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120 Comments
Mathias Stoecker
9/25/2018 10:07:07 am
An epic is a long poem, typically one derived from ancient oral tradition, narrating the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures or the history of a nation. Considering the heroic nature of epics, you would expect an epic to end with the hero successfully completing some impossible feat and then living out his or her days happily ever after. However, in the Old English epic Beowulf, that doesn’t happen. This may seem odd, but when taking a closer look at the cultures that have influenced this epic over time, it becomes much clearer as to why Beowulf had to die, and what would be different if he hadn’t.
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Austin Morofsky
9/27/2018 03:10:55 pm
This post has opened my eyes to a whole new perspective and I love it. My favorite part about this post is that you explain the history of the story itself which strongly supports your claim. I enjoyed your comparison between Beowulf and the Spear-Danes. However, I don't completely agree with the statement that if he lived after killing the dragon, it wouldn't be revealed how crucial he was to his people. I personally believe that Beowulf killing the dragon without dying would still have some impact but I do appreciate how you backed up your claim. I really like this essay and I think that it is a really strong one.
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Jaedyn Viane
9/27/2018 04:08:52 pm
I love how well-thought out this essay is. You bring in new perspectives and fresh ideas that I think more people should be aware about. We all seem to focus on the fact that Beowulf was a noble hero, but the way you describe him as a hero based on the cultural impact of the time really broadens the perspective. One thing I enjoyed was that your essay included textual evidence that not only made sense, but it backed up your thoughts. All three paragraphs include this and I think that's an important trait to keep up with!
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Tarra
9/27/2018 05:15:04 pm
Introducing the essay explaining what an epic is was a great choice because it gives the reader contex as to what kind of literature we are discussing and gives further information about what exactly your essay is going to talk about. Maybe give a solid thesis at the beginning of your essay so the readers know exactly what point you are trying to prove. Instead of just saying “ it becomes much clearer as to why Beowulf had to die, and what would be different if he hadn’t” maybe explain why it is clear that he had to die, then go on in the rest of the essay explaining why it would have been different if he hadn’t. Nice use of vocab words! Your quotes are very solid, and good evidence for the point you are trying to prove. Really like the way you interpreted how the monk implemented God and Christianity into this epic. How do you think Beowulf would be seen today if a monk hadn’t added his own twists to the epic by including God? Would others have tried to include Christianity even if the monk didn’t do it first? Overall, really enjoy the outside research you did on Norseman and how they die, I think many people included your information about Valhalla in their essay because it made for a good answer as to why Beowulf wanted to die a hero. Nice job, I think your outside knowledge and research made this essay super interesting and added a different, refreshing twist :)
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Mason Hamman
9/25/2018 10:35:48 am
Throughout history and literature alike, heroes and their incredible feats have become the embodiment of valiant and courageous behavior. Beowulf, from the renowned epic poem “Beowulf” continues to represent what it truly means to be a hero, through his stunning accomplishments in battle, to his impeccable leadership as a king, Beowulf’s deeds, words, and beliefs truly demonstrate is heroic aspects.
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continued blog post
9/25/2018 10:40:50 am
his Christian values or his Norse ideology, have helped him achieve greatness in battle and as a leader, making him a truly great hero.
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Cloee Engel
9/25/2018 10:42:11 am
Fate vs. Free Will is often a controversial topic: Which ultimately runs a person’s life? People have their own free will, but is it free will or God that decides the fate one will one day experience. In the Epic Beowulf, the story surrounds religion and God, therefore it would make sense for the characters to believe that God would indeed decide every move they make in life and the consequence that follows; but is that really true? There’s always a deeper meaning behind the general idea. The characters in Beowulf and the fate that subconsciously lies in their hands, the many skilled warriors in comparison to the cowards and their succession in life, and who really is in control of all of the people are few of many debatable questions that lie beneath the main plot of Beowulf itself.
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continued
9/25/2018 10:44:48 am
addition to the original. Although fate itself cannot be determined until the aftermath and the moment the time comes, it could deliberately be argued on whether God controls the fate or not. Personally, after reading Beowulf, as important as God is, he is not what determines the fate of someone, but the actions a person does on their own free will.
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Kaleigh Slot
9/27/2018 03:17:59 pm
Good job! Just a little something I first noticed was that it was a bit difficult to distinguish what your stance on the topic was. However, I do completely agree with you. We've seen as a class in different stories and Beowulf that people have control over their lives except when they are fated to do one thing, that will always somehow happen. With this story being the first one that includes only one God, not multiple, there is more of a set fate to be thought of, other than a life that sometimes has bits of chaos thrown in by multiple gods.
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Kayla Cuatt
9/25/2018 12:26:37 pm
The interactions between the early medieval tribes mentioned in Beowulf are portrayed as capricious in nature; their relationships with one another can lie completely with material gifts or be sullied by a murder between tribes, no matter who was killed or how it was paid off. The amount of importance placed on fixing relationships rather than creating them shows that life and relationships within the tribes are unpredictable at best--however, a great deal of importance is also siphoned to pleasing tribal allies, showing further that enemies are paid off while allies are rewarded to keep what peace they possibly can.
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continued
9/25/2018 12:27:45 pm
as shown with Beowulf’s father Ecgtheow, aforementioned offense may disappear completely when an entirely different tribe pays off the crime. Life during these times was not easy, even without war--tribes that live and die by the belief that bloodshed makes them more powerful were bound to find themselves in a schism with other tribes sooner rather than later. Though alliances and friendships were definitely possible, they appear to be few and far apart compared to the easily-obtained enemies during this time period.
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Riley Hancock
9/26/2018 02:20:49 pm
Your essay is very thorough and well thought out, I appreciate you stayed on topic and explored different points of view on the gift giving culture between tribes. A small and altogether just about pointless criticism would be to leave the idea that you learned the topic in class out of the essay, you mention it at the beginning of your first body paragraph saying "As mentioned in class", avoid this if possible just as a precaution for the final AP test. I think it would be very interesting to explore the idea of this gift giving at death culture still being around today. The whole reason we have obituaries in the mail is so anyone that the deceased owes something to will have the chance to make a claim on it, generally things aren't as bloodthirsty as the eye for an eye ideal the culture in Beowulf obtained but the karma system is definitely still around, just evolved.
Jaedyn Viane
9/25/2018 12:37:22 pm
In older literature, it is often a common debate whether or not the characters have a fate written by the gods--or God, depending on the time period. The most common question is if a character's fate is decided by a higher power, or if they have some control in their future. In Beowulf, characters fates are ultimately decided by God. If a character is strong and brave, like Beowulf, he would be more favored by fate instead of a weak character. Characters can improve themselves to enhance their fates and gain favor with God, but ultimately He is the deciding factor.
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Adrianne Rivera
9/26/2018 03:12:25 pm
I agree with you that overall God was in charge, and that it was God who decided the character's fate. I thought it was interesting how you said that Beowulf has the power to enhance his fate, and that some of his actions make him appear more favorable to God. It really made me think about the text more, and how Beowulf was praising God before a fight to gain favor and God's strength in battle. It also brings to question a part in the text when Beowulf was about to fight the dragon the narrator says, "The fabled warrior in his warshirt and helmet / trusted in his own strength entirely" (2539-2540). There was no mention of God helping him this time and I wonder, is this disregard of God what causes Beowulf to die at the end? Did he lose God's favor?
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Lauren Wietzke
9/25/2018 12:47:38 pm
Heroes aren’t born to be great, they grow to be great. While in the process of becoming a name for themselves, they delve into many other aspects that accompany them on the way; they battle through hardship, and through grit and strength they prevail. Beowulf, a well loved hero from the epic poem Beowulf , acquires the characteristics of a true hero. Though he is challenged with some of the most difficult opponents, he finds the courage to reign. Pride, fame, and religion all contributed to the end of Beowulf. Leaving a legacy was a crucial concept to the poem, and Beowulf was the one to set the tone.
