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To post, select "Comment" and copy/paste your essay from googledrive. Posts are due no later than September 27th by 11:59 pm.
TWO replies to peers are due no later than Monday, October 2 by 11:59 pm. MAKE SURE YOU'VE SHARED YOUR GOOGLEDRIVE ESSAY WITH MRS. ROHLFS AS WELL ([email protected]).
103 Comments
Jillian Walker
9/26/2017 05:35:57 am
What is it that makes Beowulf a true hero? How do Beowulf’s deeds,words, and beliefs come together to create the “perfect” medieval warrior?
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Kaylie Vinson
10/2/2017 08:32:52 pm
I enjoyed how your introductory paragraph started with a quote. The quote you chose was a nice way to introduce your prompt. It’s interesting how we both share the same topic but in one way we approached an example of true heroism differently. I understand the point you made on Beowulf’s speech but I feel that doesn’t showcase a true hero. Personally I used the quote, “And I shall fulfill my purpose, prove myself with a proud deed or meet my death here in the mead-hall” (636-638). In this quote Beowulf informs the people, he will fulfill the battle and in result the kingdom put get pride and trust in him because he followed through with his words.
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Riley Wertz
9/26/2017 03:26:04 pm
Prompt: What effect do kennings have on you as a reader? How do they add to the poetic atmosphere of the epic?
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Erica Pryor
10/2/2017 02:11:38 pm
I really enjoyed reading your post, and I thought you proved your knowledge on Old English and the epic Beowulf. I liked how many examples of kennings that you pulled from the text. In doing this, you made your argument more effective and persuasive. The way that you set up and explained your examples from Beowulf by giving the reader the current example of what that kenning might be in modern English was an effective formatting strategy. While I was reading your blog post, I had a question: Are kennings a reflection of Anglo-Saxon culture as a whole or is its only purpose to aid the poetic atmosphere of the epic? Since your post brings these two things together, I was wondering where you felt the line of reflection was.
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Jillian Walker
10/2/2017 03:52:48 pm
I agree with your view on kennings and how enriching they are when placed in literature. The author uses the kennings in a way that helps the reader to clearly visualize the text in a way that more modern verbs do not. "Already the blade of the old king's sharp killing-sword had done it's worst"(2777-78). In this quote, the author is merely explaining a sword and the wielding of it, but the use of the kenning makes the simple text far more visual and also makes the simple piece of metal seem like a weapon of mass destruction. The use of the kennings help to make the anglo-saxon aged tale come to life in front of the reader.
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Sara Smith
9/26/2017 04:20:48 pm
Prompt: What role do women play in Beowulf?
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Sara Smith
9/26/2017 04:24:13 pm
(Continued)
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Mackenzie Huffman
10/2/2017 03:49:40 pm
I completely agree with you on this! Though their appearances are brief in nature, these women have a resonating impact on the epic as a whole. I like how when you were talking about Hildeburh you said that her son basically represents some sort of peace between the groups, because it's not necessarily something an average reader might see unless they dive into the meaning of the women's roles. It is a very interesting take on that character, and it definitely fits!
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Peyton Smith
9/26/2017 04:37:54 pm
What is it that makes Beowulf a true hero? How do Beowulf’s deeds,words, and beliefs come together to create the “perfect” medieval warrior?
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Erica Pryor
10/2/2017 01:45:58 pm
I also responded to this prompt in my post and our responses were nothing like each other. Though our points were different, I agree with yours and you proved deep understanding of Beowulf as a character and as an epic poem. The point that intrigues me the most is in your first body paragraph when you state where Beowulf compared himself to Grendel. This never crossed my mind while thinking of characteristics that make Beowulf the epitome of a hero. The reason this point never made me think of a hero characteristic was because while Beowulf comparing himself to Grendel proves his immense strength, this juxtaposition of Beowulf and Grendel created an image of Beowulf in a negative way rather than it showing off his strength. Your detailed analysis of this evidence however, changed this image for me. Therefor, I completely agree that without Beowulf’s faith in himself he would have never had so many successes.
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Amelia Wilson
10/2/2017 05:35:18 pm
Your points are very compelling and persuasive and I really like the essay as a whole. Although I don't agree with you that Beowulf is a perfect hero this helps me see that he is a much better hero than I originally thought. I enjoy the clear and concise way you put you points forth.
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Claire Kaiser
9/26/2017 06:16:32 pm
Prompt: Why are boasting and storytelling so important in the medieval warrior culture of Beowulf? What function do they serve in the epic?
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Brooke Reinbold
10/2/2017 02:59:53 pm
I agree with the statement that people used storytelling as a way to prove their strength and wealth. However, it leads me to ask, what kept people from not lying about their endeavors? Could not a person easily say they were from a far off kingdom and lie about their accomplishments, just to be treated well by royalty from another kingdom?
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Will Wilson
10/2/2017 04:43:58 pm
You bring up a very interesting point about medieval boasting in order to raise position in society, but I interpreted that as more of a side effect than intention. Boasting seemed to be more intended as a verbal joust, testing wit against wit instead of brawn against brawn. For example in the encounter between Beowulf and Unferth (Beowulf, 499-606), Unferth issues a challenge against Beowulf’s past accomplishments. To counter the claim, Beowulf elaborates on the previous boast and puts down Unferth simultaneously, making Beowulf the winner of this “Joust”.
