Essay/Term paper: Beowulf - a noble

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Beowulf

Beowulf - A Noble


There are a two heroic acts that Beowulf accomplished that characterize
him as being noble. One example of these acts is his altruistic behavior through
out his life.When beowolf heard that the great king hrothgar and his knights
were being attacked by the evil monster Grendel. Without even asking king
hrothgar what was in it for him Beowolf got up and took 14 of his men and sailed
on a ship to king hrothgar's palace to face the evil monster Grendel in hand to
hand combat. Beowolf told the king that he will leave his fate to god and if god
wants him killed Grendel will kill him.If god doesn't want him to die beowolf
will come out victorios in killing Grendel.
The king liked Beowolf's noble words and wished him luck.Beowolf
without hesitation laid down in the line of knights to wait for Grendel to
strike. This part of the story shows that Beowolf is not completly moral because
he lets some knights be killed by Grendel before he attacks. Beowulf and Grendel
fight and the monster's arm is ripped off causing a slow and painful death.Even
though Beowolf didn't do this heroic and noble act for the reward ing Hrothgar
gave him a sword and eight horses with golden cheek plates.
The second act of Beowolf's conflict with grendel showing his nobility
is not with Gredel himself but with Grendels mother. After Grendel was killed
his mother was very angry and killed a knight in king Hrothgar's court the same
way her son had. King Hrothgar was very disturbed by this and didn't know what
to do. He called for Beowolf and told him of a dangerous swamp where Grendel and
his mother lived. The king also said that no one would go into the swamp to kill
Grendel's mother. The noble Beowolf answered Quickly "sorow not O King! I will
persue this monster where ever it may go and i will kill it". They went to the
swamp and Beowolf dived deep into the water not at all fearing what ever awaited
him at the bottom. This shows that he is courages. He battled with Grendel's
mother and beat her. Beowolf and the king celabrated all night and in the
morning Beowolf told king Hrothgar goodbye and said to call for him if he ever
needed help again.
Throughout the entire story Beowulf acts courageously without thinking
of himself, helping other people and rescuing then from great dangers. His noble
character has been preserved in these stories.