Examples Of Arrogance In Beowulf

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Sophie Mantelli September 21 2012 AP English Beowulf is the epitome of an archetypal hero. He presents all qualities of loyalty to family and friends, brave, and a good leader. His conquests to annihiliate grendal,grendal’s mother, and the dragon are all quests he is determined to achieve, and are examples of his true herositic qualities. For example,the first battle against Grendel, Beowulf displays bravery. "I have heard moreover that the monster scorns in his reckless way to use weapons; therefore, to heighten Hygelac's fame and gladden his heart, I hereby renounce sword and the shelter of the broad shield, the heavy war-board: hand-to-hand is how it will be, a life-and-death fight with the fiend” (433-440). Beowulf is willing to risk his life by fighting without weapons to show his determination to defeat Grendel. When Beowulf announces that he will be encountering grendel unarmed this allows for Beowulf to not only gain honor for himself, but Hygelac. This proves whether or not Beowulf does acquire the strength that a true hero attains by fighting against evil hand-to-hand. However, some may argue that Beowulf displays arrogance; This arrogance is aspect of…show more content…
Beowulf is called upon again to defeat Grendel’s mother. Beowulf then prepares to go to battle against Grendel’s mother. He suits himself with armor to prepare for the battle. Once Beowuld and Grendels mother start fighting he realizes that the sword is not able to pierce the monster. Once again, Beowulf throws his sword aside and fights hand-to-hand. Yet, he could not defeat her with his hands alone. Then Beowulf sees, “hanging on the wall, a heavy, Sword, hammered by giants, strong And blessed with their magic, the best of all weapons.” Once Beowulf finds the sword he aims towards the monster’s neck and miraculously achieves another great deed of killing

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