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James Olson
9/26/2017 07:45:35 pm
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Will Wilson
10/1/2017 06:02:58 pm
I think that's a good point about his mortality contributing to his heroism, and in fact his mortality increases the quality of the piece. In The Odyssey Odysseus comes home and essentially live happily ever after, and because of that I never really believed that Odysseus could ever lose. No matter what he faced down, he was the heroic protagonist and therefore had to win. That drained the entire story of tension, but Beowulf fixes this problem. When he dies after trying to defeat the dragon, it emphasised that he was mortal. That gave his previous deeds more weight, now that I knew he could have failed and died for any of them.
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Taylor LaMacchia
10/2/2017 06:57:40 pm
I think it's really interesting that you chose failure as a reason for him being a hero, and it's something I hadn't really thought about before but I agree that him dying in battle adds to him being seen as a true hero. However, when it comes to pride I believe that pride alone cannot make Beowulf a true hero, but he must have both hubris and humility. Without the humility side of Beowulf's personality, hubris would get the better of him.
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Maddy Stewart
9/27/2017 05:23:19 am
Prompt: Why are boasting and and storytelling so important in the medieval warrior culture of Beowulf? What function do they serve in this epic?
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Mackenzie Baum
9/27/2017 05:38:59 am
The Unheard Side of Beowulf
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Mackenzie Baum
9/27/2017 06:43:18 am
Continued...
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Kimmy Leiby
10/1/2017 06:29:46 pm
The comparisons you make between Anglo-Saxon women, women in other ancient cultures, and modern day women are accurate. That said, I question whether Haereth’s daughter’s actions in the mead hall are really as unimportant as your essay seems to imply. I agree that by modern standards the daughter's role in the mead hall--a role we might consider as a servant’s job--seems suppressive. However, in the context of the Anglo-Saxon culture, the women’s job in pouring mead helped distinguish the status of certain men based on who was served first. Therefore, the women had an important job in the mead hall, even if they were not necessarily speaking.
Maddy Stewart
10/2/2017 06:47:33 am
I somewhat agree with what you're trying to say, but the women in Beowulf are overlooked and in this piece of poetry it demonstrates that the women play roles that are central to the story and to society. The queen in Beowulf acts as a hostess to the men of their land. The hostess does not solely serve the men; rather she is the one that reaffirms social customs and publicly establishes the status of the men who are in the presence of the king. Wealhtheow establishes a warrior's status by using the cup of mead. She carries the cup of mead starting with the king and then to the warriors. She serves Beowulf last since he had just arrived in Daneland. However, in lines 1162-1231, she serves Beowulf directly after serving her husband. The act of the cup demonstrates that Beowulf has earned his right to sit beside the king, as though he were a Dane himself. Furthermore, the hostess holds political power in the hall. Wealhtheow demonstrates this power by publicly requesting to the King that he does not allow Beowulf to be the heir to the throne, but to remember that her sons are the rightful heirs to such a position (1180-1191). She is confident that the King will abide by these social customs and there is no fight back or indication in the poem that her wishes will not be granted. When Beowulf does become the king; he only holds the place until the sons are old enough to fulfill their duty as king. The hostess becomes the voice of reason; she is responsible for upholding the socials customs of her country when all of the warriors have forgotten the importance of these codes.
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Katlin Medler
9/27/2017 05:41:31 am
Prompt: How much control do the characters in Beowulf have over their fates? Are skilled warriors any more likely to succeed than cowards? Who does the narrator remind us is calling all the shots?
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Mackenzie Baum
10/2/2017 08:09:40 am
I like how you incorporated the Bible being reworded into the play. The only thing I disagree with is when you say he was fated to die in battle with the dragon. When I read that part of the play I had a different take on it. What I thought when I read it was that Beowulf was a warrior and even though he was old in his heart he was still a warrior. Though each warrior is different one thing they usually share is that they don't want to just die they want to die in a way that is remembered. Whether that is hubris or bravery its still their choice. When Beowulf was about to enter the dragon's lair and told his men to stay behind I don't think it was God's will that forced him to go. In fact I viewed this part as one of the only times free will was seen. Beowulf could have just sent men because he knew he would die, but he also knew he couldn't stop fighting because he was old and I think that's free will not fate. Do you think at any time during the play anyone experienced free will?
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Peyton Smith
10/2/2017 09:29:41 am
I think that you brought up many great points about fate. The point about his fate to die fighting the dragon being predetermined and him not having much of a say in the outcome is a great insight. However, I disagree with your statement that the life of a hero is not worth it due to it ending in death in battle. Every person must die eventually. To die fighting for something you believe in and have your legacy carry on through story-telling for generations is much preferred over dying quietly at home. In Anglo-Saxon culture, every man dreamed of dying this way, with fame and glory. In the original religion of the story, before it was changed to Christianity, dying in battle guaranteed the deceased a special place in their version of heaven, above all others. This is where each person dreamed of being for all of eternity, and its benefits outweigh the pain of death by sword, away from family.