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Kollin Gonser
9/26/2018 03:01:30 pm
Your essay is very well thoughtout and stays on on topic which is a really good component to have to have a end result of a good essay. Adding many vocabulary words adds a more in depth meaning into the essay and brings it to the next level. I Agree with what you have said in your essay, it is interesting to see how people in todays society still have an issue with being too prideful in what they do and how that can negatively impact our lives. People don't really realize their fate until it is time to accept it and I think you had a strong point for that idea in your essay. Overall a very well written essay good job!
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Tarra <3
9/27/2018 05:35:02 pm
Love the very first sentence, and good job on developing a clear, solid thesis. This will be a good skill to have on the AP test in the spring! I like the way you described at the end of the second paragraph how Beowulf’s pride was both a pro and a con; comparison is a great way of showing that you’re going into a deeper level of thinking. Great use of vocab words throughout your essay as well. I agree that Beowulf’s pride basically fueled his heroic actions. You can’t really fight demons and dragons unless you think you’re all that in a bag of chips and have the confidence to do so. Overall, simple yet effective essay. Your thesis made it easy to follow and you obviously did some outside research to implement into your essay as well. Your simplicity in your writing is very much appreciated by those who have a hard time reading verbose essays ;)
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Lauren Anderson
9/27/2018 08:05:13 pm
I loved this essay so much! Your viewpoints are unique and made me think about Beowulf's story differently. Your explanation of how self-reliance is both a good thing and a bad thing was well thought and makes total sense: people saw him as a hero, but is played a role in his death. I also loved how you answered two questions seamlessly in this essay. You explained the qualities that made him a hero, and you talked about how they also played a part in his death. How do you think the story would have changed if Beowulf had accepted the help of his men? Would people see him differently if he had fought his death rather than accept his fate? I loved reading this essay!
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Tarra Smith
9/25/2018 01:58:47 pm
CAUSE I’M BEOWULF
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Lauren Wietzke
9/26/2018 06:40:02 pm
I really enjoyed your connection to The Odyssey because it helps the reader better underatand the kind of hero Beowulf was to his people. I agree with you that Beowulf protects his people more than he cares for himself, and I think a true warrior embodies that quality. Treasure is a very important theme in Beowulf, however do you think this relates to our current society? Though we preach to avoid materialistic items, our society sometimes has a tendency to favor what we judge as being “wealthy”. I think Beowulf and his culture envied the fame of having treasure, however I think it was used more for the motive of gaining/ receiving loyalty. I agree that Beowulf uses his treasure to help his people, and I think overall Beowulf is a pretty selfless warrior. Your essay was really well written and was easy to follow. I think it’s interestinf that we can relate such an old text to modern day society. Great job Tarra :)
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Briana Holliday
9/27/2018 04:09:40 pm
Overall this is a beautiful essay/post!! There were just a few small thing to tweak to push it the extra mile. So, in the beginning of your second body paragraph you say, "Both Beowulf's heroic and noble words and deeds...", and I think the way you word this sentence is a bit confusing/verbose with the "and's". Maybe try, " Both Beowulf's chivalrous words and valor deeds..." Moving on, also in this paragraph you put quotation marks around "perfect", but I don't believe they're necessary. As a reader, I would've been able to do without since your thesis is to prove his worthiness to true heroism and the quotations around perfect imply that you may think he's not worthy. One more thing in your third body paragraph, second sentence, you say, "In the famous poem, 'The Odyssey', Odysseus shows courage in many ways,...". You have a comma after "ways" and then give examples of his courage. I think you could change the comma to a colon then list the ideas, just as a change of punctuation. Anyway, that's it for me!! Awesome job staying on topic throughout the essay as well, I noticed others struggled with that, so way to show em how it's done girly!!!
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Kollin Gonser
9/25/2018 02:02:54 pm
Kollin Gonser
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Lauren Wietzke
9/27/2018 10:19:08 am
Overall this essay was easy to read and gave clear and concise evidence to support that Beowulf’s pride helped him become a well loved hero. One thing I would consider is not directly using the “boasting” as often, instead finding synonyms for that word. I would agree with you that his pride was enhanced through his retinue. He was a influential leader and lead by example. Do you think there were times where he was almost too prideful? Or do you think he has been one of the ancient hero’s who has lacked as much pride compared to Odysseus or Oedipus? My understanding of Beowulf is that his pride almost made him selfless, I think he felt fulfillment in being a good king by giving to his people and fighting in the process. Really nice essay :)
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Jayden Mann
9/27/2018 07:05:03 pm
Love this title! I agree with the way you talk about how boasting in todays society is looked to be frowned upon. When you talk about repeated story telling do you think you would have a different opnion if this story was written down, with an author, and had not changed probably a million times since it was first told? I really like the way you explain your thoughts and do not just expect everyone to know what you mean by them, it shows me you care and want the reader to understand the place your coming from. Also, I do agree that boasting is a giant thing in Beowulf but as Lauren said synonyms would be good too. Do you think that if Unferth would not have challenged Beowulf the way he did that Beowulf's killing of Grendel would have been as significant? Personally I think that Unferth challenging Beowulf added more suspense to the whole situation. Was Beowulf going to defeat Grendel or was he going to be defeated BY Grendel? If I had not read the story I forsure would have thought that Grendel wouldve demolished Beowulf.
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Sophie Lupini
9/27/2018 07:32:02 pm
Kollin, I really enjoyed reading your insights on the epic. You used a strong argument that Beowulf used his hubris to the benefit of his people and his warrior status. Your comparison between today's society and the one that Beowulf took apart in was a thought I had never thought of before. You brought up a great point that pride is often thought of as a negative thing, but within the poem Beowulf they thrived off of it. In another essay someone mentioned that Beowulf was not only a man of pride in himself but also in God, what do you think got him the most fame? Also if Beowulf lived in today's society would he be and accredited warrior, or would he be an arrogant citizen? I thoroughly enjoyed reading your essay Kollin, you captured a lot of moments people haven't given much thought! Way to stand out and be unique, I loved your essay!
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Ashley Beck
9/25/2018 02:38:43 pm
Fate is the events beyond a person's control. Humans’ controlling their fate is equivalent to someone defying gravity on Earth. One's ability to control fate does not exist, though some might try and convince themselves that he or she succeeded, they never truly prevail. The recording of Beowulf took place during the emergence of Christianity. Consequently, the text emphasizes the role God plays in people’s lives, which makes the characters’ fates inexorable. Some destinies may be tragic, while others are heroic; no matter how powerful someone may be, one thing stands definite, a mightier power watches over people and determines his or her fate.
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Kayla Cuatt
9/27/2018 12:24:23 pm
I really enjoy the section where you wrote about Beowulf's fate in the 4th paragraph: typically when analyzing the role of fate in Beowulf, people tend to overlook the fact that while his fate was indeed planned out before him, he still needed to have confidence and actively work towards his destiny. If Beowulf did not try his hardest, do you think his fate still would have come true, even if he simply laid down and refused to fight? Also, considering Beowulf was not of true Christian origins, could you find anything that would insinuate that Beowulf was the one controlling his own fate rather than God? Your connections to the text were clear and to the point, making your blog post a very insightful and easy read. One bit of criticism I could offer is to polish some grammatical errors and possibly merge some sentences together to provide a better flow, though I don't believe these small issues take away from the message behind your post at all. Overall, I think you used great vocabulary and made an effort to stay on topic—well done!
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Sophie Lupini
9/27/2018 07:01:43 pm
You have a really strong essay, Ashley! Right from the start I loved your line "Humans’ controlling their fate is equivalent to someone defying gravity on Earth". This really puts your perspective on the topic into view.
