Is Beowulf a Aristotelian tragic hero? and, information for/against?

Question

also, any ideas for writing a report on this, thanks

Answer 1

With the right interpretation, anything is possible.

Personally, the Christian monks who finally wrote Beowolf down may have added their own twist to the moral story. :-)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Try reading "Beowulf, A New Verse Traslation" by Seamus Heaney (He's Irish. Now there is a twist!).
ISBN: 0-374-11119-7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anyway, to answer your question:

Throughout the story of Beowulf, one finds many elements of Christian philosophy: that man survives only through the protection of God, that all earthly gifts flow from God, and that the proper bearing of man is to be humble and unselfish. However, there is also a strong sense of heroic pride within Beowulf which is at times in direct conflict with these Christian values. Thus, we see the dichotomies of pride vs. humility and sacrifice vs. selfishness. In "Further Celebration at Heorot" , Hrothgar reminds Beowulf of the lessons of the Greek tragedians: that pride, untempered by humility, will result in the tragic fall. But he also teaches the lessons of Christian philosophy: that wealth, accumulated through the grace of God, must be shared unselfishly.

Throughout the story Beowulf repeatedly acknowledges God as his protector. When Beowulf relates his battle with Grendel's mother, he states that "The fight would have ended straightaway if God had not guarded me" (1.4). Further exemplified by the powerfully stated "most often He has guided the man without friends" (1.5), there is a sense of mystical protection permeating all of Beowulf's actions. However, there is also a strong sense that God's protection must be earned; a warrior must first be true to his values, courage, honesty, pride, and humility and only then will he earn God's protection.

In addition to earthly protection, there is also the sense that all earthly good, be it success or wealth, derives from God. For example, when about to fight Grendel's mother in her cave, Beowulf sees a great weapon hanging on the wall. But he does not take credit for this perception. The credit is given to God: "But the Wielder of Men granted me that I should see hanging on the wall a fair, ancient great-sword" (1.5). And later in the passage, Hrothgar tells Beowulf that even the status of king is achieved through the grace of God. When telling of Heremod, a king who falls victim to pride and selfishness, Hrothgar tells Beowulf "he turned away from the joys of men, alone, notorious king, although mighty God had raised him in power, in the joys of strength, had set him up over all men" (4.4). And again, "It is a wonder to say how in His great spirit God gives wisdom to mankind, land and earlship. He possesses power over all things. At times He lets the thought of a man of high lineage move in delight" (5.1). In other words, a king's earthly power is only an illusion. The true power lies with God. Any "delight" that a man enjoys here on earth is achieved only through the grace of God.

Moreover, Hrothgar tells Beowulf that earthly success, given by God, must be handled with humility and a sense of sharing or the earthly king will bring on his own doom. Hrothgar tells Beowulf of a selfish king: "What he has long held seems to him too little, angry-hearted he covets, no plated rings does he give in mens honor, and then he forgets and regards not his destiny because of what God, Wielder of Heaven, has given him before, his portion of glories" (5.13). The phrase "he covets" is strongly reminiscent of the Christian Ten Commandments, that material desire leads to wanting more and more until nothing will suffice. Thus, a good king is willing to share his earthly possessions; he is one who "recklessly gives precious gifts, not fearfully guard them" (5.18). Hrothgar tells Beowulf that life itself is a gift from God, that even the human body is "loaned" (5.17), and that it eventually "weakens, falls doomed" (5.17).

Answer 2

Considering that Beowulf came from an oral tradition completely independent of Greek influence, one could say no. Beowulf is not an Aristotelian tragic hero.

Answer 3

Beowulf is a favorite of mine. Here's a helpful link on it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beowulf

Answer 4

Upon Darth Vader's demise he redeems himself and transforms once again into Anakin Skywalker. "Vader stood helplessly, watching his son writhe in anguish from torture delivered through his draw close. unable to observe anymore, Vader grew to grow to be hostile to the Emperor. He grabbed a shocked Palpatine from behind, hoisted him above his head, and tossed his evil draw close down a bottomless reactor shaft. Vader grow to be bombarded through the Emperor's stress lightning, mortally wounding him. As he lay demise, Vader ceased to be. Anakin Skywalker again. He requested his son to eliminate the cumbersome, fearsome mask that had hid his face for decades. His mask and existence help bumped off, Anakin regarded upon Luke for the first and very last time. He then died, his body disappearing into the gentle aspect of the stress. Luke burned the darkish armor that had encased Anakin's crippled body in a quiet funeral pyre on the wooded area moon of Endor that evening." "

Answer 5

No ; find a modern english rewrite and then when you can understand the story do the report