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McKenna Shank
10/2/2017 03:53:17 pm
I like how you put into thought the roles of paganism and christianity and how they impacted the narrator to interpret Beowulf. On that note, for the most part I completely agree with your stance, however I interpreted Beowulf as someone who wasn't just a defender against monsters. He took an active role and used his god given strengths to the best of his abilities. When I read the ending I personally felt that Beowulf didn't go to defeat the dragon as a means to keep up his reputation, he did it because It was his duty. He knew that it was his responsibility to try and save his people one last time.
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McKenna Shank
9/27/2017 05:52:40 am
From a rhetorical standpoint ‘kennings’ have a complex signature which adds a sophisticated meaning to the text. As for the reader, ‘kennings’ add a new perspective on the words definition whilst enriching the minds of the readers; all together, this new approach to language completely emphasizes the poetic atmosphere by encouraging the audience to think outside the box.
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Riley Wertz
10/2/2017 09:28:32 am
I wrote about kennings as well and we both made a lot of the same points in our essays; but two interesting points you made about kennings is that they were unexpected, and they make you question the function they serve. I'm really intrigued by these ideas because now looking back to when I was reading Beowulf for the first time, I remember seeing a kenning used in a sentence and questioning why it was used there or why the author couldn't be more literal or what the meaning of the kenning was. Kennings do truly make us question them and think deeper about them at the same time.
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Kimmy Leiby
9/27/2017 11:17:47 am
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Claire Kaiser
10/1/2017 09:27:49 am
This is a really interesting perspective! I like how you largely incorporated The Odyssey as a comparative piece, it offers a new perspective and shows your knowledge of both texts.You have effective evidence of how outside forces, including the Christian God and Pagan gods, control the characters' fates but you also connect the theme of fate back to The Odyssey. This point of view offers a very intriguing connection between the two texts and shows much higher knowledge.
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Lindsey Nichols
9/27/2017 11:24:00 am
Prompt: How much control do the characters in Beowulf have over their fates? Are skilled warriors any more likely to succeed than cowards? Who does the narrator remind us is calling all the shots?
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Mackenzie Baum
10/2/2017 07:30:01 am
You have a very cogent argument. The prompt is very clearly seen through out the writing and your quotes are backed up by precise analysis. However, in your post you say God has complete control over everything, does that mean that that's what the people believe in Beowulf or do think that's a fact? Do you think it's the narratives point of view that's pushing the poem in that direction? I'm asking because I think the narrative did put his beliefs in the poem and asking if you did too. I'm a little curious to see what they play would've been if it were original. If the original followed the polytheism pattern of the other epic poems we have read. Overall, I really liked your post its very focused and uses very mature language.
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Madisen Williams
10/2/2017 05:29:51 pm
You answered the prompt really well throughout your essay, and I liked how you used the common theme of God controlling peoples fates to answer the other questions in the prompt. I thought that your view on heroes being more successful because of their God-given gifts was interesting. I had never thought of it that way.
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Krista Martinez
10/2/2017 06:14:05 pm
I completely agree with your entire argument that the characters in Beowulf do not have any control over their fates because God has all of the control. The characters in Beowulf realize this is the case yet they are content with it. It is easy to apply the prompt of how much the characters in Beowulf control their fate to how much the people today control their fate. Do you believe that God controls our fates still today? I personally believe that God does control our fates, and when I feel that I have made a wrong decision I know that it was part of God's plan.
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Mackenzie Huffman
9/27/2017 02:54:06 pm
Prompt: What makes Beowulf a true hero?
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Sara Smith
10/2/2017 08:38:55 am
I agree with you in that Beowulf was very confident. However, when does his heroism turn into hubris? For example, Beowulf fights Grendel's mother, the author says,
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Amelia Wilson
9/27/2017 03:14:52 pm
The epic poem Beowulf is a story about a prideful hero during Angol-Saxon times and his conquests. When the story originated it was not an epic poem, it was told orally. This was traditionally how all stories were passed down because almost all people during that time could not read, in consequence to storytelling was very important in their culture. Beowulf was written down by a monk between 700 A.D. and 750 A.D. long after when the story originated.
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James Olson
9/28/2017 07:05:10 pm
I very much agree with your idea that the story may have changed due to oral storytelling. However, I do not agree with your idea that Beowulf in real life must have been selfish because his story made him look good. There is no known proof that Beowulf exaggerated his story, and if it was exaggerated it could have been anyone who passed the story down. An example of Beowulf helping others is when he says he will fight the dragon himself which saves the lives of others. He says to his warriors:"This fight is not yours, nor is it up to any man except me to measure his strength against the monster or to prove his worth"(2532-2535). That is a prime example of Beowulf risking his own life for others when he battles the dragon. Therefore, I agree that storytelling was vital, but I think that Beowulf did good for not just himself but others!
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Claire Kaiser
10/1/2017 01:55:16 pm
I agree with your points! I did the same topic, and we included similar reasons why boasting and storytelling were so important in Beowulf. However, the part where you compared Queen Hygd and Queen Modthryth and used their motives for storytelling as evidence for your claim was a new view that I had not considered. I think it's cool that you included the role of women in your response, morphing two of the prompts together in a way. I also think your point that Beowulf may have changed since it was originally an oral story was a good addition in your response. This helped examine Beowulf with a more overall view instead of just focusing on certain points.