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Abigail Leonard
9/25/2018 02:56:20 pm
Beowulf’s Super Rad Death
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Adrianne Rivera
9/26/2018 03:43:16 pm
First of all your essay title is amazing. In addition to the last paragraph of your essay when you questioned what would happen if Beowulf didn't die, and stressed the importance of dying a hero, I think that since he thought dying a warrior was so important, that he would have went on to the next great feat. Beowulf would have strived to continue to be a warrior, as by his character it seems life Beowulf's inexorable nature wouldn't let him just sit down and die of old age as a good king, like you said, he wouldn't be satisfied. Another quote showcasing Beowulf's pride in his ability is "No king / of any neighbouring clan would dare / face me with troops, none had the power / to intimidate me" (2733-2736). This is Beowulf pretty much saying that he was the best warrior around, boasting this as an important part of his life and legacy. His legacy was of upmost importance and Beowulf wanted that legacy to say he was a fighter till the end, which is what I think makes Beowulf so interesting as a character. I appreciate how clear and to the point your essay was.
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Ashley Guenthardt
9/27/2018 08:39:23 pm
Your essay has so much thought behind it! I love the perspective you take on Beowulf's true motives on fighting the dragon. However, I don't think Beowulf's intention was to die while in combat. I can't argue that he didn't know his attempt would be unsuccessful, because he seemed a bit too accepting of his knock on deaths door when he said "All this consoles me, / doomed as I am and sickening for death; / because of my right ways," (Lines 2739-2741), but I don't think he had any desire to die during that specific fight.
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Lauren Crossman
9/25/2018 03:26:28 pm
Since the beginning of time, societies have strived for coexistence. During the epic poem, Beowulf, the tribes' interactions appear to be inconsistent; the Danes, Geats, Heathobards, and Frisians experience times of peace and conflict. Throughout the epic, readers learn about Beowulf’s tribe, the Geats, and their past and present relationship with the Danes and the Danes relations with the Frisians and the Heathobards . Each tribe has a seemingly similar culture, and despite the occasional bloody conflict that can occur, they commonly rely on each other for protection.
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Lauren Pryor
9/27/2018 02:15:09 pm
I love your use of textual evidence! Your essay is very clear and well thought out. In addition, do you believe that Beowulf's helpfulness/friendliness stemmed from a place of kindness and caring? Or, from a self-centered motive? Also, do you believe all of the tribes got along solely for military/battle reasons? I agree that the tribes' connections were vital, as our friends are in our own lives. I really liked the line you used where Beowulf bashes Unferth and the Danes, yet goes on to help and protect them. I feel like that is another relatable aspect of the epic. We all get into arguments or fights with friends and family, but will always protect them. Your essay captures the importance of a major theme of the epic--loyalty. Good job!
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Lauryn Moubray
9/25/2018 03:48:11 pm
The end of a life does not mean the end of a legacy. A life that is legendary, consisting of boundless adventure with immeasurable courage could never exceed the minds of lives to come. In the epic poem Beowulf, the titular character’s journey of life comes to an abrupt stop after a long, heroic life. Beowulf’s death is for the purpose of adding to his legacy: enriching his citizens with copious treasure, ensuring he will be remembered from his last battle, and for the manner of his death.
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Marissa Wood
9/26/2018 06:55:12 pm
I agree entirely with you and this was a very good essay. You stayed on topic and explained your argument thoroughly. I really liked how you started and finished your essay, how you kept me engaged and interested in your writing. I agree with your argument that it was necessary for Beowulf to die in order to leave a legacy. I thought it was interesting and true how you said that Beowulf knew the risks he was taking, but ended up fighting the dragon anyway because he knew that he would leave a legacy behind. I would suggest taking more time to break down your quotes and to dig deeper into analysis. Another part of your essay I liked was that your thesis was really straightforward and easy to find and your diction was really good. Do you think that maybe Beowulf would still have a great legacy if he would've died of old age? I think Beowulf would still have a big legacy because of his success of defeating Grendel and his mother and his incredible strength that seemed immortal. Do you think possibly that he also had to die in order to show that he was mortal? Overall this is a phenomenal piece of writing and I really enjoyed reading it!
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Hannah Hard
9/25/2018 04:01:57 pm
A hero is someone who steps up, when everyone else backs down.Throughout the epic poem Beowulf, the main character Beowulf exhibits many traits of heroism. Beowulf is a premier warrior in Heorot, he has the strength of thirty men in each arm. Beowulf’s heroism comes from his faith, confidence and actions.
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Riley Hancock
9/26/2018 02:37:01 pm
You have done a good job of staying on topic and explaining your ideas, although the explanation is mildly a little to brisk for my taste. You have strong and valid points throughout the essay as to why Beowulf is a hero and as a extra small criticism I would try to tone down the repetitiveness of the word "Beowulf". In your first body paragraph you mention Hrothgar stating "My household-guard/ on the wane, fate sweeps them away/ into Grendel’s clutches-- But God can easily/ halt these raids and harrowing attacks!" and explain it as Hrothgar's faith in God's ability to control anything. Personally, while you are not wrong and are completely valid in your beliefs, I feel this is a bit of criticism towards God on the kings part considering it is implied throughout the story that Hrothgar was being punished by God for not having enough faith in Him.
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Alyssa Chestnut
9/27/2018 04:59:39 am
I appreciate that you identified Beowulf to be both a hero who entrusts Christian God, but also that you included that he maintained more confidence than hubris. I’d like to recognize that to be able to propose yourself in such a way as Beowulf throughout the epic, it is crucial for the main character (Beowulf) to not only be steadfast in his confidence, but also remain humble when doing so. This is where I think the door was opened for the monk to insert Christian charisma to the myth, because any record of Christ’s actions are recorded to be done in a humble, pure manner. If Beowulf was doing this for the people of his culture, or himself, his confidence would be interpreted as pride. In contrast, with it being a monotheistic translation of the myth, God’s influence was able to be portrayed through Beowulf’s humble confidence.
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Casey Klassen
9/25/2018 04:15:12 pm
God is supreme, he controls everyone and everything without question and without deviation from the plan. Every person’s fate is predetermined and nobody can alter that fate, not even the superhuman. Nobody can control their fate, but everyone can control their character and how they act towards others. Beowulf is no exception to this plan and he accepts his fate as God has decided for him.
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Austin Morofsky
9/27/2018 02:53:17 pm
What you bring up is very interesting and the line in your blog that got me excited and thinking was "God has no control over the man Beowulf is, only actions that pertain to his legacy." I completely agree with this statement. Fate vs free will is one of the most interesting subjects to tackle and I like how you, in a way, tackled it from a different angle. You brought up how you can never control fate but you can control your decisions and character. I believe that fate is absolute and that you cannot change the destination but you can control how you get there. I think that could've maybe been emphasized a bit more but I think your essay was well structured and I appreciate how you were focused on the subject.
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Mason Hamman
9/28/2018 04:56:28 am
I thoroughly enjoyed the spin this essay took on the fate vs. free will debate, a new perspective that provided new and interesting arguments. The in-text evidence that was chosen truly strengthens the claims and argument provided in the essay. Perhaps something that could strengthen this essay is the use of more examples, only to solidify the ideas provided even further.
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Adriana Sanders
9/25/2018 04:21:20 pm
Many traits come to mind when we think of the word hero: courage, pride, bravery. Throughout the epic poem Beowulf, the title character is portrayed in a heroic light, slaying monsters, and saving civilians. Beowulf’s constant heroic accomplishments placed him on a shining pedestal, he was a martyr, able to accomplish the most daring tasks known to man. Beowulf’s radiating pride, belief in an almighty God, and unmatched strength make him a hero that will not soon be forgotten.
