Hanging the arm by the rafters also doubles as a trophy
, a concrete symbol of Beowulf's bravery and success in destroying Grendel. The gory nature of the trophy serves to further exemplify the complex, dangerous nature of this task.
How does Beowulf display bravery?
By far the most courageous character, Beowulf has three key moments in which he demonstrates his bravery –
when he kills Grendel, when he kills Grendel's mother
, and when he fights the dragon. … The Spear-Danes in days gone by and the kings who ruled them had courage and greatness.
How does Beowulf show strength and courage?
Beowulf is already known for his physical strength, but also displays
uncommon courage in several degrees and instances
. First, he makes the hazardous journey by sea to Heorot, then offers to fight Grendel, and finally wrestles with and kills the creature without the benefit of a weapon.
How is strength shown in Beowulf?
Lesson Summary
Beowulf demonstrates his
superior strength when he takes on the monster without the aid of weapons
, and in the battle, the mead hall looks as though there were many men fighting because the destruction was so great. Beowulf is successful in his battle with Grendel.
What does Beowulf hang in the rafters?
Grendel's severed claw, arm, and shoulder
are symbols and proof of Beowulf's successful battle. It is, in part,to offer proof of success that it hangs from the rafters, but it is also a trophy of battle for Beowulf.
What is Beowulf's greatest strength?
Beowulf possesses many great heroic qualities:
Inhuman strength
: he is able to defeat Grendel by ripping his arm off; he is able to defeat Grendel's mother by holding his breath an insane length of time; he is known for this great strength in battle as well as sport competition.
Why does Beowulf show courage?
The first way Beowulf demonstrates courage is
to take the initiative to sail across the sea with his fighting men to confront the monster Grendel
. … Beowulf also demonstrates his courage in the fearless way he meets and defeats Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon. From youth to old age, he cannot be intimidated.
What is the moral lesson of Beowulf?
The moral of Beowulf is that
it is better to die young with heroism and virtue than to grow to a ripe old age being cowardly and avoiding your responsibilities
. Beowulf shows great courage and fortitude as he protects the community by fighting Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon Wiglaf.
What are some examples of bravery in Beowulf?
Defeating Grendel with his bare hands
, Beowulf not only proved his bravery but also his loyalty. After defeating Grendel, Beowulf came back twice in order to kill Grendel's mother and a fire-breathing dragon.
What is the moral of Beowulf?
Especially seen through the characters of Beowulf and Wiglaf, the poem Beowulf illustrates three important morals of its time:
bravery, honor, and loyalty
. Beowulf, the hero of the poem, exhibits great bravery in everything he does. … As the story's great and glorified hero, Beowulf also demonstrates honor.
What is the weakness of Beowulf?
Nevertheless, we will see below that one of the weaknesses in Beowulf”s character may ironically be his incapacity to control the effects of his own force.
Bravery in battle
is also a central quality of the hero. ““I will show the courage of a hero”” (p. 52) or other words to the same effect.
What are the effects of Beowulf skills?
Beowulf “oozes” skill.
His bravery, his combat skills, and his strength are evident in the way that he walks, carries himself, talks, and dresses
. A good example of this occurs when Beowulf is on his way to see Hrothgar. A guard stops Beowulf in order to know Beowulf's purpose.
What are Beowulf skills?
In his youth, Beowulf is a great warrior, characterized predominantly by his feats of
strength and courage
, including his fabled swimming match against Breca. He also perfectly embodies the manners and values dictated by the Germanic heroic code, including loyalty, courtesy, and pride.
Why did Beowulf rip Grendel's arm off?
As he reaches for his third vicitm, Beowulf, he is shocked to discover that
his claw is being bent backward causing him immense pain
. Their battle concludes with Beowulf's ripping Grendel's arm off, fulfilling his promise to Hrothgar to kill the monster with his bare hands.
Why did Beowulf hang Grendel's arm?
Fatally wounded, Grendel slinks back to his swampy home to die. Back in the mead-hall, Beowulf holds up his gory trophy in triumph. He proudly hangs the arm high on the wall of
Heorot as proof of his victory
. … He thanks God for finally granting him relief from Grendel.
How does Beowulf show Good vs Evil?
Beowulf himself embodies all that is good, but it's often expressed through
his super-human capabilities
. The monsters, including Grendel, his mother, and the dragon, all embody evil, and in fighting and defeating them, Beowulf is working to save not only the monsters' victims but the whole of humanity.