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Katlin Medler
10/2/2017 09:37:33 am
I agree with your points. I definitely agree that reputations and hubris were a big part of story telling and that the stories were changed to boost their hubris. I love how you brought in the juxtaposition between Queen Hygd and Queen Modthryth and how you used that to support your claim on how the people needed comparisons to learn and understand the story. One thing I disagree with is when you stated that Beowulf did everything for himself and nothing for anyone else. I feel that Beowulf actually cared for his men and wanted to protect them when he fought against the dragon. Yes, going in the barrow by himself definitely boosted his hubris but it also showed he had somewhat of a heart.
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Ashton Kunkel
10/2/2017 06:54:04 pm
Your points are very strong, and I agree with them! I like how you compared the social cultures of today's world and the past. Storytelling played a huge roll in society, and I like how you went deep into the topic of it. The boasting that came from story telling really developed Beowulf as a character. Very well written, Emmy. I enjoyed reading this.
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Garrett Blocker
9/27/2017 04:12:57 pm
Garrett Blocker
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Rebekah Yeary
10/3/2017 11:12:42 am
I think you chose an interesting topic, and I feel like you used the textual evidence well. I think that the stories have an important part in the telling of Beowulf. I have to agree that the stories provide a smooth way to incorporate a backstory that is necessary for the stories importance. I especially like that you focus a lot on the significance that the stories and kennings have on the culture of the time. I also mention the war culture in my essay, and I think that it highlights what the story really is about.
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Brooke Reinbold
9/27/2017 05:44:48 pm
Prompt: How much control do the characters in Beowulf have over their fates? Are skilled warriors more any more likely to succeed than cowards? Who does the narrator remind us is calling all the shots?
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Audrey Frost
10/2/2017 05:05:10 pm
I think your post does an amazing job of showcasing examples of supporting evidence for the prompt! One of your main points in the post is that no amount of training will help a person succeed if fate does not permit it (in classic literature at least) and I find that point very interesting. Do you think that skilled warriors are only such because of their fate? Or that a person is either a coward or a warrior and their fate is decided from there? Also, in the second half of your post you mention the Christian influence over Anglo-Saxon because of how the story was translated from oral to written. Do you think fate would have played as big of a role Beowulf if there weren't Christian elements? Or perhaps a bigger role with the Anglo-Saxon?
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Alexandra Withey
10/2/2017 06:05:40 pm
Your statement that God has most control over the character's fates in Beowulf is something I most definitely agree with. You pointed out specific evidence throughout the text of people saying that God will decide what happens and that he's on Beowulf's side, which what they said usually ended up being true. I liked your examples showing how God was such an evident piece of Beowulf, including the different names the characters referred to him as in different parts of the text (e.g. "Divine Lord", "Almighty God").
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Nora Gildner
9/27/2017 05:49:03 pm
Prompt: How much control do characters in Beowulf ave over their fate? Are skilled warriors any more likely to succeed than cowards? Who does the narrator remind us is calling all the shots?
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Peyton Smith
10/2/2017 08:49:19 am
This is an interesting take on the subject of fate. I agree that fate in Beowulf is very different from other classic literature, however I think that God's will still plays a large part in determining ones fate. Beowulf does not receive as much guidance and help from God during his adventures as Odysseus receives from Athena, yet His help is still important to the outcome. Beowulf says when preparing for his fight with Grendel "And may the Divine Lord/ in His wisdom grant the glory of victory/ to whichever side he sees fit"(812-815) meaning that god would ultimately determine the winner of the fight. While the characters from Beowulf had much more say over their own fates than characters in other literature, I do not think that we can ignore God's influence
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Rebekah Yeary
10/3/2017 11:19:38 am
I have to agree with you about the change of prevalence in Beowulf vs Odyssey. I too wrote a similar argument regarding the involvement that god had. Although I do believe that the interpretation could be skewed due to the translation, I think there interactions were different. I enjoyed seeing the difference between the interactions of both stories, even though I think they had the same amount of faith in both. It is truly hard to know their exact views, but I like your interpretation of it.
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Samantha Thurman
9/27/2017 05:52:05 pm
A true hero is someone who is very courageous and brave, willing to do anything for the greater good of the people. Beowulf performed many amazing feats in his lifetime, making him a prime example of a true hero. Beowulf proved himself to be a true hero because of his courage in defeating Grendel, his bravery in fighting Grendel’s mom, and his willingness to fight the dragon.
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Riley Wertz
10/2/2017 10:03:51 am
I really like all the points you made and the textual evidence you used to support the prompt you chose. In your conclusion though, you mention that he could've done all his heroic actions for his own glory which contradicts your main point of Beowulf being a true hero. I believe a true hero thinks of others before he thinks of himself, and I saw a lot of self hubris within Beowulf. I believe he did a lot of the things he did to make a name for himself, especially when he came to Hrothgar's kingdom to fight Grendel hand-to-hand. On line 418, Beowulf said "all knew of my awesome strength". Beowulf also brags to Unferth about all his accomplishments. In the end though, he does defeat the monsters and saves the people, but ultimately it can be interpreted either way whether Beowulf was a true hero for the people or for himself.