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Kayla Cuatt
9/27/2018 12:37:22 pm
I really appreciate how your blog post is well structured and precise—in your paragraphs, you stick to the topic you set out to answer, and that makes your essay flow wonderfully. I definitely agree with you that Beowulf's pride was not his downfall. Without confidence, faith, and perseverance, Beowulf would not have gotten as far as he did: if he was too afraid to fight Grendel, he never would have made a name for himself, and as such, the rest of the epic poem would not exist. However, do you think that Beowulf would not have been able to be as confident and successful as he was if he had no faith in God? Or do you believe the moment of bravery that God gave him was simply a transitory period meant to inspire Beowulf to face his foes? Overall, I really enjoyed reading your essay, and I think the connections you made were well thought out and accurate.
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Ashley Beck
9/27/2018 02:13:58 pm
I agree with your statement that Beowulf is a great hero because of the traits he possesses. Holistically, your paper is concise, structured in a way that is pleasant to read, and also quite thought provoking. When you incorporated the role that God played in Beowulf’s heroism, it made me wonder if his belief made him a better leader. Did you think it influenced him to have pride rather than hubris, therefore leading him to be a better hero?
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Neva Clarke
9/27/2018 07:35:20 pm
Your essay was very strong and exciting to read! I agree with your last sentence in your second paragraph. The point you made stuck with me because I don't see his pride as his hubris, I agree that his pride is what makes him a hero and a strong one at that. I really enjoyed how you connected your quotes and your points to your main point/thesis. I also enjoyed how you connected Odysseus to Beowulf and how you provided two sides of your agreement. For example, in your second paragraph you provide how others may think his pride is his hubris, but you think it is what makes him heroic. All of this made it a very powerful read and made me joyous to be the reader.
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Lauren Pryor
9/25/2018 04:33:33 pm
The definition of a true hero is as follows; “a person of distinguished courage or ability admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities”. However, contrary to its title, this definition is hardly definitive. Is a hero determined by his deeds? His success on the battlefield? His ability to influence his people? It is all of these things. Beowulf uses his confidence, his exposure to the battlefield, and his devotion to God to serve and protect his people--a true hero’s mission.
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Alissa Brown
9/27/2018 06:18:25 pm
Lauren, I enjoyed reading your essay! I like how your introduction paragraph is short, to the point, and prepares the reader for the rest of the essay. I also like how you proved with textual evidence the different ways that Beowulf displayed true heroism. To offer a counterpoint, we posed the question in our Socratic Seminar if Beowulf could be considered a true hero despite him leaving his country unprotected when he died. Wiglaf said, "So this bad blood between us and the Swedes,/ this vicious feud, I am convinced,/ is bound to revive; they will cross our borders/ and attack in force when they find out/ that Beowulf is dead" (2999-3003). What do you think? I think that he should still be considered a true hero because of all the good he did for his and Hrothgar's kingdoms.
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Lauren Anderson
9/27/2018 08:27:38 pm
Such an amazing essay Lauren! I love how you broke the idea that certain terms, such as true hero, do not have definitive definitions, but they are defined based on what you look for. I love the point you brought up about how Beowulf was devoted to God, even with the two conflicting religions narrating the poem: it seems that even without the monk's influence, Beowulf believed in something higher than himself. I also loved that you explained that Beowulf has confidence in himself and his abilities even when he is surrounded by doubt. It really takes a strong man to be so sure in his skills when others are not. What do you think the story would have been like if no one questioned his skills? If everyone were confident in Beowulf, do you think he would have been the same man, or would he resemble Odysseus: prideful and a bit arrogant?
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Fernando Ramirez
9/27/2018 08:36:16 pm
Strong solid essay Lauren, great introduction with the definition of a hero in order to intrigue your audience. In the body paragraphs textual evidence from the poem was well used and executed. Furthermore to further strengthen your argument I would have potentially added some bible verses from the story of Cain and Abel to aid your case. Along with this in your essay you state that Beowulf has a strong devotion to God believing his downfalls and successes are due to God. This, is in my opinion added in by the monk who wrote the story of Beowulf down. Because of this fact I would ask this question to you. Do you believe Beowulf is a true biblical hero like from the stories in the bible? Or do you believe Beowulf behaves more like a hero from Nordic myth?
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Austin Morofsky
9/25/2018 05:15:41 pm
Beowulf: a Hero’s Hero
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Austin Morofsky (Corrected Read This One)
9/25/2018 05:21:38 pm
Beowulf: a Hero’s Hero
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Casey Klassen
9/27/2018 03:02:22 pm
I agree with all of your statements. Beowulf is the definition a hero and is copied by future authors. I like the use of examples from other periods of time that were used to either base Beowulf off of or used as inspiration from Beowulf. There is no clear thesis but that last line to me could be seen a thesis. Whether you intend it that way is a different story. In the future it would be better if you would write in the body paragraphs why you think the quotes support your point rather than just summarize the the events of that quote. It would make for a stronger essay. You conclusion is the best part of the essay. If flowingly brings together all of you ideas into one final point to leave the reader on a good note. Good essay. I enjoyed reading it and I hope that these comments will help you improve on future writings
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Briana Holliday
9/27/2018 05:20:19 pm
WOW!!!! Your intro paragraph is fantastic dude!! Love the outside information you bring in as a juxtaposition, lol sorry had to use the vocab. Anyway, back to your essay, in your first body paragraph after your quote you say, " First, who is Grendel? He is an exiled...jealousy of the Danes." I believe this is an unnecessary summery where instead of expanding on the quote to prove Beowulf's heroism, you explain the quote. Maybe replace the sentence with this: " Grendel is a demon sent from Cain, the first murder. He, Grendel, is said to have a charm bestowed upon him that protects him from every weapon.Beowulf's choice to fight with no weapon was an intentional move, because he knew he could at least have a chance at winning the battle if he use just brute strength. This choice shows his warrior instinct during battle; to be able to think through the situation and not just diving into the unknown." (Sorry that was a long fix). One other thing I noticed was, you put all your quotes as the first line of every one of your body paragraphs. I think this becomes repetitive/ predictable and as a reader I'm not introduced to your next topic for that paragraph. Just add a short intro before each quote that lets the reader know what's to come and you've fixed it! Well, overall you did a great job finding strong quotes for your thesis!!! Nice job :)
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Lauren Anderson
9/25/2018 05:25:14 pm
Once a Warrior, Always a Warrior
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Kollin Gonser
9/26/2018 03:29:19 pm
Your essay is very well thoughtout as well as adding many examples from the text following with an analyzation of how the in text evidence connects to the topic and the prompt. One thing that I had trouble finding was a strong thesis, moving forward and thinking about the AP test is to have a very strong thesis that they can find that will help them map out the structure of the rest of your essay. I agree, no great warrior is perfect, they don't all have a perfect happy ending and you really captured that with Beowulf and all of the events he went through like fighting the dragon that yes proved he was a great warrior but also proved that a great warrior is far from perfect. Beowulf did meet a marvelous death. Do you think that he lived and met his marvelous death mainly be of him being too prideful to not as his army to help bit get do it by himself?? I also appreciate how in the end you added many themes that were noticed throughout the text that people may not have even realize. Nice job!!
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Alexis Simpson
9/26/2018 05:42:27 pm
I really liked how you related a hero like Beowulf to everyone else. It showed that even though he's unrealistically powerful, he met the same end that meets every living thing. You make a statement saying that his death was important because it gave him fame and legacy for his people, that dying in battle was an honor and it will help preserve his legacy through time. Do you think its possible for him to have lived on and still be known for his heroic accomplishments? In our society, we have documented our past leaders' legacy, accomplishments, failures, frauds, etc. Martin Luther King Jr. was known for being a social activist that led the Civil rights movement., Cady Stanton was known to be another social activist for Women's rights, US Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara and other government officials were known for the pentagon papers scandal. My point is, these people died normal deaths and still were known for their legacy, accomplishments, and/or scandals. Since Beowulf's achievements were so extreme, wouldn't his legacy live on as well? Even if he died a natural way? It probably sounds a bit hypocritical for me to ask since I wrote the same thing on my blog post, but it was just a food for thought. Personally a part of why I'd say no to that question would be because I'm comparing two different time periods. We have technology advancements that help us reach information with a simple google search. But then again, fairy tales, anecdotes, nursery rhymes, some of these mediums have been passed down from a time with no technology. What are your thoughts?
