Beowulf and Ethics in a Heroic Society. In this battle he wears armor, has a shield and a sword. ($K^($N8p}Ut~-WUY;W NA/2!, wPdg,L| (b{PAJ;~Km=[uCW j,8`/3C16q |Ek3LXoi|Ms(zB=l-^v/s *jJih,X#,}x6)CHhz3s v_xw``r5\VAnWJ= 6nP"Re>rb0(yW1~)Z6 Nn!-& ]Q1`fZ>Z%GCX{76.M?fK,kZY=vc0XW/;:2Os+.-{=8ype >2v=q80~65 Wxc]);*}(,Tt_~3lI`+2 67 R $DIHa,8"Gp"s#p63Dg: 49X[&|2@ >F3vI'r; Yl1Iam`s~9~2I5,Yb'^SMT9\0"3pgR/l}oT2b6K-AD2n{=HNyn#U?n} M[& #R>09v }r9O1,RvR%H @bE4{8kH$_&Y/truz{]g`~0po{-{{P(w=g4\}{?8yQ-UJ6 (1999). It spared her and failed the man in need (Heaney 1522-1525). Beowulf has several very important character traits that provide insight into the culture that spawned Beowulf. Although we can view these three encounters as expressions of the heroic code, there is perhaps a clearer division between Beowulfs youthful It is true that Beowulf fights these monsters to help his tribe and the Danes, but he also does so for fame and glory and hopes to be remembered for such deeds, which is why, on his deathbed, he requests that a monument be erected to remember him and how great he was. The cost significant Christian value in this text is the connection between God and good (Mitchell 337). Partly as a response to the complexity of the phenomena and the construct ambiguities and validity issues associated with the concepts of charisma and transformational leadership, Conger and Kanungo (1994) developed their own model of charismatic leadership. Although Beowulf has treated them with respect, praise, and rewards as a good king should his retainers (except for his nephew Wiglaf) leave him high and dry to suffer his fate with the fire-breathing wyrm. This breakdown, a total repudiation of the loyalty owed a lord by his thanes, is significant for the Geatish people as well because their impending fate is sealed along with the fate of their warrior representatives who escaped to the woods (Stanley, 2005). Beowulfs father once started a feud, which Hrothgar helped to end. However, in the time of the poem this was the norm. Tom Loughman, Ph.D., John Finley, Ph.D.10.12806/V9/I1/AB1. Avert Bloomberg 9 December 2012 The battle of good vs.. His comrades willingly go with him because of their confidence in his ability to lead them and to achieve their objectives. He meets unnatural phenomena. He is easily the best warrior in the country, which he demonstrates by killing Grendel. Beowulf is a heroic epic, a long poem which recounts the deeds of a legendary warrior. Setting in Beowulf | Where Does Beowulf Take Place? To bring this point into a present context, what is likely to happen with a company such as Apple when Steve Jobs finally decides to give up the reins? Beowulf is ethical in the way he went to Hrothgar and asked for permission to kill Grendel. Through his own strength and in his capacity as role model, Beowulf ensures that his band and tribe achieve their goals. Beowulf vows to slay the dragon. For instance, Virgils Aeneid tells the story of Romes legendary founder Aeneas in order to examine the limitations of This epic is also greatly influenced by Christianity. In a heroic epic, the warrior protagonist sets a moral example: through his story, the value and meaning of a societys ethical code can be examined. Though only a man, Beowulf pits his strength against giants, demons and mythological beasts. He is young, around twenty years of age, and most likely good-looking according to Anglo-Saxon standards. Mitchell, Bruce. Maddie Maloy is a junior at Indiana University (IU) studying journalism and minoring in marketing and public and environmental affairs. Ethics and Beowulf Assignment. Only one of his warriors, named Wiglaf, stays behind to help, a scene that stresses loyalty and friendship. Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, whose mead hall in Heorot has been under attack by the monster Grendel. What does Beowulf look like in the poem? The protagonists actions highlight the human struggle between good and evil. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. When he first lost his honor, he decided to not tell anyone. The poem seemed to reveal the true values of the society in Beowulf culture. The Beowulf narrative obviously has staying power. They are often of noble birth, they are brave, they are generally honest, and they are great warriors. Beowulf is ethical in the way he went to Hrothgar and asked for permission to kill Grendel. Hotei Publishing 1962. Beowulf is both the title and the main character of an ancient heroic epic. WebBeowulf also occupies an ethical trait. This is ethically twisted because in todays society, it is not considered morally correct to take an eye for an eye. Finally, Beowulf locates an ancient sword on the cave wall and kills Grendels mother with it. Grendel then attempts to seize Beowulfs arm, but the warrior instead grabs him, and in the ensuing struggle Beowulf wrenches Grendels arm off as the monster escapes. