Beowulf As A Heros Journey - 1624 Words

For Beowulf to retain its relevance after a journey from single surviving manuscript to famous epic poem, one can assume its star role is filled by a character extraordinary. The poem’s hero, Beowulf, strikingly resembles many renown principal characters. It would be an uphill battle arguing against him joining the likes of Hercules, Jesus Christ, and many more in their ÃÅ"bermensch status. Based on his words and actions, it is painstakingly clear that Beowulf is an archetypal hero; someone who shares the common characteristics of a hero, and follows what Joseph Campbell calls â€Å"the hero’s journey† (Campbell 45-221). The hero’s journey, often referred to as the monomyth, is a three-act process – separation, initiation, and return – with a†¦show more content†¦These trials tend to be violent battles, and while engulfed in the problem at hand, the hero experiences â€Å"freedom to live† – a loss of negative emotions where one is completely living in the moment. While exercising his freedom to live, the hero charges into the belly of the whale, the point of no return. The ultimate boon occurs when the antagonist is defeated, and the hero reemerges from the belly of the whale. The initial journey is now complete, and the return threshold is crossed on the trip back home. In his homeland, the hero is recognized by the father, king, or people who praise him for his courage and good deeds. Every step along the journey came with its own wisdom and growth. The hero who sets out in response to the call is now the master of both worlds – one who is competent alongside the order of his homeland as well as the chaos that lies beyond. The adventure-worn champion experiences apotheosis for his efforts, where he transcends his former self with a newfound perspective. At last, order is restored, that is, until another call is heard. Although the hero has experienced apotheosis, there is once again an i nevitable refusal of the call. The issues with the call are quickly resolved, and the hero embarks on his magic flight towards the opponent. When the battle between good and evil comes down to the wire, the rescue from without occurs, where theShow MoreRelatedThe Journey Of Beowulf : The Heros Journey1944 Words   |  8 Pagesguys†? A Hero’s Journey is the form Joseph Campbell created from his book The Hero With A Thousand Faces it is a more detailed transformation or inner journey of a character throughout a story. A hero in an epic which is a long, narrative poem from ancient oral telling. In the epic â€Å"Beowulf†, Beowulf is the epic hero. He performed many heroic deeds during his life including the killing of Grendel and his mother, he did what many were not willing to take on. Beowulf takes on a Hero’s Journey by havingRead MoreEssay on Beowulf and the Heros Journey1073 Words   |  5 PagesJoseph Campbell’s term monomyth can be described as a hero’s journey. Many heroic characters follow the monomyth, no matter the time period or culture the literature was created in. The poem Beowulf is known to follow the adventure of the hero described in Campbell’s monomyth . The hero’s journey consists of three rites of passages: separation, initiation, and return. Beowulf endures each of these stages throughout the epic poem, so his journey does follow Campbell’s monomyth. The separation isRead MoreBeowulf And The Heros Journey Analysis740 Words   |  3 PagesThe Initiation is the second stage in The Hero’s Journey. The Belly of the Whale, which usually occurs during the hero’s departure, happens much later in both Beowulf and Spider-Man. In Beowulf, that part is represented in the scene when he is in the lake fighting Grendel’s mother. â€Å"Squatting with her weight on his stomach, [Grendel’s Mother] drew / a dagger, brown with dried blood, and prepared / to avenge her only son. But [Beowulf] was stretched / on his back, and her stabbing blade was bluntedRead MoreThree Elements Of The Heros Journey In Beowulf994 Words   |  4 Pagescorners of the world all follow the hero’s journey, a system coined by Joseph Campbell. Elements of the hero’s journey can be found in every single story, from Harry Potter to Paradise Lost. The hero’s journey is in every story, and especially in the epic poem Beowulf . Beowulf has all the trappings of a memorable story. There are beasts, and a shining hero, as well as honor and loyalty. Beowulf also follows the Hero’s journey, if not distinctly. The epic poem Beowulf holds many similarities to JosephRead MoreThe Ultimate Hero s Quest1285 Words   |  6 PagesThe Ultimate Hero’s Quest The Hero’s Quest is an archetypal journey a character embarks on, representing their quest of overcoming an obstacle and becoming a hero. The Hero’s Quest follows a specific pattern of stages the hero goes through on their quest. Typically this hero goes through great physical, mental and lifestyle changes to transform from a normal person into a hero on one quest, attempting to overcome one obstacle. Beowulf is an epic poem written during the time of the Anglo-Saxons;Read MoreThe Labors And Death Of Heracles And Beowulf915 Words   |  4 PagesThere are many myths and epics that involve a hero’s journey in them. Two readings are â€Å"The Labors and Death of Heracles† and â€Å"Beowulf†. Heracles story involves him accidentally killing his children, and to try to redeem himself he has to complete ten tasks by himself for those tasks to count. The gods offered him immortality upon completion of those labors. Beowulf was about a strong man fro m the Geats named Beowulf. He heard stories about the ferocious monster named Grendel that was terrorizingRead MoreThe Mystical Weapon Of A Hero1102 Words   |  5 PagesWhen it comes to the archetypal hero’s journey, one might see the mystical weapon as merely a box that needs to be checked off, but the mystical weapon of a hero is much more important than that. It serves to continue the plot of the story by jumpstarting many parts along the hero’s journey, many times it is the cause of the hero’s unusual birth. The mystical weapon is what enables a hero to overcome the insurmountable odds and accomplish their trials. A mystical weapon, is not just a tool that theRead MorePoem Analysis : Beowulf 1619 Words   |  7 PagesSeptember 5, 2015 Beowulf is renowned as the oldest poem written in the English language, thought to be written over 1500 years ago this epic poem is still being heavily studied and compared to modern literature regularly. The protagonist, named Beowulf is a great warrior whose called to defend the Danes from the vicious attack of many monsters. Many would label this call to action as the start of his hero’s journey, although it isn’t an ancient concept by any means, the hero’s journey is one continuallyRead MoreHeroes and How to Represent Them929 Words   |  4 Pagesself sacrifice† (Vogler, pg. 29). A hero represents an ego which distinct them from the rest of the human race. The journey of many heroes separates them from a family or tribe. They begin a long journey of only wisdom and power which keeps them distant from their home. According to Christopher Vogler, the author of The Writers Journey: Mythic Structure for writers, a hero’s journey requires many inner strength and functions. One of these functions is growth. Growth meaning growing from a young manRead MoreDragon as a Metaphor1646 Words   |  7 PagesHistorians believe that the original Dragonslayer story was the English epic, Beowulf, written sometime between the eighth and eleventh centuries. The story of the Dragonslayer is that of a Hero, who starts off insignificant, but after his journey, is strong enough to face and defeat the evil Dragon. The Hero’s Journey is split into three phases; in order they are: Separation, Initiation, and the Return. The story of Beowulf was written for a specific purpose, other than creating a whole genre. The