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Rebekah yeary
9/27/2017 06:15:02 pm
Having faith is how people are able to bring themselves to perform a formidable task. Unless one is directly approached by a god or gods, like in the greek culture, fate is merely just a hope or a comfort. In the epic poem Beowulf, the characters reference their belief in a singular god and show their admiration for him. They reference fate multiple times, typically before they are faced with a challenge. However, the reader never encounters direct presence of a god aiding the characters through their journey. Rather than fate or the gods, customs are what decide how powerful one would be throughout his/her life. A crucial part of of their pride was proving themselves and helping their kingdom, while having faith in an afterlife and hoping to be protected by god, motivated them.
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Kimmy Leiby
10/1/2017 05:27:49 pm
Your statements comparing the higher powers present in The Odyssey and Beowulf reflect my own thoughts on the subject. I also noticed how the greek gods, such as Athena, are physical characters in the story, directly interacting with the mortal characters on Earth, while the Christian God in Beowulf is an idea based on belief and not physical evidence. Initially, I did not agree with your opinion that God was not aiding the characters in Beowulf. When reading the section of the text that describes Beowulf as having “the strength of thirty/ in the grip of each hand” (380-381), I understood his superhuman strength to be a God-given gift. However, while reading your essay, I realized the difference between the gifts in The Odyssey and Beowulf. In the Odyssey, there is no doubt that the gods bestow gifts upon certain characters, as those events are written out within the epic. In Beowulf though, the description of Beowulf’s strength may grow out of the warrior-focused culture of the Anglo-Saxons and the traditions of interesting storytelling.
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Christine Tokar
9/27/2017 06:16:03 pm
True heroism is difficult to achieve. In the epic poem Beowulf, Beowulf is every reader's image of a true hero. He displays kindness and respect in times of distress. He shows valiance whilst looking straight at his death sentence, not once, not twice, but three times. The third battle was his ultimate demise with many events leading to his inevitable defeat. Beowulf countlessly showed to be a true medieval hero by his words, deeds, and glory.
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Kaylie Vinson
10/2/2017 08:01:04 pm
I agree with your statements and reasoning behind your prompt. Each of your body paragraphs gave great examples and explanation of how Beowulf showed true heroism. Having the same topic, we share some of the same ideas. We both have the idea that Beowulf made his people feels at ease in the way he spoke. You covered the prompt well in this particular paragraph. We also both agree on actions speak louder than words. Personally the quote I used,“And I shall fulfill my purpose , prove myself with a proud deed or meet my death here in the mead-hall” (636-638) it showed how Beowulf spoke on a promise he made and explained how he would excuse the plan. I like how you gave an example on a reason why he put his words into action.
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John Hoesli
9/27/2017 06:17:17 pm
Prompt: How much control do the characters in Beowulf have over their fates? Are skilled warriors any more likely to succeed than cowards? Who does the narrator remind us that is calling the shots?
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Alexandra Withey
10/2/2017 06:23:45 pm
Your take on the prompt is original and I like the points you use to back up your stance. Specifically, your first point of Beowulf knowing that his fate is basically sealed by God was definitely prevalent throughout the text, and your example that you used to back it up was dead on. Beowulf tended to say his fate was up to God just before he fought and your example was just before he fought Grendel, which showed that you knew the text.
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Nora Gildner
10/2/2017 06:56:53 pm
Having chose the same prompt I can see where we have similar views on the fate vs freewill and the Biblical references that are brought into the epic Beowulf. I really enjoyed reading about your own controversial views on the epics interpretation of fate. I also think you had a good summary of the text as well as strong textual evidence throughout your post. I liked the mention of the author being a monk it really helps readers grasp the prompts roots by mentioning the narrator and who is in fact calling the shots. I believe after reading your post and us using the same prompt I noticed where mine was lacking and where I could have used improvement.
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Taylor LaMacchia
10/2/2017 07:49:10 pm
I really agree with your point that fate and God are synonymous in this epic because of how Christianity was superimposed onto the story. I like how you tied in the polytheistic story lines of the Odyssey and Oedipus Rex, and it serves well in showing that there wasn't really much room for Beowulf to really have an impact on his fate. You brought up a lot of good points that made me question the text in a different light than some of the other responses to this prompt.
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McKenna Quinn
9/27/2017 06:31:00 pm
Prompt: How much control do the characters in Beowulf have over their fates? Are skilled warriors any more likely to succeed than cowards? Who does the narrator remind us is calling all the shots?
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James Olson
9/28/2017 07:18:56 pm
I strongly agree with your opinion that God is the key decider in the poem. Proof of this is that all characters refer to God when they accomplish something because they believed it was his cause. When Beowulf kills the dragon and is near death he says:"To the everlasting Lord of All, / to the King of Glory, I give thanks / that I behold this treasure here in front of me"(2794-2796)... Beowulf thanks God for his accomplishment and treasure as he dies. I agree that Beowulf's trust in God when battling also proves God's control. In the story all characters believe that God chooses everyone's fate.