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Adrianne Rivera
9/25/2018 05:32:07 pm
Beowulf The Champion
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Abigail Leonard
9/26/2018 07:08:54 pm
I totally agree with you; relationships were very important to Beowulf. when he first arrives to aid the Danes, Beowulf states, "I come to proffer/ my wholehearted help and counsel./ I can show the wise Hrothgar a way/ to defeat his enemy" (line 277-280). This means that Beowulf wanted to help a fellow nation in dire need of assistance, rather than further any schisms between him and his kingdom's neighbors. With Beowulf always doing impossible tasks for Hrothgar, do you think that he only did them because he owed them a favor for something that happened in the past, or do you think that he did them purely out of the good in his heart? I also like how you brought up the fact the Beowulf does, in fact, have a weakness, saying that he depends on God to help him be victorious.
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Alexis Simpson
9/26/2018 07:17:00 pm
You did very well answering the prompt! I liked how you provided insight and analysis of each quote. One suggestion I'd like to make would be adding a rebuttal paragraph. So for example, throughout the post, you glorified Beowulf's heroic characteristics, answering the prompt efficiently. What you did was great, you provided evidence that supported your thesis! I wonder if it would help if you wrote about a flaw of his. For example, in our society, boasting is frowned upon. Beowulf said, "When it comes to fighting, I count myself/ as dangerous any day as Grendel/" (804-805). He thinks of himself as mighty as a demon. In our present-day culture, we'd think Beowulf was arrogant and egotistical. However, during that time, boasting was their way to self promote their accomplishments and heroic legacy. Beowulf boasted because it was socially acceptable to their society, it even helped his fame. So by using a "flaw" of his, you could have reached two audiences and built a powerful credibility. (Not that your essay wasn't powerful already, you did great!)
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Jaedyn Viane
9/27/2018 03:56:55 pm
I really enjoyed reading this essay for a number of reasons! It was well thought out and well structured, and your ideas were something new compared to the other great essays about Beowulf being a hero. To me, it was evident from the moment Beowulf agreed to fight Grendel that he was a noble hero. Reading your essay, however, opened my mind more to what kind of a hero he was.
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Marissa Wood
9/25/2018 06:09:29 pm
Women in Beowulf
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Alyssa Chestnut
9/27/2018 06:35:05 am
It’s important that women get noted in the book, but I think the amount of reference ultimately reflects the roles of women in the culture that surrounds. Women were vaguely emerging from beneath men’s superiority in the period 500 A.D., but primarily assisted and supported men’s ventures. Like you stated, weaving and being hostess’ was significant in the time period, but morally were there to make the warriors feel comforted and rightfully supported. The one individual I think important to mention when expressing women’s roles is that of Grendel’s mother. If there was one primary woman role, it would be this. She was shown to be fierce, strong, ravenous--all characteristics of a woman of influence. When Grendel was slain, she made effort to sabotage Beowulf: “...now his mother/ had sallied forth on a savage journey/ grief-racked and ravenous, desperate for revenge” (1276-1278). This exemplifies a woman’s courage and bravery, enabling women to gain respect from those amidst the time period.
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Lauren Crossman
9/27/2018 04:43:52 pm
I really liked your use of fine details in the text that readers might just scan past without recognizing the importance of them to the overall story. These women established the hierarchy in Heorot hall, made sacrifices, and gave Beowulf to the throne. Clearly they impacted the story and society, but do you think that these women were respected during the time period? Also, I like how you made the women characters that played villains equally as important as the women who played pace-makers, although they were powerful, it was used negatively. The villains brought a new dimension to the story. Could it be argued that Grendel's mother was not truly an evil character but a defensive, grieving mother?
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Chloe Beutler
9/27/2018 08:51:10 pm
Your analysis on this topic is wonderful. I enjoyed the order of events, and symbolism highlighted throughout. You expanded the knowledge taught in this poem to reveal a deeper meaning; I hadn't thought of the hierarchy formation before, and you pulled evidence shown in the text such as the marriage of Hildeburh and the King of Jutes. Although women are not seen as significant characters in this poem, they have impactful roles, "There, Hygd offered him throne and authority" (2369). This made me think that women are actually the ones who make major decisions, and men are constantly proving themselves to gain authority and trust. I think it would be important to add that the evil princess did not interact with Beowulf in this story, but was mentioned in the poem for contrast and comparison. Which leads to your contrast of the characters which illuminated their importance. Well done!
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Neva Clarke
9/25/2018 06:09:44 pm
Kenning
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Adriana Sanders
9/27/2018 03:35:07 pm
I really enjoyed your essay! It really opened my eyes to how and why kennings are used in literature. Before, I only knew the definition of the word kenning, but your essay did a great job of explaining why kennings are important! I loved how well your essay was structured, and how you brought in text-specific examples, such as "battle-sweat". I agree with your point that kennings bring a greater depth to the words they represent, and allow the readers to delve beyond the ordinary and become more engaged in the text. Do you think that kennings should be used often in literature, or do you think that too many may cause confusion in the reader's mind? Overall, your essay was quite... epic. :)
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Mathias Stoecker
9/27/2018 03:40:28 pm
I really enjoyed your essay! I definitely agree that the addition of kennings makes the poem much more intense. Something about them is just so raw and primitive that you can really tell this is old literature. That leads me to my question, do you think that the kennings used in Beowulf are just alternate ways to describe common things or do you think that people at this time actually used kennings in their day to day lives because they didn’t have a word for “the sea” or “murderer” yet?
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Amalia Flores
9/27/2018 04:04:51 pm
I agree with you how kennings are more emotionally complex, and help connect ideas. I also admire how you used vocabulary to elaborate how kennings connect the poem together, and intensify emotions. I think you did really well with answering how kennings impact the reader, without the added kennings, it would be more difficult to visualize the details that are explained throughout the text. With that being said, do you think the poem would still have the same intense effects on readers without the kennings? And how difficult would it be to understand descriptions about complex details? I love your explanations for the quotes you used, and how you connected the overall meaning of kennings.
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Alyvia Bruce
9/25/2018 06:52:09 pm
Alyvia Bruce
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Continued
9/25/2018 06:54:26 pm
morals.
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Mathias Stoecker
9/27/2018 03:48:39 pm
Your essay really opened my eyes to some things I didn’t see when we first read Beowulf. At first, I was disappointed that the monk who wrote the poem down forced his faith upon what could’ve been a very clear window into the Norse faith at the time the story was told. However, after reading your essay, I realized just how beautiful the contrast between the two cultures actually is. In the end it seems the two cultures become interwoven with Beowulf himself being the weave. With that being said, what do you think would be different if one culture prevailed over the other? Would the text be better one way or the other or is the juxtaposition of the cultures better?
Charlie Hazel
9/27/2018 04:56:41 pm
I also noticed the ambiguity of Beowulf's assosciation and relationship with God and inability to adhere to system of beliefs. You chose your examples of confliction between Pagan and Christian ideals well. I agree the monk's imposition of Christianity augments the poem's cultural depth. In contrast, I propose a question: do you think the Pagan aspects of Beowulf are inseparable from the storyline of the epic? Namely, could one replace every Pagan motivation with a Christian one?
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Luke Lindsay
9/25/2018 06:57:47 pm
Beowulf, True Hero of the Anglo-Saxons
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Abigail Leonard
9/26/2018 07:35:25 pm
I agree that Beowulf is a true hero. In your post, you said that he is a true hero because he is powerful, and when he was introduced to Hrothgar, he recognizes Beowulf, stating exactly what you said in your first quote. Even though Hrothgar lives quite a distance away from Beowulf and his kingdom, he has heard of the great strength that Beowulf possess. I also agree with what you said about Beowulf being a religious person, and with him praising God before every battle, but do you think the reason he did not praise God before his fight with the dragon, was due to the fact that he wanted to die then, so he would die in battle rather than dying of old age? Love the comparison of Beowulf to a wolf at the end!
