Compare Luke Skywalker to Beowulf. What makes them different? Do they share any traits in common? How are they both heroic?
Luke Skywalker is much younger than Beowulf and in the Star Wars movie we watched he isn't even a complete hero quite yet. He achieved heroic acts by defeating the death star for example but he isn't very well known yet. Beowulf has been around for a longer time and he considers himself a real hero from the beginning when he arrives to Hereot. Beowulf's reputation and title is very important to him and he likes doing what he does because he is a bit arrogant. Beowulf likes being a reputable hero where as Luke Skywalker is much more in it for the passion and to learn how to become a jedi. That is one of the main things that makes them different. They do share several traits in common because both are heroic in their own way, even though they share different paths. Beowulf is heroic because he defeats Grendel and he is very well recognized. Luke Skywalker is heroic because he is brave and he wants to go on these dangerous journeys and help make a difference. Luke Skywalker defeats the death star in the movie we watch and he saves the "rebel base" station. This makes him earn a gold medal and the respect of thousands of people.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Wiglaf
Comment on Wiglaf’s character throughout the end of the book. Is he honorable or heroic like Beowulf or does he display an additional set of values?
In the end of the book Wiglaf truly displays his heroic values. Beowulf had a task to defeat the dragon and when no one else could help him Wiglaf was there. Wiglaf put his life at risk to help Beowulf kill the dragon by blocking the dragon's fire with his shield. WIthout Wiglaf it is very possible that Beowulf wouldn't have made it on his own. Something that is very important to note is that Wiglaf sees things differently than Beowulf. Wiglaf isn't interested in having all this fame and glory and being the best hero out there like Beowulf. I believe that Wiglaf is a true hero (and more of a hero than Beowulf) because he fights for others because its the right thing to do and he wants to help. Beowulf is much more in it to be in the spotlight i think. When Wiglaf jumped in to help Beowulf with the dragon one of his main concerns was making sure that Beowulf was okay and that together they could kill the dragon. Wiglaf could've simply let Beowulf down and have killed the dragon himself and gotten all the fame but that isn't his main concern. A true hero is someone that puts others in front of himself and that doesn't necessarily care if not everyone will remember him. Beowulf wants everyone to remember him after he dies and popularity is important to him.
In the end of the book Wiglaf truly displays his heroic values. Beowulf had a task to defeat the dragon and when no one else could help him Wiglaf was there. Wiglaf put his life at risk to help Beowulf kill the dragon by blocking the dragon's fire with his shield. WIthout Wiglaf it is very possible that Beowulf wouldn't have made it on his own. Something that is very important to note is that Wiglaf sees things differently than Beowulf. Wiglaf isn't interested in having all this fame and glory and being the best hero out there like Beowulf. I believe that Wiglaf is a true hero (and more of a hero than Beowulf) because he fights for others because its the right thing to do and he wants to help. Beowulf is much more in it to be in the spotlight i think. When Wiglaf jumped in to help Beowulf with the dragon one of his main concerns was making sure that Beowulf was okay and that together they could kill the dragon. Wiglaf could've simply let Beowulf down and have killed the dragon himself and gotten all the fame but that isn't his main concern. A true hero is someone that puts others in front of himself and that doesn't necessarily care if not everyone will remember him. Beowulf wants everyone to remember him after he dies and popularity is important to him.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Unferth and Beowulf
At the opening of this excerpt, Unferth tries to tarnish Beowulf’s reputation by discussing his swimming match with Breca. Why would Unferth do this? How does Beowulf respond? How does his response contribute to his persona as a hero?
At the beginning of this excerpt Unferth tries to make Beowulf's reputation seem bad. Unferth does this by bringing up the swimming match between Beowulf and Breca. In this event it was Breca who won and who beat Beowulf to the shore. Unferth wants Beowulf to seem like a bad hero who really isn't the best out there and this is the main reason why he retold this story. After hearing all this though, Beowulf stayed calm and didn't take it personal. He instead laid out the facts and the real reason why he lost the battle against Breca. The only reason Breca won was because he swam straight to the shore while Beowulf fought all the sea monsters in order to make the waters safe. Breca only really cared about winning the swimming match but he didn't think like a hero, Beowulf did instead. This is what makes Beowulf the person that he is and why he is well respected. He doesn't care about winning everything he cares about helping others and making their environment safer. This makes him a trustworthy hero and it proved to Unferth that it was pointless of him to have brought this up because all it did was make him look better and Unferth more stupid!
At the beginning of this excerpt Unferth tries to make Beowulf's reputation seem bad. Unferth does this by bringing up the swimming match between Beowulf and Breca. In this event it was Breca who won and who beat Beowulf to the shore. Unferth wants Beowulf to seem like a bad hero who really isn't the best out there and this is the main reason why he retold this story. After hearing all this though, Beowulf stayed calm and didn't take it personal. He instead laid out the facts and the real reason why he lost the battle against Breca. The only reason Breca won was because he swam straight to the shore while Beowulf fought all the sea monsters in order to make the waters safe. Breca only really cared about winning the swimming match but he didn't think like a hero, Beowulf did instead. This is what makes Beowulf the person that he is and why he is well respected. He doesn't care about winning everything he cares about helping others and making their environment safer. This makes him a trustworthy hero and it proved to Unferth that it was pointless of him to have brought this up because all it did was make him look better and Unferth more stupid!
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