“Beowulf” by Seamus Heaney Review Essay (Critical Writing)

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Beowulf, the Sweden warrior elegized in the cognominal epic Old English poem is an idealized person depicting the character traits admired and highly valued among medieval European people. The poem addresses Beowulf’s personality in his two stages of life: when he is a young warrior and after forty years, in his final period of life at the age of about sixty to seventy years. Through the story telling of the poem it becomes evident that its main character is somehow corrupted by the glory, power and money he acquires for his acts of bravery; still, his main qualities are evident even in the end of the poem. Generally, Beowulf can be seen as a brave, proud and heroic person relying on God and such virtues as valor, courtesy and accolade.

Speaking about Beowulf’s characteristic given in the poem, I would mention the next passage from it which, to my mind, best summarizes the qualities that mark this epic hero’s personality: “Nor have I seen a mightier man-at-arms on this earth…he is truly noble. This is no mere hanger-on in a hero’s armor” (Heaney, p. 26). The passage describes Beowulf’s strongest character traits including his courage, strength, and valor. During the three stages of the poem this description of the character is evidently seen; however, his virtue and valor have a strong tendency to diminish under the influence of different circumstances. With each of his battles Beowulf’s personality finds some new black spots on it. This is evident in his motivation and the methods he uses to conquer his adversaries. From a noble desire to save peaceful people from a crafty monster to being motivated by the thirst for money and glory, Beowulf goes through the pathway of deterioration. In his earlier battles he resorts to the use of honest methods, and battles his enemies by means of his own strength, but with the duration of time we see him using magic and assistance from the bottom of the others.

The poem’s passage related above describes its main protagonist both in his period of life when he is young and old. In his early life years, the character is seen as the embodiment of the qualities mentioned in the passage. He is a stronghold of integrity and honesty. Unfortunately, as time passes by, he develops bad qualities as thirst for money and praise; these burning desires corrupt Beowulf and he is no longer the embodiment of the best character traits for a noble man in the end of the poem.

Concluding on all the above related information, it should be stated that Beowulf can be considered the embodiment of the qualities best describing a medieval noble man and warrior. The passage related in the beginning of the paper emphasis this idea showing Beowulf as a “noble” and the mightiest “man-at-arms on this earth”. Judging on this passage, Beowulf’s main character traits are courage, bravery, accolade and valor. However, with the duration of time Beowulf becomes corrupted by glory, power and money.

Works Cited

Heaney, Seamus. Beowulf: A New Verse Translation. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2001. Print.

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