Zero To Hero To Zero- close reading post 4

In Beowulf  the tale of Beowulf is told. At first, Beowulf is really nothing but a son of  Ecgtheow, known for being a thief and needing help.  As stated on page 149, “He [Beowulf] had been poorly regarded for a long time, was taken by the Geats for less than he was worth….” (2184-2186). Beowulf is constantly living in the shadow of his father and is no one of significant importance.
One could argue that Beowulf leaving to fight Grendel was simply a shot in the dark to see if he could become something great, because no matter the outcome, Beowulf did not care. He would have accepted death or glory. But to his benefit, he received a great amount of respect and rewards for fighting Grendel and became a hero to the people. Through time and more wealth, Beowulf became king and his people, “...said that of all the kings upon earth he was the man most gracious and fair minded, kindest to his people and keenest to win fame” (3180-3182).
With his newfound success, Beowulf is depicted as having Godlike qualities. Woven throughout the work, when God is mention, a comparison or reference to Beowulf is made. Normally, Beowulf’s accomplishments are attributed to God’s plan and/or fate. For the larger part of this poem, all of the references to God and Beowulf were positive,  that God was on his side. These references were taking place in the earlier years of Beowulf’s life, what many think to be when he was 18-20 years old. Then the sharp contrast occurs on line 2573, “That final day was the first time when Beowulf fought and fate denied him glory in battle.”

It is within these lines that the immortal quality of Beowulf is shattered. As descriptions of the battle continue, more of Beowulf’s human qualities are shown. On lines 2724-2725 when it says, “In spite of his wounds, mortal wounds….” It is made clear to readers that Beowulf is not a God and he is just a man. This realization takes longer for Beowulf to understand. The true telling of a mortal, is death. When Beowulf dies he is shown to be a man, just like those he lead as king.

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