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Ashley Guenthardt
9/25/2018 06:58:55 pm
Fate vs. freewill has always been a controversial question of traditional literature. Beowulf asks this question not literally but metaphorically, copious times. In the story there are many examples suggesting that fate plays such a large role that there is often little to no free will. The hero, Beowulf, proves that his own fate is what makes him so legendary throughout the story by fighting dangerous and deadly creatures because he uses his good fate as his overdriving confidence. However, Beowulf's own fate seemed to fail him at the end of the fight with the dragon when he finally agreed to use a defense besides his own two hands. Fate is also the chosen path at the very end of the tale when Beowulf knows that is finally his time to go.
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Lauryn Moubray
9/27/2018 04:35:25 pm
I really enjoyed your essay! I liked the quotes you derived from the epic poem and your use of vocab. I did not however understand what “own fate” meant. I’m inferring is means that he is making his own decisions therefore creating his fate? That could also, on the other hand, seem to be freewill by some people. Also, “he tales on all these powerful entities” is just a little vague; all i suggest is that it is talked more in depth about! Your essay made me think of The Odyssey because he too possessed confidence and powerful, strong qualities. My favorite part of your essay was your conclusion, especially your last line--nice touch!
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Amalia Flores
9/25/2018 07:17:46 pm
In the epic poem Beowulf, Beowulf chooses to defeat Grendel and proves he is capable of protecting the kingdom. His heroic actions earn Beowulf the title protector of the land, and his loyalty earns him the title of king. However, Beowulf suffers a cruel and unfortunate death, while attempting to defend his land. Beowulf’s death is caused by his excessive pride in himself, his beliefs in fate and reliance in God, and his need to create a legacy for himself before death.
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Lauren Crossman
9/27/2018 05:02:28 pm
I really appreciate how you mention that Beowulf had excessive pride in himself, but also in God. Readers can see this throughout the epic when he speaks of his fate and how his life is in God's hands. However, even when Beowulf knew his death was near he took time to thank others in his life and not just boast of all his achievements. In the last few pages of the epic my thoughts of Beowulf shifted from complete hubris to a humble aging man specifically when he thanked King Hershel; "King Hershel kept me and took care of me,/ was open-handed, behaved like a kinsman./ While I was his ward, he treated me no worse/ as a wean about the place than one of his own boys" (2430-2433). Do you think Beowulf fought the dragon because he truly believed he could win, or did he realize he was no longer capable in his older age but wanted to save his people even if he died in battle? Also, Beowulf trusts God's fate, do you think God wanted Beowulf to fight the dragon?
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Neva Clarke
9/27/2018 07:14:56 pm
I really enjoyed your essay! However, I can agree and disagree with your points that you made. In your second paragraph you give the quote from lines 1383-1385, you say that Beowulf only killed Grendel's mother just to prove himself worthy as a protector. I can agree with you statement about how he is trying to prove himself as a protector, but I don't necessarily agree that this was excessive pride. In the quote you gave he says "avenging dear ones," I see this as him being a hero for trying to avenge those who were killed. Hero, meaning him helping others and avenging the dead. I see him being a hero for others and not for himself. I do agree that Beowulf was ready to accept whatever fate God chose for him and that later in life Beowulf wanted to be seen as the greatest warrior before his death with the dragon and even after, I just don't agree he wanted to be seen that way with Grendel's mother. Again, I really liked your essay and it had a great flow to it. Also your last sentence, "Every hero must face defeat after a moment of glory, and glory is not everlasting," is very powerful and it made me smile.
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Ashley Guenthardt
9/27/2018 08:26:00 pm
This was a very well written blog post with many detailed reasons and I enjoyed reading from start to finish! I completely agree with you when you talk about how Beowulf depended upon God for his fate, and even included that in my post as well! However, I believe that Beowulf went in to defeat the dragon on his own because he knew how dangerous it was, because before he went to battle with the dragon he told his troops "Men at arms, remain here on the barrow, / safe in your armour," (2529-2530). Meaning he wanted them to do what they could to stay safe and that he would take care of the best, and he did. This post was from a very unique point of view and very interesting post to read! Great job overall!
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Alexis Simpson
9/25/2018 07:24:21 pm
Death is just around the corner.
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Hannah Hard
9/27/2018 06:47:06 pm
I really appreciate that you mention Beowulf heroic attributions. I feel like his actions very much contribute to how people regard him and the event of his death. The viewpoint of the Christian Monk, may have contributed to Beowulf’s portrayal. I love how you connect Beowulf’s actions to the Bible. I never thought of him like that, and it makes a lot of sense. In the epic God decided Beowulf’s fate would be death. After so many hardships, saving and sacrificing for others, Beowulf’s legacy was one to be remembered by all. Just like how Jesus was to sacrifice for others, he too would die for his people. I wonder how different the story would be had it not been written down by a Christian monk?
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Jayden Mann
9/27/2018 06:54:28 pm
I really like the way you put things into this perspective. I was not really sure whether or not i thought Beowulf's legacy would end, or be as great when he died, or if he had stayed alive. As you said his strength is super intimidating, but even though it is that intimidating do you think that any of his enemies he battled with in his stroy were deathly afraid of him? or were they just assuming they would win because he was just some human? I think that these creatures all assumed they would beat Beowulf because they did not have full knowledge of his epic strength. When you talk about the Geats and the Swedes and how they will forever have a reoccuring feud, that is also something I never thought about. Just more things I can agree with is you saying "extraordinary heros require extraordinary deaths.". This actually hit me hard. His life would've had significance if he had not died but i do agree that his significance would not have been at its fullest potential until he died his powerful, and tragic death.
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Lamont Aldridge
9/27/2018 07:51:34 pm
To start off, I absolutely love the title because it so strongly resonates with The Addams Family Musical! Also, I really like the concrete language that you used when describing the heroic valor of Beowulf and I believe you did an excellent job supporting your points. Another thing I enjoyed was your connection and questioning of the authors possible intention of reflecting characteristics of Christ in the text. Also, when you said that Beowulf's death was inevitable I never thought about it that way, but it really ties into who he is as an epic hero because it shows that despite whatever strength and valor Beowulf may have, he is still human and he does die. I absolutely loved and enjoyed reading your essay!
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Kaleigh Slot
9/25/2018 07:37:50 pm
The Roles of Women in Beowulf
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Kaleigh Slot (continued)
9/25/2018 07:39:04 pm
off a helmet (1283-1287).
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Amalia Flores
9/27/2018 05:02:20 pm
Marissa Wood
9/26/2018 07:50:21 pm
Your essay is really great and I loved how even though the women in this story seem really limited, you still chose this topic and dug deeper into their roles within this society and Beowulf. I agree completely with you that the female characters had a huge influence in this story. I liked how you talked about women currently, but it seems to have interrupted the thought about the women in Beowulf. I would suggest maybe moving it to your conclusion when you are talking about how the role of women continues to grow? Your argument was spot on and you really explained the role and importance of women in this text and society. I also appreciated how you described and mentioned Grendel's mother in your essay even though she is considered the villain in this story. I especially liked how you explained the significance of women in the first sentence of your conclusion and how Beowulf wouldn't be the epic it is without the small influences of women. This was an amazing essay and I really enjoyed reading it!!
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Chloe Beutler
9/25/2018 07:49:02 pm
A true hero is someone who is all-enduring. In the epic poem Beowulf, the main character Beowulf is a man who is widely known. In the story, he becomes King for his tremendous deeds of courage and bravery. The Scandinavian people of the time see Beowulf as a true hero in their society. He possesses courage through self pride, selflessness for his people, and boasts about himself and his land. These traits were all highly looked upon when Beowulf was composed, which supports why it was reiterated for ages thereafter.
