Beowulf an analysis Essays - Beowulf, English-language Films, Geats

The epic of Beowulf was one of pride and pain. It was one of passionately fighting and purposefully defending. Foreshadowing could be decoded by inspecting one?s lineage. In fact, the lineage of Hrothgar, Beowulf and even Grendel not only affected the character?s role within the epic, but also created a sense of obligation and outline of events as a whole foretold by the lives? of ancestors. When Beowulf first went to assist Hrothgar with the monster, Grendel, Hrothgar reminisced on a fight in which Beowulf?s father killed Heathlolaf. Hrothgar sent treasure to Heathlolaf?s people and Beowulf?s father pledged his allegiance. There was an obligation among the two families due to the past. Not only was Beowulf there to avenge the death of those that Grendel had murdered, but also to settle a debt he felt his father owed. The exchange between Beowulf?s father and Helfdane (Hrothgar?s father) also created an expectation of Beowulf. He was now of a lineage of well-trained champions. It was the duty of Beowulf to fight. His father was a warrior. His honor as a warrior depended upon it. He would be the one to defeat Grendel as his father before had defeated Heathlolaf. The family of Grendel as a whole was descendants of Caine who was said to have committed the first murder killing his brother Abel. With this lineage, those of the wicked race destroyed by the great flood included. This not only presented Grendel, as well as his mother, as characters on the side of evil within the story, but also any adversaries as right-fighters. Like Caine, Grendel and his mother both wandered. Here, it was evident that the misfortunes of the ancestors affected the descendants. Due to the choices of Caine, Grendel had not a normal life or maybe many choices at all. Also like Caine, within the rules of the epic, Grendel would fall at the hands of the hero. Later in the story, Grendel?s mother attacked Heorot not only in rage, but in vengeance and obligation for her son?s death. She killed one of her enemies, Aeschere, to avenge Grendel. Beowulf understood this order of obligation. ?Wise sir, don not grieve. It is always better/ to avenge dear ones than to indulge in mourning? (1384-1385). There was no time to feel or sadness at all. The job handed by his ancestors Beowulf was to avenge and protect and he did. The family of Grendel as a whole was descendants of Caine who was said to have committed the first murder killing his brother Abel. It was told that Caine was forced away from all man to wander alone. Grendel and his mother both wandered. Here, it was evident that the misfortunes of the ancestors affected the descendants. Due to the choices of Caine, Grendel had not a normal life or maybe many choices at all. Hrothgar, a descendant of many great leaders, was prospering for many years. If not for the prideful act of creating a monument unto him, perhaps the kingdom would have continued to prosper. Under the order of rules of a heroic epic, pride brought his downfall, after all. When preparing for battle with Grendel?s mother, Beowulf began to show his great sense of nobility and strength. These were traits strong within his lineage. He displayed these through his weaponry: ?[His helmet] was of beaten gold, / princely headgear hooped and hasped/ by a weapon-smith who had worked wonders? (1450-1452). The armor itself was a two-time telling of lineage. It told of where it had been because it was often passed from family member to family member. In that it told of history. It also told of where the character may go. It was indeed strong and well-made weaponry. One could assume only the noblest of warriors would have such belongings in their lineage. The slaying of the dragon was left the responsibility of Beowulf as an old king only due to obligation of avenge as he followed the throne of