Essay on the Transformation of Beowulf - 570 Words

The Transformation of Beowulfnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; In the length of the poem, Beowulf goes from abandoned child to gallant warrior to King. This transformation, expressed in the tone and content of the poem, shows the importance of the relationship between lord and thane and expresses the ultimate value of that connection. From the difference in battle scenes to Beowulf’s speeches, it is clear that he has gone from a somewhat self-loving hero to a selfless king. Within this change he also goes from serving a lord to becoming a lord, and in that way the poem shows us the importance of both sides of the relationship. Initially it is said that Beowulf goes to flight Grendel because, he†¦show more content†¦He goes in knowing that he will probably die, and the scene is bloody and drawn out. Furthermore, Wiglaf enters the final battle to help him, showing the respect that he has earned from his thanes and that they are now willing to give their lives for him. After the final battle there is another expression of the importance of loyalty in their culture. That is when the thanes that left Beowulf came back behind shields (2850). It is the ultimate disgrace that they left their lord, because the lord is their source of livelihood and a thane is expected to willingly give his life for his provider. Wiglaf sums up this tie when he says, A warrior will sooner / die than live a life of shame (2890), meaning that the bond between lord and thane is so strong that it is better to die than to disgrace that relationship. The tone of the poem is also an indicator of the changes in Beowulf. In the first two battles there is an epic tone. Beowulf is gallant and described in a very physical sense. He is adorned in jewels by king Hrothgar and has the utmost confidence. He also has no one relying on him as a thane would a lord. By the final scene the tone is less bounding and more melancholy. Beowulf is less confident, and worries more about his people than his own reputation. The sadness in the tone also reflects the despair of Beowulf’s kinsmen when he has died. This further relates the importance of the king to hisShow MoreRelatedEssay A Jungian Reading of Beowulf1622 Words   |  7 PagesA Jungian Reading of Beowulf       This essay will propose an alternative means by which to examine the distinctive fusion of historical, mythological, and poetic elements that make up the whole of Beowulf.   Jeffrey Helterman, in a 1968 essay, â€Å"Beowulf: The Archetype Enters History,† first recognized Grendel as a representation of the Shadow archetype and identified Grendel’s mother as an archetypal Anima image; I wish to extend the scope of the reading by suggesting that the dragon, too, representsRead MoreGood Vs. 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