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Christine Tokar
10/2/2017 03:16:16 pm
I enjoyed your point of the view on the essay. You used sophisticated words that further excelled your essay. Additionally, I agree with your stand point on God's power over the people in the text. I thought you provided great evidence that showed the idea that although Beowulf had unwavering strength God could've have chosen Beowulf to be defeated at anytime. You did well in the closing paragraph with providing additional facts on the original writer of Beowulf. Secondly I liked how you took a different stand point by adding details about the Monk and how his beliefs had an affect on how Christianity was perceived in the text. You adding that information made me look at the text differently once you had pointed it out.
Mackenzie Huffman
10/2/2017 04:02:49 pm
I like that you brought the fact of the monk who translated Beowulf into your essay because it reminds us that this version of the epic is different than the original and that the role of fate in the original could have been different as well. I also agree with your points, and I enjoyed the way you developed them into an effective argument. I found the part where you were talking about a fight between Beowulf and a weak child to be a very interesting take on the story. It exemplifies the way the characters in the story are trusting God and how much of an impact God's will had on them.
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Lindsey Nichols
10/2/2017 05:21:49 pm
I completely agree with your argument that God controls all in the epic. I too responded to this prompt, but in a different way. I really like that you thought to add that the monk who wrote this down added Christianity into it and suggested that that could have changed the entire idea of fate in the epic. It makes me wonder whether the outcome of the story would have been different had the monk not added his own flare. I also liked the point you made about the weak child fighting Beowulf because I also used that quote as evidence in my essay but not in response to the question about cowards versus skilled warriors. I had not thought about it in that way or even that God could twist fate in that way. Your essay really got me to think even more deeply about certain parts of Beowulf!
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Amelia Wilson
10/2/2017 06:06:19 pm
I really enjoy your introduction and the juxtaposition between what the original and the written version of Beowulf. You support your ideas very well with quotes and analysis. I really enjoy when you talk about how god gave Beowulf his powers but God could still choose for Beowulf to loose to a child, it illustrates how important god using fate is.
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Samantha Thurman
10/2/2017 07:06:29 pm
I definitely agree with your point that God is the strongest factor of one's fate in the epic Beowulf. I found the idea that the Christian monk may have added all of the fate in when he translated the story very intriguing! I hadn't thought about the fact that maybe fate wasn't important in Beowulf, but instead it was important in Christianity to remind people that everything that happens happens because God wanted things to be that way. I also think that the point that the characters know that God decides what happens to them is interesting because it makes me wonder if anyone in the epic ever did anything based on free will. I think that the characters probably did have some free will and God didn't control everything they did, but He just controlled the outcome of everything they did.
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Audrey Helfrich
9/27/2017 06:48:26 pm
Beowulf Blog
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Meghan Hoyt
10/2/2017 07:13:23 pm
You did a really good job incorporating the prompt directly into the essay you wrote, sometimes it’s easy to lose focus on it throughout the essay but you did a great job. I like the examples you used as well, I agree with the points you made.
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Krista Martinez
9/27/2017 07:11:39 pm
Prompt: What is it that makes Beowulf a true hero?
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Bram Kineman
10/2/2017 08:19:20 am
I agree with your opinion that what sets a true hero from a regular hero is largely fate. Because Beowulf's fate ended with him slaying a dragon and him meeting death, that further ties the characteristics of fate and heroicness into him being a true hero. Similar to fate, I like how you said that God gave him immense strength, which also contributes to his title as a true hero. I'm curious to know if you think, can a hero only be a true hero if he has a sort of higher power of god(s) looking over him and creating a fate for the hero?
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Meghan Hoyt
9/27/2017 07:17:00 pm
What makes Beowulf a true hero? How do Beowulf’s deeds, words, and beliefs come together to create the perfect medieval warrior?
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Audrey Helfrich
10/2/2017 06:35:25 pm
I really enjoyed how you wrote about this prompt! I chose the same one and I would have never thought to break down the components of being a hero. I agree with all your points and the components you chose to represent a hero, you also did a great job incorporating that into your introduction. You really hit it spot on when you were talking about strength, I feel like that is one of the most important components of being a hero, the example you used from line 670 when Grendel discovered Beowulf was stronger than him really showed just how strong he was and without strength he probably would not be the hero everyone loved.
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Alexandra Withey
9/27/2017 07:40:47 pm
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Bram Kineman
10/2/2017 08:23:19 am
I agree with all your characteristics that back Beowulf as a true hero. I found your first sentence of the second paragraph interesting, because I never thought of what inspired Beowulf, let alone consider that it could be his father's death. I would argue that it was not his father's death that made him who he is, as much as it is God who influenced Beowulf to becoming a true hero.
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Erica Pryor
9/27/2017 07:47:01 pm
Is there such thing as a model hero?
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Jillian Walker
9/29/2017 09:28:40 am
I very much agree with your opinion on Beowulf's noble father playing a role in his own nobility. You mentioned the scene with the coast guard, in which the guard initially doesn't approve of Beowulf and his kinsmen. "Never before has a force under arms disembarked so openly-not bothering to ask if the sentries allowed them safe passage"(244-46). It is not until Beowulf introduces his noble lineage that the guard grants them passage. I also agree with your statement that the people that surround Beowulf, love him. "What you have done is to draw two peoples, the Geat nation and us neighboring Danes into shared peace and a pact of friendship"(1977-79). In this quote by king Hrothgar, it is explained that through Beowulf's good deeds he was able to bring two, usually hostile neighbors together in a friendly union.
