danes to such glory." and as his tendency to "In battle, [leave] the common pasture untouched, and taking no lives." ... Biblical themes and motifs, character is also shown through a certain Man vs. ... Beowulf has many other such archetypal, symbolic themes and motifs, but the most important themes that serve to add depth to the characters are the wealth, honor, religious, man, and wildness themes. These themes don't only ...

• Word Count: 1212
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Unferth tries to ruin Beowulf's glory by telling everyone Beowulf lost a swimming match against Breca. ... For example when Beowulf defeats Grendel; "Halfdanes son presented Beowulf with a gold standard as a victory gift." ... Beowulf did not expect his men to stand by him. ... To Beowulf, Wiglaf must have proved himself enough for Beowulf to honor him to be leader of the Geats. Wiglaf is also the last person Beowulf is in contact with, so Beowulf can instruct him on what to do as the new leader. ...

• Word Count: 2142
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School

In the poem Beowulf, translated by Constance B. Hieatt, Beowulf is an epic hero. ... When a heroic deed is done such as Beowulf has done, it is common practice for them to accept you into their family. ... It was the "Almighty" who sent Beowulf and it was "with the Lord's help" that Beowulf was able to defeat Grendel. ... Beowulf is an epic because it has action that consists of deeds of great valor , the setting of Beowulf is i...

• Word Count: 3190
• Approx Pages: 13
• Grade Level: High School

Because of this, Beowulf has been classified as an epic. ... First, the notion of excellence that their warriors displayed is common. ... One of the major themes of the work and an epic characteristic is good versus evil. Beowulf represents good. ... Also, when the warriors refuse to help Beowulf fight the fire-breathing dragon, they break the trust between Beowulf and his warriors. ...

• Word Count: 692
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Beowulf clearly encompasses many Christian elements from characters to themes throughout the story. ... Thus Beowulf is undoubtedly filled with Christian elements. ... She goes on to state clearly the presence of Christian thought and theme within Beowulf. ... Thus she concludes, "Cain as a limb of Satan and founder of evils is a common place of spiritual exegies, both rabbinical and Patristic as EmersonÆ'x has abundantly shown." Her point here is that despite her argument of great commonness between Cain and the Grendels, Cain and the devil are used virtually interchangeably in l...

• Word Count: 2211
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

"Beowulf" also has many challenging lines. ... Even though the stories were alike due to their sad themes, they also have moods of pride. ... These two stories relate to "Beowulf" due to the fact that in "Beowulf," he (Beowulf) knows that he has become weak and has a chance of failure. ... The literary merit of "Beowulf," "The Wife's Lament," "The Wanderer" and "The Dream of the Rood" all have common ideas. The three compared to "Beowulf" are not necessarily the same, but have the merit like that of "Beowulf." ...

• Word Count: 961
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

There is the "supernatural element," the "grand speeches," a theme of the story, an elevated language, always a speech full of boasting, honor of the hero and his weapon are described, "warriors and battles." ... In a way, Grendel was also a warrior in the way that he fought and destroyed his enemies for the common purpose of self satisfaction. Beowulf's men all came to Herot to help Beowulf defeat Grendel. ... There would be no story if it were not for the envy that Grendel has for the humans who feast at Heorot, which serves as one of the themes of this epic. ... There are great battle...

• Word Count: 1388
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

When the epic begins it opens by informing the reader of the theme and main subject or the epic. ... The epic opens up with a muse giving the main idea and theme or the epic to follow. ... This would surpass/Common revenge, and interrupt his joy." ... It too opens up with an introductory statement, though more pertaining to the theme then the actual events yet to come. ... Also, Beowulf's main story is not as applicable to all of mankind as Milton's theme in Paradise Lost. ...

• Word Count: 1128
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Beowulf and The Dream of the Rood Surprising Similarities If you look closely at the literature created during the Old English period, you will be able to notice a few common parallels. The writings that evolved from this time period usually involved many heroic and warrior like bases with some kind of underlying religious theme. ... He boasted about his winnings, (Boasting was common for those of great stature in those days) and never turned down a fight. ... In Beowulf, Beowulf is depicted as a warrior. ... The Old English style of writing encompassed many themes and attributes. ...