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. To contemporary audiences, Beowulf's arrogance can be grating. Is the Beowulf-type problem of succession common in companies with charismatic leaders? Evil has been one of the most recognizable themes of literature throughout time. as ideal for teaching leadership because they allow learners to both identify with current trends and process concepts by using tools that capture their interest (p. 147). One of Beowulf's traits that gets a lot of scrutiny is his arrogance. New York: Random House. After Beowulf slays him, Grendel's mother attacks the hall and is then defeated. Hrothgar recalls, Ecgtheow acknowledged me with oaths of allegiance (472). Journal of Leadership Education, 2(2), 32-40. There was a moment of silent then an unexplainably brightens the cavern releasing Grendels corpse and there was a great deal of treasure. Another major current involves the large number of popular accounts of legendary and mythical heroes, many of whom display their heroism in struggles with monsters. (Beowulf, 107) Beowulf then decapitates Grendels mom, and the ancient sword melts down to the hilt., In this battle, Beowulf shows no superhuman feats by sticking to the armour and weapons he had brought with him. He brings several warriors with him to defeat the creature, but all but one abandon him because of their cowardice. Its main behavioral components are revealed in three distinct stages: (Stage 1) Environmental assessment followers perceive the managers greater desire to change the status quo and a heightened sensitivity to environmental opportunities, constraints, and followers needs; (Stage 2) Vision formulation followers perceive the managers formulation of a shared, but idealized future vision and effective articulation of this vision in an inspirational manner; and, (Stage 3) Implementation managers who are perceived as charismatic are seen to be engaging in exemplary acts that subordinates interpret as involving great personal risk and sacrifice. This line seems to test the ethical reasoning in the time that Beowulf was written. Beowulf is an epic that came out of a warrior culture and was used not solely to entertain but also to teach the moral thinking of this culture(Chickering 86). Warrior politics: Why leadership demands a pagan ethos. He is never punished in any way for any perceived flaw. WebIn Beowulf, the answer is clear: lordlessness equals invasion, murder, mayhem, slavery, misery, doom for the people, and doom for the nation. He kills Grendel's mother and returns triumphantly to Hrothgar, who rewards him handsomely for his service. Beowulf Hero Characteristics | What Makes Beowulf a Hero? This epic is also greatly influenced by Christianity. Beowulf strength proved useless and had to rely on the giants sword he found nearby. When Beowulf and the dragon hit rock bottom, he noticed something about the dragon. The Dragon is also killed in the duel when Beowulf located a small flaw in the pattern of scales on the evil serpent, using this to his advantage and stabbing the, Grendels mother is very angry and out for revenge. In a heroic epic, the warrior protagonist sets a moral example: through his story, the value and meaning of a societys ethical code can be examined. The dragon soon perishes and so does Beowulf. Third, and perhaps most importantly, the idea of a fatal flaw implies that the person who has the flaw will ultimately be punished for it or will learn from their mistakes. By weapons made worthy: Lords, retainers, and their relationship in Beowulf. Retrieved January 18, 2023, from https://anyassignment.com/philosophy/ethics-and-beowulf-assignment-29265/, Murder in the cathedral as a poetic drama Assignment, Why Beowulf is a Work of Christian Propaganda Assignment, Operation Technology Management Assignment, Staircase to Strategic Management Assignment. To the warriors in numerous small roving groups, in ways similar to those of the Vikings in the ninth and tenth centuries, treasure represented not only material wealth but also a validation of ones worth and honor in the warrior society. Although the heroic epic Beowulf was composed in Old English, it deals not with native Englishmen for whom the poem was written but with their Germanic ancestors of around the sixth century. Unfortunately, because someone disturbs its treasure trove, an enraged dragon wreaks havoc on the countryside and even destroys Beowulfs own dwelling place. Beowulf is challenged by Unferth, one of