Grendel and Beowulf Heroism - 1584 Words

Intentions and Heroism A building is ablaze and a crowd of people stare helplessly from the streets, listening to screams coming from within. A single person runs in to rescues whomever he or she can find. Whether or not that person emerges with a child in their arms, empty handed, or not at all, does nothing to alter our societys perception of their heroism. Todays society would classify such an action as heroic, regardless of outcome, for one reason: intentions. During Anglo-Saxton times the interpretation of such an act, based on the tale Beowulf, would not be so understanding of what was intended, but rather of the outcome. If one perished and failed in an attempt of such a heroic act words like weakness might arise. It is here†¦show more content†¦People see him as a hero before he ever does anything heroic. Beowulf in Grendel is no hero regardless of the outcome of his actions, for they stand with all the wrong intentions behind them. Unferth is not a person of respect in Beowulf, even his name means discord or nonsense. His position within the mead hall is at the kings feet, which is one of jest. (17 Rebsamen) His part in Beowulf isnt enough for us to get a deep understand into the man or his intentions, but he does seem to redeem himself when he presents Beowulf with his sword before he goes into battle with Grendels mother. This can be interpreted in several ways, perhaps Unferth attempting to make amends with Beowulf because of his respected position. Another interpretation could be that Unferth is rising above the petty argument for the greater good, redeeming himself to no one but himself. Gardner places a different spin on Unferth. For one he is a much more important character and appears much more often than in Beowulf, in fact Unferth and Beowulfs importance and appearance seems to flip from Beowulf to Grendel respectively. Secondly Unferth is all about intentions in Grendel. I had a chance. I knew I had no more than that. Its all a hero asks for. (89) You will not see in quote in Beowulf said by anyone like those words spoken by Unferth in Grendel. Unferth is outright sayingShow MoreRelatedIntroduction Of Existentialism In Beowulf1648 Words   |  7 PagesJohn Gardner’s Grendel, each characters egotistical proclamation of heroism structures his self-gratifying path through existence. Beowulf overexerts against allies and enemies alike to establish his superiority and status. Grendel senses strangers as the Geats walk towards the Danish coastguard. After his introduction, Beowulf remarks, â€Å"‘Be so kind as to give us some advice, old man. We’ve come on a fairly important errand.’ The hint of irony in the smile grew darker†(154). Beowulf belittles theRead MoreAn Analysis of Beowulf1608 Words   |  6 PagesThe Old English epic Beowulf is built around the archetype of the journeying hero. Beowulf exemplifies a classical hero, one who is not immune from hubris, but who channels his strong will into judicious endeavors. Thus, Beowulf dies with the honor and glory befitting a king. His story is one of distinct binaries between good and evil. On the side opposite to Beowulfs goodness is the gruesome Grendel. Grendel is a monster, and the original epic poem does nothing to introduce moral ambiguity thatRead MoreThe Epic Of Beowulf By Wil liam Shakespeare935 Words   |  4 PagesWhat comes in your mind when you hear the word Heroism. Does a knight in shining armor pops up in your mind or maybe a firefighter who s willing to put down his life for the good of others , well Beowulf was both. In the novel Beowulf , to me, the main theme of the entire story is heroism. Beowulf is your knight in shining armor or your fire fighter who goes into a living hell to save a kitten. Heroism is scattered all over this epic poem. Sure paganism and christianity are in it as well as goodRead MoreTheme Of Heroism In Beowulf1139 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Beowulf† is the oldest surviving poem in Old English Literature. It is an epic poem, which is a narrative poem typically revolving around heroism. The poem emphasizes repetitively on how Beowulf is a hero. He saves countless people from countless monsters, three of which are the main antagonists in the poem – a demon, the demon’s mother, and a dragon. But is sav ing innocent lives the only factor to justify and determine a person’s heroism? Throughout the story of Beowulf, the author makes appealsRead More Beowulf: A Hero Essay782 Words   |  4 PagesBeowulf: A Hero Beowulf is a hero during the Middle Ages because of his generosity, strength, power, and courage. A hero is one who places himself or herself at great risk while performing acts of courage. Beowulf is a hero that put his life on the line for an entire kingdom. He has heroic and superhuman qualities. He must prove his worthiness of a superior warrior. He is recognized for his strengths and power of protecting his people. Beowulf is faced with three forces to fight, Grendel (a monster)Read MoreTheme Of Heroism In Beowulf1544 Words   |  7 PagesBeowulf demonstrates the qualities and traits of being an ideal hero. In the poem it explores Beowulf ‘s heroism in two distinct stages which are youth and age. Beowulf has three separate and very difficult conflicts that involve Grendel, Grendel’s mother and the dragon. When you are viewing these major encounters with the three different people Beowulf demonstrates the importance of heroic code. There is a much clearer division between Beowulf’s adolescent heroism as a warrior as well as in onesRead MoreTheme Of Supernatural In Beowulf1142 Words   |  5 Pagesidea of the supernatural is very prevalent in Beowulf; describe three instances where supernatural beings or ideas come into play and what they add to the plot. In the story of Beowulf there are three different references to supernatural beings. Grendel along with his mother portrays evilness and the other is a fire breathing dragon. In the beginning of the story the narrator describes Grendel to be feared among the town and very strong. As said in Beowulf â€Å"He was spawned in that slime, Conceived byRead MoreComparing Beowulf And The Anglo Saxon Epic Poem Beowulf972 Words   |  4 Pagesare necessary? In the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf, vengeance plays a central role in the actions of the characters. Beowulf is set in a Scandinavian society that places a heavy emphasis on righting wrongs and avenging others. A warrior who comes in aid of his fallen kinsmen is often regarded as a hero, and it is clear from the poem that combating those who have wronged you is a favorable action. Does this make vengeance a necessary element of heroism in the poem? This question cannot be answeredRead MoreBeowulf as Christian Propaganda1318 Words   |  6 PagesThe literary work of Beowulf is believed, by many, to contain numerous attributes of Christian propaganda. Throughout the story of Beowulf, there are several circumstances and coincidences that distinctly relate to the Christian belief system. One can only imagine that these ideas of Christian propaganda; which include the use of Christian themes and beliefs in works of literary art, were strategically placed throughout the story of Beowulf to help the conversion from the old world pagan religiousRead MoreBeowulf Is a Hero Essay877 Words   |  4 PagesBeowulf Essay Every epic hero possesses certain heroic characteristics. The epic poem Beowulf describes the most heroic man of the Anglo-Saxon times. Beowulf is the hero. He shows that he is a great man by always putting other things before his own needs. He is important and needed by his people and is known by many as a strong, courageous and a helpful person. He shows all of the qualities and traits that a true hero possesses. Beowulf, like other epic heroes, possesses the following heroic qualities:

The Chronic Neurological Disease Alzheimer s Disease

The Chronic Neurological Disease: Alzheimer’s Hollie Haywood South Piedmont Community College Abstract Alzheimer’s disease has been around since 1901; a German psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer was the first man to identify and follow a case that is now known as Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is involved in synaptic deterioration and neuronal cell death, and causes degeneration in the hippocampus and amyloid deposition in blood vessels, ultimately cell death is the cause of the disease. There are various ways that someone can acquire the Alzheimer’s, a few include; family history, obesity, and Down syndrome. Some symptoms of the disease are, memory loss, difficulty completing familiar daily tasks, confusion with†¦show more content†¦In 1901, the German psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer studied a 51-year-old woman who experienced short-term memory, as well as a few other behavioral symptoms, until she died in April 1906 (Anderson). Within the past 15 to 20 years there have been dramatic discoveries made to help us understand the pathophysiology and neurogenetics of Alzheimer’s Disease, there are four different genes have been ultimately connected with this terrible disease as well as a few others that may be related (Anderson). According to Gould, in Alzheimer’s disease there is a constant a developing loss of intellectual function that will ultimately interfere with ones work, personal relationships, and their hygiene. With Alzheimer’s disease the brain becomes smaller and has narrower gyri and wider sulci, mainly in the frontal and temporal lobes (Gould, 2011, p. 522). Alzheimer’s disease affects three processes that keep neurons healthy: communication, metabolism, and repair. There are specific nerve cells in the brain which stop working and drop their connections with other nerve cells, and then they completely die (Anderson). The death or deterioration of the nerve cells is what impairs the memory in those who suffer with Alzheimer’s disease. The plaques, which disrupt the neura l conduction, contain fragments from beta-amyloid precursor protein; the role of

Universal Soldier Free Essays

As a college student in the early 1960s Buffy Sainte-Marie became known as a writer of protest songs and love songs. But unknown to most of the mainstream public, she was even then spending as much time around the drum at a small Indian reserve in Canada as she was in front of a microphone on the concert stages of the world. Having written â€Å"Universal Soldier†, one of the anthems of the 60s peace movement, she was nonetheless absent from the big mass protest marches, in favor of shedding her light on Indian rights and environmental issues, which she still does today. We will write a custom essay sample on Universal Soldier or any similar topic only for you Order Now Analysis of the song Universal Soldier Five foot two and six foot four were the height parameters for soldiers in 1961. Fighting with missiles and with spears symbolize the future and the past, soldiers are soldiers: only the equipment is different. The ages 17 to 31 were age parameters to be a soldier during the 1960s and soldiers have been around for centuries. Soldiers are also religious people and not confined to just one religion and though religion forbids it, he chooses to be a killer. No matter what side he’s on, it’s still absurd. Soldiers are not just from some far away enemy country but from â€Å"our† country too thinking that fighting will end all fighting. Soldiers are on all sides using violence as an act of peace having a responsibility overlooked for humanity. Soldiers learn nothing from history so do not see obvious outcomes of repeating it. We can’t blame just the leaders and each individual has a choice. We are all responsible – civilians, voters and soldiers. How to cite Universal Soldier, Papers