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Maddy Stewart
10/2/2017 07:01:33 am
I agree with all your points! I like how in your thesis you leave the reader wondering. I like how you said one of Beowulf’s traits that makes him a true hero is his reputation and his family history. I didn't know much about family lineage and how it was an impact in Beowulf. It is good evidence to your claim that I personally would not have thought about.
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Katlin Medler
10/2/2017 09:19:01 am
I agree with all of your points, but your last body paragraph really stood out to me. Beowulf is a powerful character physically and mentally. He cares about all people, and not just the people that live in his area. I feel like this "soft side" is a great definition of a true hero. I definitely agree that family lineage ties into being a hero. As you stated in your first body paragraph that Beowulf may not take the same path as his father but he is still respected, this answered the prompt really well and it is a unique way to look at the poem. You answered the prompt well in all of your body paragraphs and you have supportive evidence.
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Lindsey Nichols
10/2/2017 05:34:06 pm
I agree with all of your points except for the first one. In my opinion, being the son of a noble warrior makes Beowulf exactly that: the son of a noble warrior. Sure, the people might hold him in their minds as high and mighty for that, but I don't really think that makes him a hero in my book, because all he did to earn that title was be born. Although I don't agree with that point, I will say that you give some solid evidence and analysis to prove it! Same with the other two points; you really got the analysis thing down. In regards to his promising to protect a land he doesn't belong to (your second body paragraph), I whole-heartedly that that makes Beowulf a true hero, because it means he's willing to give something up to keep people he hardly knows safe. Nice essay!
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Audrey Helfrich
10/2/2017 06:59:47 pm
I really like your view on this! I like how you start off with saying heroes come in all shapes and sizes because normally when people think of a hero they picture someone big and strong. I also liked how you wrote about characteristics not a lot of people think about when the words model hero comes up, I would have never thought to write about family lineage! Overall this was a very unique insightful view on what a hero is.
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Audrey Frost
9/27/2017 08:01:53 pm
Prompts: 1)What is it that makes Beowulf a true hero? How do Beowulf's deeds, words, and beliefs come together to create the "perfect" medieval warrior?
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Brooke Reinbold
10/2/2017 02:48:20 pm
I agree with many of your statements, including your main thesis that Beowulf is a true hero. He met all the criteria, according to your prompt. However, in the paragraph where you speak of protection, you bring up the lines where Beowulf sacrificed himself for his men when he was fighting the dragon. Do you think he really wanted to protect his men, or did he just want all the glory from defeating the dragon? You speak of how prideful Beowulf is, so I wouldn't put it past him. Even if he knew he would die fighting the dragon alone, he would've had a very honorable death. If he defeated the dragon with all his men, he potentially could've lost the reputation he had for how strong he was.
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9/27/2017 08:02:05 pm
The addition of kennings into the writing Beowulf is certainly welcome. It’s a literary device that acts as a breath of fresh air after reading the same tropes common in modern literature. Above simply being different, kennings add a layer of depth to different objects/people.
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McKenna Shank
10/2/2017 04:01:01 pm
I completely agree with you on the importance of kennings in the literary world, and I like how you compared them to breathing fresh air. The one thing I would add though is to go more into detail on how kennings affected you as a reader. I also would include more examples of kennings from Beowulf because it would definitely deepen the readers knowledge. If you incorporated these two suggestions into the piece, I believe your paper would be flawless. Side note, great job on relating the importance of kennings back to literature.
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Samantha Thurman
10/2/2017 06:43:30 pm
This is an interesting take on kennings that I hadn't thought of before! I like the idea that they are used to give description where it is needed without going into full, crazy detail. I had just taken the use of kennings as a way to sound fancy and confusing, but if I had really taken the time to think about what each kenning meant, I believe I probably would have had a deeper understanding of the epic. I do think that it would be interesting if kennings began to get used again in today's literature. I believe they would probably be quite different to how they were in Beowulf because they would be modernized, which would be interesting to see. I think that if readers could get used to them, kennings would be a much-welcomed addition into the literature of today.
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Ashton Kunkel
10/2/2017 07:00:12 pm
I definitely agree that kennings add layers of depth you normally wouldn't see in modern culture. The fact that these were common many years back makes me ponder on how normal conversation was, and what would it be like to live in such a time where language is constantly developing in ways we cannot comprehend. I wonder if others would get confused if they hear of a kenning that hasn't been introduced to them yet? Would they simply piece it together in a jiffy, or would they stop them mid conversation for an explanation of the kenning. Overall an interesting concept and language adaptation. Well written, Will!
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Kaylie Vinson
9/27/2017 08:24:23 pm
What makes Beowulf a true hero? How do Beowulf’s deeds, words and beliefs create a perfect warrior?
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Christine Tokar
10/2/2017 04:12:00 pm
Good plot summarization that briefly shows us as the reader on what is most important to know in the essay. I although question a point made in the essay. You say Beowulf never became big headed. I feel in Beowulf's last day as he lead skilled men into an almost inevitable death of men, he let his hubris take over and disregard the safety of his men. I could be wrong but, I feel a part of being a true hero is how he cares for the men he battles with and not leading them into a impromptu fight that can be efficiently planned to prevent as many deaths as possible and be victorious.