Hrothgar's warriors who doubts him. His men saw that not even the great Beowulf could beat this beast they ran away into hideout and left him alone to fight. He used his strength against Grendel, but relies on a sword to kill his mother. he did not take the treasure he went back to the lakes surfaces ringing hilt., The Battles Such characters are usually found in epic poetry and they tend to have various shared traits. The art of creating leaders: Popular culture artifacts as pathways for development. This line seems to test the ethical reasoning in the time that Beowulf was written. To put this battles together you see all the different contrastment through both sources., The Decline of Moral Ethics Choose, dear Beowulf, the better part, eternal rewards. Beowulf is a Geat of noble birth. The third and final episode reveals Beowulfs having ruled wisely and well for 50 years as king of the Geats. The dragon managed to get a bite on Beowulf and now he was poisoned. Colvin, R. E. (2003). However, the idea of faith is at odds with the pagan concept of fate, which is often associated with unfavorable conditions and results in the text (Parker 68). However, precisely because of their competence and power, charismatic leaders could easily generate overreliance as well. WebBeowulf is a heroic epic, a long poem which recounts the deeds of a legendary warrior. Beowulf descends alone into the mere and is attacked by Grendels mother, who drags him into her bone-strewn den and stabs at him repeatedly with a blade. However, these two very broad themes can be broken down into smaller categories demonstrated in the epic poem Beowulf; the themes of morality and ethics play a crucial role in the story, as well as the underlying theme of Christianity. Beowulf vs. Grendel | Characteristics, Story & Differences, Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare: Study Guide, CSET English Subtests I & III (105 & 107): Practice & Study Guide, CLEP English Literature: Study Guide & Test Prep, College English Literature: Help and Review, AP English Language: Homeschool Curriculum, 9th Grade English Curriculum Resource & Lesson Plans, 11th Grade English Curriculum Resource & Lesson Plans, 12th Grade English Curriculum Resource & Lesson Plans, Create an account to start this course today. Get unlimited access to over 84,000 lessons. No one has time to read them all, but its important to go over them at least briefly. An example of morality in the story is the idea that ones pride will be their downfall. As the writings of Shakespeare, Sun-Tzu, and Machiavelli have been gleaned for their insights into a host of management concepts (Kaplan, 2002), Beowulf can also reveal insights into leadership, motivation, and organizational behavior. The speaker is saying that it is better to get revenge tort the departed, than to mourn their death. The unwanted child grows up to become a violent and feared man known as the scourge of many tribes, wrecker of mead-benches, rampaging among foes, and a terror (Beowulf. Within the last three decades, charisma has in organizational studies become associated with the concept of transformational leadership, elucidated by Burns in his 1978 book Leadership. After killing Grendel's mother, Beowulf is given many gifts by Hrothgar, including an heirloom sword. Beowulf attempts to kill her with the sword Hrunting, but to no avail. In addition, managers in a charismatic leadership role are also seen to be deploying innovative and unconventional means for achieving their visions. Meg has taught language arts in middle school, high school and college. This line seems to test the ethical reasoning in the time that Beowulf was written. The poem includes many histories of various warriors: their ancestry, deeds of valor and debts they owe or have paid. Much of the beginning of Beowulf is dedicated to sketching out Beowulf's noble lineage and placing him in the same context as other Anglo-Saxon kings and heroes. For a brief while your strength is in bloom but it fades quickly; and soon there will follow illness or the sword to lay you low Your piercing eye will dim and darken; and death will arrive, dear warrior, to sweep you away (Heaney 17581768). His people mourn him but celebrate his noble death in battle. Beowulf belongs metrically, stylistically, and thematically to a heroic tradition grounded in Germanic religion and mythology. She is passionate about advancing social justice globally through communication and storytelling. Revenge tort the departed, than to mourn their death and well for 50 years as of. The speaker is saying that it is not considered morally correct to Take an eye for an for! 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