Essay About Beowulf
“A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials,” said Lucius Annaeus Seneca. Seneca is trying to say that trials are necessary to go through in order to become the best version of yourself. Without trials would you be the person you are today? Beowolf encountered many known and unknown events throughout the poem. In addition to the statement made previously, Beowolf experienced many trials within the hero journey, from wanting to be a hero to killing Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon.
Beowulf’s hero’s journey began with the call. He came from Greatland to Dane’s hearing about the terror Grenal has caused the people. From then on Beowof knew he had to defeat Grendal and become a hero. Grendal has been causing terror to the people at the mead hall, killing and destroying the land of the people. This further concludes that Beowulf gathered his best and noblemen set out to attack Grendel bringing his head as a gift to Hrogthar. “So, Beowulf chose the mightiest men he could find, the bravest and best of the Geats, fourteen in all.” (Line 119-124).
The threshold happened once Beowolf gathered all fourteen of his bravest men, he and his men sets sail to Geatland. Beowolf and his men are ready and prepared for battle. “Beowulf arose, with his men around him, offering a few to remain with weapons.”(Line 134-138). After becoming prepared for battle, Beowulf asks Hrothgar for permission to defeat Grendel since Hrogthar has been trying to defeat Grendel himself for the past few years. Hrothgar gives Beowulf permission to defeat Grendel on the Geatland grounds as well as rewarding him with a fest for his heroic decision.
During the test and ordeal, Beowulf was about to face one of his biggest challenges which are fighting Grendel and his mother. He wants to defeat Grendel and his mother to keep the reputation of being a hero. He is fighting Grendal to prove to his own people and the people of Geatland. “Screams of the almighty enemy sang in the darkness, the horrific shrieks of pain and defeat.”(Line 308-313). The ordeal was the battles with Grendel and Grendel’s mother was an even bigger challenge for him. “But he was stretched on his back, and her stabbing table was blunted by woven mail.”(Line 503-505) The mother was stronger than her son and refused to go down without a fight. Beowulf and his weapons were no match for the strength of Grendel’s mother.
The Transformation, no one expected Beowulf to return back home from the battle between Grendel and his mother. The people of the town were unsure if beewolf was going to survive and return from the battle. Throughout his long journey ad battle, the people of the stopped believing in his arrival back home while others thought he died.
The return, at the end of the story Beowulf had achieved defeating Grendel and his mother. He worked hard to defeat them in order for the people of Geatland and the Danes safe. He returned to Geatland and as a reward for defeating them, Hrothgar crowned Beowulf king. Many years later, Beowulf has to defeat another monster which is a dragon but sadly dies due to the dragon killing him.
To sum up, everything that has been stated, Beowulf went through many trials and victories during his journey. Despite the challenges he went through, Beowulf became king, defeated two monsters, and brought honor to his people of the Danes, and seen as courageous to the people of Geatlnd. Without these trials, he would not have achieved those accomplishments during his lifetime.
