Beowulf Constructed Responses

Weak

A. How did the Anglo-Saxon society, development, and culture influence the literature of the time, including Beowulf? Discuss at least three influences, and support your answer with details from the poem.

A. The Anglo-Saxon society, development, and culture influenced the literature of the time because it is the beginning of literature. Anglo-Saxon used to be Old English and without it, we wouldn’t have English like it’s known today. Beowulf is the very beginning of it all.

A. The Anglo-Saxon society, development and culture influence the literature of the time because they loved heroic battles and stories about epic heroes, like Beowulf. Beowulf has all the key elements of Anglo-Saxon literature because of his strength, bravery, and willingness to go into battle.

B. What are Beowulf’s virtues? Is Beowulf a “true” hero because of his virtues? Discuss at least three virtues, and support your answer with details from the poem.

B. I think Beowulf is not a true hero. Although he sees himself as one, he isn’t. To me, a hero is something done for someone out of kindness. Beowulf’s killing someone isn’t kind and isn’t heroic.

C. Epics share many common characteristics. Describe three characteristics of an epic and connect each of them to Beowulf using at least three details from the poem.

C. There are many characteristics of an epic. In an epic, there must be a problem and a hero to fix the problem. In many cases, epics contain battles and fighting. In Beowulf, Grendel killing the people of Herot is the problem, so Beowulf acts as the hero and goes to battle against him. The makes Beowulf an epic.

C. Epics have many characteristic to them. Epics are actually long poems, written by the Danes or Anglo-Saxon telling a story of a hero. Beowulf is certainly an epic because it is a written pieces by the Anglo-Saxons, telling the tales of the world’s greatest ever hero through a stretched poem style of writing.

Strong

A. At the time of Beowulf, Europe was a very chaotic place. With the recent collapse of the Roman Empire, Europe was plagued by various barbarian groups. One of these was the Anglo-Saxons. The Anglo-Saxons were often involved in warfare with raiding Vikings and the people of Britain. This would often lead to stories of great battles between an Anglo-Saxon hero and a villain as indicated through Beowulf’s battles with various monsters. During the battles there would often be heavy losses for each side. In order to prep their soldiers for potentially losing their life, the Anglo-Saxons would write stories of how their brave heroes would often sacrifice themselves in battle for the sake of their people. This is highlighted in Beowulf’s Death when Beowulf fights the dragon. During this time the Anglo-Saxons were also a nomadic people who traveled often. Their frequent travels were often incorporated into their stories, such as how Beowulf comes from a far land to fight the monster Grendel.

B. What are Beowulf’s virtues? Is Beowulf a “true” hero because of his virtues? Discuss at least three virtues, and support your answer with details from the poem.

B. Beowulf’s virtues can be good, but some are not completely moral. Beowulf decides to help out Hrothgar and his people by taking on the task of killing Grendel, the monster terrorizing Herot. Beowulf wants to do this because he wants to help the man who helped his father make peace with a dangerous group of people. But, on the other hand, Beowulf wants to have the fame and glory that comes with killing Grendel, and that is what is most important to him. Beowulf is not a “true” hero because of his virtues. Yes, Beowulf saved many lives, but he mostly did it for the fame. One virtue is glory. He wants to be glorified and treated like a hero. This virtue is vain and self-centered. Another virtue is wealth. When Beowulf goes to kill the dragon, he mostly wants the jewels and gold hidden in the cave and the glory; he doesn’t really care about his people. A third virtue is pride. Beowulf bring Grendel’s head to show the people because he feels proud and wants to show them he is truly victorious, but his pride is self-centered and conceited.

B. Three of Beowulf’s virtues are fame, fate, and fighting the right battles. Beowulf is not a true hero from what he values. His biggest virtue is fame. Fame is what pushes Beowulf to fight every battle he has fought. Beowulf knows fame will come out of a battle no matter if he wins or loses. He will die with his fame. Beowulf says great fame will come out of fighting Grendel’s mother when Hrothgar asks him to battle her. Beowulf could have died in the battle and he thought the fame was worth it. Beowulf’s second virtue is his view of fate. Beowulf believes fate will decide what happens to him and everyone around him. He states in his speech to Hrothgar before battling Grendel that fate will decide who dies. Beowulf depends on fate to solve problems and choose the future. Beowulf’s last virtue is fighting the right battles. In Beowulf’s last speech, he says he thought he did everything as a king should. Beowulf knows every battle he fought for the right reasons and he was meant to fight them. Fame, fate, and fighting necessary battles are three of Beowulf’s most important virtues.

C. Epics share many common characteristics. Describe three characteristics of an epic and connect each of them to Beowulf using at least three details from the poem.

C. One characteristic of an epic is the inclusion of a hero that is almost superhuman. Beowulf, the hero, is able to crush Grendel’s claws in his fist and tear his arm off. This is impossible in real life, but Beowulf has superhuman strength. He kills Grendel, a strong monster, with his bare hands. Another characteristic is the inclusion of supernatural beings that threaten the hero. This would be Grendel, who is a monster born of Cain who attacks Herot out of pure evil. Grendel is also able to stop weapons from piercing his skin, another supernatural feature. Another characteristic is that the story has a hero of noble birth. Beowulf, the hero, is the son of a king, and even later becomes king when he is older.

C. Epics share many common characteristics. Beowulf is an epic. A characteristic of an epic is having themes of good and evil. In the poem, there is a good and evil side constantly battling. Beowulf represents the good side with Hrothgar. Hrothgar’s chair is protected by God. Grendel reprints the evil side along with his mother. In the poem, it says Grendel has hell-forged hands. In the first section, Grendel’s desire for evil is portrayed. Another characteristic of an epic is that it involves supernatural beings that many cause heroes to go on long voyages. The supernatural beings in Beowulf are Grendel and his mother. Beowulf hears about Grendel terrorizing Herot so he travels across seas to go helpHrothgar. Another example is when Beowulf traveled for hours down in the deep, murky lake to battle Grendel’s mother. The final characteristic of an epic is that the hero’s actions determine the fate of a nation or group of people. Beowulf battles Grendel and won. If Beowulf did not win, Grendel would still be killing all the soldiers that entered Herot. The poem Beowulf is an epic poem and shows many examples demonstrating characteristics of an epic.