Moving forward into my thoughts thus far, I kept thinking about how it seems Beowulf is boasting and bragging about himself but I think he's under the impression that he's humble... Kind of...? Maybe I'm just interpreting it wrong, but it just seems to me that he really likes to go on and on about his accomplishments. I mean come on dude! Did you not have any help (because if you truly did all you say did on your own, then DAMN good for you bro)?! I'd like other people's thoughts on his self confidence and ego! Do you really think he is all that?
I also would like to hear other opinions about Grendel. I'm kind of confused as to what he is exactly. For some very strange reason I've always imagined Jabba the Hutt when I hear Grendel's name (even in 8th grade), and I'm not really sure why...? Also I know he's mad about everything and eats people (because wouldn't you do that if you were shunned and mad? Maybe he's just really hangry?!), but I'm not entirely clear as to what the situation is there and why the Scyldings didn't bother asking for some help.
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Personally, I have mixed feelings about Beowulf's humbleness (or lack thereof). On the one hand, as the hero of this epic, he does perform some truly heroic feats (such as the defeat of Grendel) so, to an extent, the ego and boastful nature he displays would seem to be well-earned. On the other hand though, he kind of comes across as a pompous ass, so there's that.
ReplyDeleteThough in all honesty, going back to the defeat of Grendel, I find myself hesitating to even call that heroic for a single reason- it occurs to me that his entire plan was 'Hey, let's all just PRETEND to sleep, and then we'll just attack Grendel when he comes in!' I mean, really- you're telling me that in TWELVE YEARS, nobody else thought of that? That's barely even clever.
Anyway though, I agree. Beowulf does seemingly give the impression that he at least BELIEVES himself to be humble, even though he's more than willing to boast about his mighty feats at the drop of a hat. I'm personally uncertain on whether or not he's earned the right to think so highly of himself, but I suppose that'll become a little easier to say as we read more.
I think Beowulf is a really good salesman. While I don't think that he is actually full of himself, I do think that he will say/make up anything to get his foot in the door. His story of surviving five nights in the sea weighed down by armor and then killing a sea monster doesn't sound very plausible but it does serve as a good story to make himself look good so that he will get paid to kill Grendel.
ReplyDeleteMeagan,
ReplyDeleteThese sort of boastful moments remind me of another epic hero, Achilles. I am currently reading “The Iliad” in World Lit. and though I can’t find an instance where Achilles is directly speaking about himself, there are A LOT OF phrases like “the great runner, Achilles” and “god-like, Achilles.” And there are of course similar epithets used to describe Beowulf like “Beowulf the Great” (675). I suppose this device is used to remind the reader of the greatness of this hero, not to necessarily depict him as arrogant. With this in mind, I didn’t really read him as boastful, just an epic hero haha.
When I first read over the lines we were assigned I thought the same as you did. I couldn't understand why Beowulf was so full of himself and talked about himself so much. However, after I read it over a second time I realize it sounded more like a sales pitch. Even though his story seems a little far fetched but if that's his story he better stick to it. I was also confused about if Grendel was a human or not. When I imagined him I imagine a large giant that looks super sinister.
ReplyDeleteI think it is interesting that so many people have wanted to delve into Beowulf's character. In my opinion, it really doesn't matter why Beowulf has the disposition that he does. As a tragic hero in an epic, Beowulf serves as an archetype. Part of this roll is to be larger than life in his heroism and therefore I think what people have interpreted as braggadocio is something merely integral to this kind of story telling. In other words, Beowulf is not a three dimensional character. His attitude is not meant to be arrogant, but instead a demonstration of Beowulf's importance as the archetypal hero in this epic. It is how we distinguish him.
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