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Krista Martinez
10/2/2017 05:46:35 pm
I agree that Beowulf should he was a true hero through his deeds, however, I do not agree that Beowulf showed that he was a true hero through his speech. Beowulf was a prideful hero and it is a flaw. When Beowulf is rehashing his swimming contest to Unferth, he exclaims that he was the best swimmer of them all (534). Then Beowulf continues on and destroying Unferth's self-confidence by saying,
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Nora Gildner
10/2/2017 06:13:53 pm
I agree with the points you made about Beowulf's heroism, I also believe he inherits all of the good qualities you listed above. I also very much like how you incorporated the faith aspect of the epic in with the heroic actions made by all characters. You have a nice summary of the epic without going too in depth and creating a boring summarization of the epic. Although I disagree that Beowulf showed heroism though his speech, his actions most certainly show heroic gestures but his speech seems naive and foolish in a way, by him believing he is unbeatable.
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Madisen Williams
9/27/2017 08:30:26 pm
A hero can be defined as a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. In the epic poem Beowulf, the main character by the same name can be considered a hero because he is courageous and brave, he is seen as God-like, and he is kind.
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McKenna Quinn
10/2/2017 04:43:45 pm
I truly enjoyed reading your essay, and I agree with several of your points about what makes Beowulf a true hero. However, I feel as if, when referring to your first point, Beowulf may have said "selfless" things to boost his hubris. He said things that made it seem like he was willing to die for strangers, but personally I think he said such things to gain their trust and affection. Beowulf seems as if he thought himself invincible. So it brings to question, was Beowulf truly selfless, or did he just want to seem like he was to his admirers?
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Meghan Hoyt
10/2/2017 07:15:55 pm
I really enjoyed you’re introduction and how the essay smoothly transitioned into the body paragraphs. The essay was very clear and well thought out. I like the examples you used and agree with the points you made.
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Ashton Kunkel
9/27/2017 09:16:52 pm
Prompt Selection: What is it that makes Beowulf a true hero? How do Beowulf’s deeds,words, and beliefs come together to create the “perfect” medieval warrior?
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Sara Smith
10/2/2017 09:20:48 am
You have an interesting perspective regarding Beowulf's hubris. You seem to think it is an essential part of being a true hero, which is a point I never thought of but now see. For example, when Beowulf is telling of his ordeal in the sea, he says,
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Bram Kineman
9/28/2017 04:34:21 am
Beowulf Blog Prompt 1
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Audrey Frost
10/2/2017 05:32:01 pm
Your post provides great insight on the prompt, with a splendid analysis of Beowulf. You mention in your post that one of the traits of a true hero is that he/she is fearless when protecting people/going into battle. Do you think this has anything to do with the fact that Beowulf has the strength of 60 men? Or do you think he would still be fearless without this un-humanly strength? Additionally, you wrote about how Beowulf was a hero because he knows that all decisions are decisions of God. Do you believe that Beowulf was still portrayed as large of a hero before the story was written down with Christian influences? I very much enjoyed reading your post, and it was interesting to see how someone else interpreted the first prompt.
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Jared Holmer
9/28/2017 04:39:22 am
The influence of fate in the epic, Beowulf, is quite strong. Major themes throughout the epic include Gods effect on everyday life, christian elements and why they’re in the story, and the role of fate in Beowulf's demise.
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John Hoesli
10/2/2017 04:53:51 pm
I do agree with you that the role of the god being synonymous to each other. But I do feel as if the way characters in the epics react to it are different. In Odyssey the gods are described almost as grand people and in Beowulf God is just a being. The act of personifying the gods causes the main characters to impose their free-will. While in Beowulf God being a higher body makes it harder to deceive him.
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Taylor LaMacchia
10/2/2017 01:29:03 pm
Heroism
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McKenna Quinn
10/2/2017 04:56:21 pm
I enjoyed reading your essay. It is extremely well written and had several compelling points. You had good use of in text citations, while also incorporating them into your essay's theme. You added several thoughts that crated a new viewpoint for myself on the epic poem Beowulf. However, I do wonder if the reason that he came to Heorot and helped the Danes was for personal reasons. In that time period making a name for yourself was your largest goal in life. So, did Beowulf come to help the Danes for selfless reasons, or to boost his hubris?
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John Hoesli
10/2/2017 04:59:31 pm
Beowulf being a hero and having heroic qualities is very true and there is not a time he was willing to run from the call of danger. But I do not know if I completely agree with him being humble. He did give the King a lot of the treasure but Beowulf also did that to repay a debt of a family member who had committed murder. He also inflated his ego by facing demons and dragons alone in near hand-to-hand combat. He does constantly thank God for his successes but that is a result of the monk who is pushing his Christian views on the story.
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Madisen Williams
10/2/2017 06:03:43 pm
I like your essay, you have a lot of good quotes that were integrated well. I wrote on the same topic and agree with your points, especially when you pointed out that Beowulf always goes back and thanks God for letting/ helping him win his battles. I also liked the part where you said that Beowulf was going to die and was still willing to sacrifice himself for his people.
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