Money Can Buy Happiness free essay sample

It is a classical debate, sparked by the left-wing communists and religious leaders who suggest that a person can live a full life without the pursuit of money, and instead one must look to a more spiritual existence above the material desires. It is perhaps conceivable in a century gone by where people grew all their food and believed in witches, that a human could forge a fulfilling existence without the need of money to satisfy our desires. However in today’s society money can not only buy happiness, but is a major factor for happiness. Findings by the Institute of Economic Affairs show that happiness levels correlate with the amount of wealth a person accumulates. And, in contrast to popular belief, it does not level off when the assets reach a certain threshold. Money enables us to buy goods and services that we want. When we satisfy these wants we feel fulfilled, happy and pleased because we as humans love getting what we want. Money can give us experiences and opportunities that we would otherwise never be able to have. It can open doors to elite schooling, worldwide trips and making a difference in the world via charity. Money allows us to live a carefree, happy life because we don’t have financial strain. Money makes the world go round because it buys happiness, that’s why we spend hours a day slaving away to earn it. It is the key that unlocks the door to happiness. Humans have material needs and money provides the ability to satisfy these tangible needs and wants. Satisfying the want for a new dress or the need for medicine brings on the psychological state of happiness because we have satisfied those desires. The dress you bought from that exclusive store helps you to be confident and happy and the medicine helps cure a loved one. Have you ever felt left out because you see something you want, but can’t afford it? Perhaps all of your friends have the latest iPhone and you’re stuck with your parents old embarrassing Nokia brick from 2001 because you can’t afford an iPhone. Money can buy that iPhone and can help you feel included consequently bringing on joy and happiness. Ever gone without the basic necessities, electricity, clothing or water? Money buys them too. It helps improve your standard of living. From luxury items to everyday basics money permits us to experience happiness through consumerism and the act of satisfying our needs and wants. It is the experiences and opportunities that come with money that make you happy. Money pays for the trip that lets you experience a new culture, a new cuisine or helps establish lifelong friendships. It is sometimes the memories in life that you find more happiness in than material goods. The happy memories that money buys. Perhaps you find happiness in charity work. Why devote a few hours of your time when you can enrich someone with the power of money? They then have the opportunity to rebuild their lives from the money you give them and increase their living standards and happiness. Making a donation to charity not only helps others, it can make the giver mentally tougher, physically stronger and more popular, researchers from Harvard University have found out. Elite schooling and university offer endless opportunities for an individual to become an educated, well rounded and valued member of the community. It opens doors to exclusive jobs and bigger bank accounts. Success brings satisfaction and contributes to your overall happiness as life’s doors are always open to you. You are not closed off from potential opportunities that may arise. As we all know elite schooling and university doesn’t come for free, money pays for the education and opportunities that come with it. Without travel, charity and education life would be boring, bland and unfulfilling, money gives us those experiences and prospects that we all look forward to. Money offers a carefree lifestyle. With big banks accounts you don’t have to worry about paying rent, mortgages, school fees, health care and life’s other expenses. For someone who does not have a moderate amount of money these are stressful issues they have to deal every time they go to their letterbox. Stress can affect both your body and your mind, people can become exhausted, sick and unable to focus. It is the complete reverse of happiness. For someone who is better off financially bills occupy much less of their time and thus stress is eliminated from their lives. Home life can be miserable and tense when money is scarce. Couples bicker on average 2,455 times a year and of that number issues of money equate to 315 arguments. Money buys security and an un-troubled existence, money relieves financial stress and thus helps increase happiness. If someone was to offer you a million dollars, no strings attached, would you accept it? Chances are you would, and you would be happy about it because money can buy happiness. In life we have the option to live how we want, no one forces us to live a consumerist lifestyle. We choose to. You know there must be a connection to money and happiness. If there weren’t, no one would work for that lucrative promotion, perhaps no one work at all. Why would we spend all our lives pursuing it? For those living in third world countries that may be happy, it is unfortunately because it’s a case of they can’t miss what they’ve never had. Our society has made money a factor of happiness and I don’t hear anyone complaining. If money can’t buy you happiness then you are not spending it right.