• Word Count: 1799
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

Language Analysis of Beowulf and Iliad: Beowulf is one of the oldest and important existing poems in the English language. ... Beowulf fits these qualities of a common, classic hero, in addition; he stands high above the rest of the crowd, and is larger than the average character. ... Beowulf is truly in a league of his own. One characteristic that serves as a very important foundation for an epic poem is incorporating universal themes, such as goodness versus evil (good superhuman hero versus the wild supernatural demon). ... This deed served as a symbol of Beowulf's Goodness. ...

• Word Count: 811
• Approx Pages: 3

It is a common theme seen throughout literature that women are nothing more than pretty objects for men to acquire and possess-"Beowulf" and Anglo-Saxon society tell a different story, however. ... One of the most common duties given to women was that of "peaceweaver". ... In Beowulf's story, Wealhtheow is used to unite the Danes and Geats so that Beowulf will help to defeat Grendel. ... She brings together two different kingdoms to reach a common goal, which was very important during the Anglo-Saxon society. ... This man is none other than the legendary warrior, Beow...

• Word Count: 1584
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

The kind of themes Gardner used in his novels are all clued to human nature. ... In Beowulf, Grendel represents irrationality. ... The kind of themes Gardner uses in his novels are the most common themes that represents the basic human nature. ... The theme becomes apparent in Grendel, in which Gardner re-creates the story of Beowulf from the monster's point of view. ... The themes that Gardner used in his novels are the most common themes and they are clued to human nature. ...

• Word Count: 954
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

In the Beowolf story this is an apparent theme. ... The main question is; Why and how are certain groups in Beowulf marginalized and thus made outcasts and in what ways are they similar and different? ... A reason for the unimportance and the subservient role of women in Beowulf is that heroic epics such as beowulf tend to valorize men's deeds in war; thus, in this warring society, it is difficult to recognize the presence of women who are shadows to the main male-centered action. ... We could say that women are outcasts because they are seen as the submissive gender, which was very comm...

• Word Count: 992
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The epic poem Beowulf translated by Seamus Heaney tells the story of a hero named Beowulf, who rids the Danes of many monsters. ... One of the many themes of the story is Biblical against Paganistic. Throughout history, this book has been translated many times, however, the themes of the book have for the most part stayed the same. ... He also exhibits a lot of compassion because he gives his "God-given goods to young and old "but not the common land or people's lives- (Heaney 7). ... One kinsman, Wiglaf, stands up for Beowulf. ...

• Word Count: 1162
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

For example, in the epic "Beowulf", Christianity is seen in the theme of good vs. evil. ... Like Jesus, his people also betrayed Beowulf. ... Also, the dragon is a common mythical creature in pagan tales. ... First, this theme can be found in the epic adventure of "Beowulf". ... In this era the common themes are virtue and moral teachings, and good vs. evil. ...

• Word Count: 2920
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School

John Gardner's Grendel is seemingly a story based on the poem Beowulf. ... Existentialism was born from common religion. ... The second existentialist theme is that of anxiety. ... The fifth theme of existentialism is death. ... The final existentialism theme is that of alienation. ...

• Word Count: 752
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

This heroic archetype is famous in any literature dating back to "Beowulf" all the way up to contemporary films made in the present day. "Harry Potter," "Twilight," "Beowulf," "Hercules," Homer's "Odyssey," even the retro classic hero "Superman," follows this exact profile line up. ... Rosa Parks doesn't fit a common theme of hero; neither does Marilyn Monroe or Babe Ruth. These people have all have something in common. ...

• Word Count: 852
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Tolkien also was an expert on epic legend as often gave lectures on Beowulf. ... It seems likely that what he had learned from writing The Hobbit and from reading Beowulf through the lenses of Middle-earth, Tolkien gave us The Lord of the Rings." ... The Lord of the Rings books, Star Wars trilogy, Harry Potter series and the Matrix all deal with the same themes. ... Essentially, the most common thread that intertwines through these four stories is good trying to prevail evil. ...

• Word Count: 2030
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Indeed, when I informed people that I was writing a critical essay on Stephen King the most common response was laughter. ... Everybody goes to horror films and on rollercoasters at theme parks, part of the human condition is a desire to be terrified, as if we are trying to preview the end. ...

• Word Count: 2261
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School

The extent of this written variation may be exemplified by a consideration of the large number of different spellings of the common word "such- recorded by the Linguistic Atlas of Late Mediaeval English. ...

• Word Count: 5443
• Approx Pages: 22
• Grade Level: High School