Paper Topic:

the role of violence in the world of Beowulf, king of the Geats

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30 March 2007

The Role of Violence in Beowulf

It is clear that violence , or at least military action plays an important role in the world of Beowulf . The events in Beowulf 's life are strongly connected to combat : he saves the Kingdom of Denmark by defeating both Grendel and his mother he serves as the King of Geatland 's advisor and champion he is elected King of Geatland after the former king and his son are killed in battle and

successfully for fifty years and he kills the fire-monster and save Geatland (Slade Bullfinch . The violence in Beowulf does not appear to be engaged in gratuitously , for its own sake , or out of cruelty . Instead , the violence serves as a tool to achieve various goals . The men in Beowulf engage in violence in defense against an attack , threat or as Hill suggests , a feud . Military action is used as a method of getting wealth and additional territory . Lastly the use of violence is seen in terms of good versus evil , with Beowulf and his people in the role of the good

Both of the major scenes of violence in the poem are aimed at specific targets and occur as responses to attacks made by Grendel , his mother the lady troll-wife on Denmark , and by the dragon that attacks Geatland When Beowulf saves the kingdom of Demark from destruction at the claws of Grendel he is responding to the attacks Grendel has been making on the Danish court . Hrothgar , king of Denmark , was . success in warcraft given /honour in war , so that his retainers / eagerly served him until the young war-band grew /into a mighty battalion (Slade , 64-66 As a result of his success he decides to build a "mead-hall " where he can give his wealth to "young and old , such as God gave him (Slade 72 . The poem does not tell us against whom Hrothgar has fought to gain his wealth , but the of his lineage is a positive one that does not lend itself to indiscriminate attacks and raiding (Slade 1-63 When the Danes are unable to defeat Grendel Beowulf leads a group of men and succeeds in killing Grendel and , when she seeks revenge on Beowulf the next day , Grendel 's mother . Although Beowulf 's purpose was to save Denmark from Grendel , due to his great deed , Beowulf receives both wealth and reputation . He returns to his own country : Geatland . There he serves the country well , ultimately becoming King of Geatland . After Beowulf had been king for fifty years , a dragon attacks the country Beowulf is the only one who will fight it . He succeeds in killing the dragon , but is killed during the fight

It is clear the people in the world of Beowulf used violence to gain both wealth and honor . As mentioned above Hrothgar has made his fortune by military action . Since Hrothgar is not condemned for his acts , but is celebrated by men...

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