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Lauren Pryor
9/27/2018 02:30:32 pm
I really enjoy your essay! Your summary of a true hero is very in-depth and interesting. I completely agree; Beowulf's heroism is complimented by his seeming selfishness. Do you feel that the traits you mentioned apply to all heroes? Must all heroes share the same fundamental characteristics? Your essay made me draw connections to The Odyssey, in the sense that Odysseus shares similar core values--hubris, narcissism, and storytelling. Overall, you had strong, legitimate textual evidence that supported your point very well.
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Ashley Beck
9/27/2018 03:16:39 pm
I really liked how you included insightful textual evidence and also inspired deeper thinking with your outside evidence and analysis of the text. In your introduction, I liked the incorporation of the time period and how it influenced Beowulf’s portrayal as a hero: it was helpful background information that clarified why his traits were heroic.
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Jayden Mann
9/25/2018 07:53:06 pm
Fate vs. freewill will always be a topic that is debated in literature. In Beowulf there are many examples portrayed that leads the audience to think that there is only fate and free will does not actually exist. Fate plays such a large part in Beowulf’s life. He shows us in the story just how much fate overpowers freewill in his story. Beowulf shows us that his own fate is the real reason his story is so interesting, he fights life threatening creatures many times, thanks to his fate he was able to defeat them. Beowulf finally came to the end of his life when he slayed the dragon, but the dragon had already bit him before Beowulf had slayed him. Beowulf’s fate was shown to him and his people when he came to the end of his life.
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Chloe A Beutler
9/27/2018 09:11:30 pm
The use of textual evidence gives great meaning to your analysis. The word "Beowulf" is repeated throughout, which although difficult to do, I suggest using other terms like character, hero, or protagonist to help the essay flow. Overall, the viewpoint you applied is very well thought out. It is important to note that this story was rewritten, which we can tell in the the text by the phrase, "Then the story goes," (2892). This created a contradiction between the ideas of fate and free will. Which you expressed in your essay thoroughly.
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Charlie Hazel
9/25/2018 08:01:25 pm
Chaos and Custom
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Charlie Hazel
9/27/2018 05:02:09 pm
Continued:
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Fernando Ramirez
9/27/2018 08:49:21 pm
Well put together essay that quite obviously took time and thought to develop. Thoughts were clear and readable and essay was written for an audience who can understand deeper thought and analysis. Great use of vocab, spread throughout essay sparingly and effectively. A potential way to strengthen your argument would be to analyze and contrast similar cultures with the similar type of blood feuds and see if they behave similarly. With that in mind I would leave you with this question. Do you believe things like blood feuds and rivalries are human nature? Or something we construct within our society that is passed in generation after generation.
Mason Hamman
9/28/2018 04:48:42 am
I enjoy the effort this essay took, there is a lot of textual evidence to reinforce the claims that are made. The word choice is impeccable and creates an intelligent atmosphere that persuaded the reader more to your points. There is evidence of deeper thinking and analysis of the text that makes the reader think and keeps them engaged, as well as making the author seem much more educated of the topic. One thing that may strengthen this essay is adding some outside research, to add a perspective other than that of the story, real life examples to see how the story has been warped to reality.
Sophie Lupini
9/25/2018 08:17:14 pm
Warriors and cowards are often thought of as complete opposites; the title warrior has the connotation of pride and success, while the name coward often is thought to be a negative name. God looks at each person and sees no difference, coward or warrior, male or female. The epic poem Beowulf is an example of how skilled warriors or cowards may reach the same success as each other through the glory of God, and the glory given is decided by the one true king, God himself. Fate cannot be controlled or changed by the characters in Beowulf , only lived out through the guidance of God.
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Lauryn Moubray
9/27/2018 05:13:03 pm
I loved reading your essay. You set up your argument perfectly in your introduction and I instantly knew what was about to be discussed, which is exactly should be done in a well written essay. I was captivated by your choice of vocabulary and amazed at how well you backed up each one of your statements. I feel like your statement about God having a good or bad plan for each of them is controversial. Personally, I believe all of His plans for them are good. Yes, Beowulf died, but in doing so he was able to provide his people with a great abundance of fortune therefore adding onto his fame. I enjoyed your connection between your introduction and conclusion about being a hero, rather than a coward. Overall, your essay was very enticing and I’m looking forward to the next time I get to read one of your pieces.
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Alyssa Chestnut
9/25/2018 08:17:22 pm
Fate is formally defined as the development of event that surpass an individual’s control, regarded by a supernatural power. Ultimately, the entrusted supernatural power is morally the individual’s decision who is interpreting his or her destiny. Furthermore, the Scandinavian epic poem, Beowulf, exemplifies the idea of fate amidst the Vendel culture through Beowulf’s experiences, relationships, and accolades.
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Lamont Aldridge
9/27/2018 08:00:47 pm
To start I want to give the biggest compliment to the use of stellar vocabulary and great concrete language! You opened my eyes to a new perspective in your essay when you talked about Beowulf being mistakenly seen as arrogant. I don't necessarily agree, but I understand the other side of the argument and can see a new perspective on the topic of Beowulf's arrogance. Also, as I was reading you mentioned the 12 loyal men to Beowulf and you talked about how this story was twisted to have a monotheistic God and it reminded me of how Jesus at the Last Supper was with his 12 disciples and all remained loyal except one. It's the opposite of what happened in Beowulf, but I think it may be a biblical connection to the text. Overall, I enjoyed your essay and my mind is open to different ideas!
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Alissa Brown
9/25/2018 08:21:50 pm
Alissa Brown
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Alyvia Bruce
9/27/2018 07:36:45 am
I find your essay extremely compelling, through your use of effective quotes, interesting outlooks, and an overall successful execution. You seem to have presented some contradictory ideas, that God has predetermined Beowulf’s future, yet fate is the determining factor with a little bit of God’s influence. I wonder if this confliction is in reference to the entire poem’s religious conflict?
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Adriana Sanders
9/27/2018 04:03:10 pm
I loved the flow of your essay, and how you brought in multiple textual examples! You did an excellent job of digging into the topic and covering all points thoroughly. The concept of God's will and fate also intrigued me while reading the poem, and your essay helped to clarify the difference between the two. I agree with you that Beowulf has free will throughout the poem, and can make his own decisions. He is not like Oedipus, whose fate allowed him a very harrowing end. I loved the part where you brought in examples from the Bible, and related it to Beowulf, it gave me a deeper understanding of how God used Beowulf to help others. At the end when Beowulf fights the dragon, he originally goes in alone. Do you think this is because he knows God has a predestined plan for him, and therefore isn't as worried about the outcome? If Beowulf did not believe in God's plan, do you think he would have been as courageous? Overall, your essay was extremely well thought-out and thorough. Great job!
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Hannah Hard
9/27/2018 07:26:01 pm
Your essay was very compelling, I thoroughly enjoyed your insight into God and fate as separate entities. I thoroughly enjoyed your insight into God and fate as separate entities. I love the quotes you chose for your viewpoints, they help the reader better understand where you are coming from. Fate vs free will was almost controversial in this epic, however your text evidence suggests the choice of free will, whereas fate is predetermined but can be changes by god. I really enjoyed your insight and the comparison of the Bible. The idea of Beowulf’s strength and heroism coming from his faith is very compelling. I wonder what God would have decided if Beowulf had almost no self pride or confidence? It would completely change the epic.
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Riley Hancock
9/25/2018 08:22:39 pm
There are many faucets to think about for the topic of death within the story Beowulf, considering it was originally a Nordic epic written down by a Christian Monk. Death had many very different meanings to these two different cultures. With such an unrelenting clash of beliefs, it’s hard to figure out one without wondering if that’s what they truly believed in. So, was Beowulf’s death really necessary?
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Alissa Brown
9/27/2018 05:21:45 pm
Riley, I like that you viewed the question of if Beowulf's death was necessary from the Christian's side, the Nordic's side, and Beowulf's side and found that the answer to all is a resounding yes. I thought that your juxtaposition of Christianity and Nordic culture added a lot of interesting points to your essay! In your essay, you say that God punished Hrothgar, and later Beowulf, for being greedy with the treasures they acquired. In The Odyssey, the characters would often give sacrifices to the gods when they needed help and after victories. Similarly, characters in the Old Testament of the Bible gave sacrifices to God to remove their sin. Do you think that if Hrothgar and Beowulf had sacrificed some of their treasures to God that He would not have punished them?
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Riley Hancock
9/28/2018 03:14:49 pm
Well, in the Bible Abel and Cain both gave sacrifices to God, Abel gave God his best lamb and Cain gave food from his garden. Only his fruit was not the first nor the best of his garden. God preferred Abel's sacrifice at which Cain murdered Abel. As a response God cursed Cain to never have strength again when he tilled the soil and so Cain became a nomad, trying to hide from God. Sorry, I know that was long but in the end I do feel if Beowulf gave graces to God and a due sacrifice that he wold have at least not have died from the dragon
Charlie Hazel
9/27/2018 07:11:35 pm
You address solid points in this response. I appreciate your thorough exploration of the imposed Christian ideals and how they affected the plot of the epic. Additionally, your in-depth analysis of Christian influence and logical progression and connection to sin is impressive. However, I find a fine line between the superficial intentions of the monk and the original Pagan-influenced plot of the poem. I realize this is extremely difficult to discern because the play provides evidence against itself in its altered form. For instance, we can find many quotes citing fate, an idea natural to the story; and seemingly an equal amount praising the omnipotence of God--the infused Christian aspect. Therefore, a pragmatic approach towards interpreting the influence of God in the plot would be best.
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Riley Hancock
9/28/2018 04:17:08 pm
I appreciate a response from someone so articulate and feel you hold a very good point. I do not feel that the influence of Christianity and Paganistic beliefs are equal, rather that the Monk put in his beliefs where he felt it would be most appreciated, such as the time where Beowulf lost his footing while fighting Grendel's mother. Another example would be connecting the giants and the giant's sword Beowulf used, to the flood God caused to kill the evil men and the Nephilim, also known as the giants. While fighting the dragon, I feel the paganistic belief shines through more considering the value of the dragons hoard and the undeniable want for a non-deplorable, honorable death. However, I do feel the monk tried to impose that his death was fate written by God.
Lamont L Aldridge
9/25/2018 08:30:07 pm
A hero is recognized by his or her actions for being brave, powerful, and acting with honor. In the epic poem, Beowulf, the main character, Beowulf, is described as a good warrior and exemplified as the epitome of what it means to be an epic hero. Some of Beowulf’s traits as an epic hero include bravery, loyalty, superhuman strength, and the willingness to risk his life for the greater good. Beowulf’s epic deeds reflect these characteristics, including, not only slaying Grendel and Grendel’s mother, but also being a just ruler of his people, the Geats, and sacrificing his life to slay the dragon that threatens them. Beowulf’s most important traits of a medieval warrior and epic hero are shown by his deeds of loyalty, combat, and courage.
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continued comment
9/25/2018 08:33:28 pm
others, through loyalty, combat, and courage.
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Chloe A Beutler
9/27/2018 09:19:24 pm
This essay contains poignant examples supporting your topic of discussion! I thought it was interesting how you set up your examples to follow one another. It is evident that your knowledge of this epic poem is strong, as your thesis is thoroughly backed up. An audience of this essay could conclude that you believe in the idea you discuss.
Luke Lindsay
9/27/2018 03:42:23 pm
I agree with you, Beowulf is a true hero. Though your examples on how Beowulf was loyal were superb, you could have also talked about how he was loyal to God. You could even tie that in with the fight with Grendel and how he believed in a fair fight because he knew that God decided the victor no matter what, though that could also go with your paragraph about combat. However, the examples you used worked well and showed a more human side of Beowulf, which I found interesting and enjoyed reading. You stated that Beowulf’s pride and confidence helped Beowulf overcome his flaws. You address his confidence but you do not talk about his pride helping him. Are you suggesting that they are the same? Or that pride helped boost his confidence allowing him to perform better in combat?
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Fernando Ramirez
9/25/2018 08:49:34 pm
Death, for some the complete end for others the start of a new beginning. All throughout history the notion of paradise after death and the idea of an omnipotent being has been deeply rooted in culture belief and societal norms affecting a cultures gemeinschaft. Furthermore this idea of one all powerful being and this idea of achieving salvation and the different ways every culture achieves it is why Beowulf had to die.
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Luke Lindsay
9/27/2018 03:04:35 pm
I really enjoyed reading your essay. Relating Odysseus and Achilles to Beowulf made your thoughts on why Beowulf had to die. Furthermore, using the bible as a reference to show how Christian beliefs are the antithesis of the Nordic beliefs shown in Beowulf. Beowulf has these Christian ideals, however his people did not. The people gave Beowulf an extravagant funeral, sending him off with all of the gold he had collected through his lifetime. Since Beowulf could not stop his people from doing this, do you think that means that Beowulf is living in a country that holds different values then him? Perhaps greed is his flaw, since he saved all that gold?
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Kaleigh Slot
9/27/2018 03:04:52 pm
The idea of dying instead of living on as a strong hero does differ between Nordic and Christian beleifs. Through Christian eyes, living does, in part, means living up to the expectations God set on us, and to become acceptable in the Lord's vision. I agree completely with the statement that the story ended with Beowulf's death because it was the Christian fate. However, could he have died while up against other enemies and still have his death considered a selfless death? Also, if he did live on, would it still be within the Christian belief? And for this to happen would he have lived on as a wise leader who refrained from any more straying from God's vision?
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Casey Klassen
9/27/2018 04:44:15 pm
Wow. I am starstruck by this essay. You have convinced me that the only alterations the Christian monk made were to make Beowulf into a folk hero that is the pinnacle of all holy figures; behind Jesus of course. I agree that Beowulf at first was a materialistic man that only cared for his legacy and his gold. But before long he thought tuned into a selfless, righteous man. He had to die to prove that no man was above God. I like the use of vocabulary words. I think you used omnipotent a few too many times but other than that the amount and variation was spot on. You really should have capitalized God and Christian, those two are major influences that deserve the capitalization. I appreciate that you pulled in a quote from outside Beowulf that supports your topic, especially since it is from the Bible. Your reasoning in each paragraph that supports your main topic was wonderful. Overall, you have a great essay that goes outside the box in deciphering a old Christian monk’s true meaning. Everything in this essay is good, just a few formatting errors that can be easily fixed with a good proof reading. I really enjoyed reading you essay and I hope I can read another one in the future.
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Briana Holliday
9/26/2018 04:40:59 am
A Hero’s Death
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Alyvia Bruce
9/27/2018 08:04:25 am
Your introduction is captivating, which leads into an essay that flows exceptionally well. I immediately knew what your prompt was creating a direct essay that allowed me to devolve a bit deeper into your essay’s points. Your view on Beowulf’s death take an interesting stance: that he had to die to show that sin’s are repaid. I connect this thought process to Dante’s Inferno, when Dante places a respected mentor in hell, to show that all people--no matter their status--must pay their sins. I hadn’t thought about Beowulf’s death in that regard, however I did ponder as to whether or not Beowulf choose this time to die or if he was fated to die? There seems to be some allusions that his death was fated, however even these remarks are ambiguous as to what determined Beowulf’s death, “His fate hovered near, unknowable but certain; / it would soon claim his coffered soul” (2421-2422), which is why I ask for your thoughts on the matter. I really enjoy your essay’s ending with the connections to modern day heroes who have all been claimed by death, thus emphasizing your essay’s argument, that no one can escape death.
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