Literary Analysis Beowulf

monument to my people and tower high on ‘Whale’s Head,’ so that seafarers afterwards shall call it ‘Beowulf’s Barrow,’ when their broad ships they drive from afar over the darkening flood” 2808 (Liuzza 2802-2808). In my scholarly opinion, it makes perfect sense that Beowulf is so adamant about seeing the “fruits of his labor” treasure before he passes away and leaves the mortal world. It is important to note that these spoils symbolize the generational bonds of kinship and loyalty. His relief upon Wiglaf showing him the treasure demonstrates his desire to leave something to his people, like a departing gift to show his gratitude for his people giving him the opportunity to serve as as both their warrior and king. He knows that even though he …show more content…
Although the discovery is physically unappealing, the emotional satisfaction illuminates Beowulf’s empty heart with golden pleasure. As opposed to his first two encounters with Grendel and Grendel’s mother where he was granted battle trophies, like Grendel’s barbed steel arm, which accurately depicted his valor. However, this final encounter ends with Beowulf grasping decaying artifacts that foreshadow his old, decrepit state of being. Furthermore, these wondrous riches will be entombed and hoarded inside his barrow, in effect not being redistributed amongst his people as the heroic code calls for. Essentially, Beowulf is his own burrier of his treasure hoard, he realizes that he was the last of his kin and hope for the following generations is hanging in the balance. “You are the last of us, the only one left of the Waegmundings. Fate swept us away, sent my whole brave high-born clan to their final doom. Now I must follow them” (Heaney 2813-2816). These were Beowulf’s last words before he laid himself to rest for eternity, leaving the throne vacant for another great man to assume the role and fill his shoes so to speak. More so, the treasure doesn’t solely stand for material wealth, it represents the growing bond between Beowulf and Wiglaf. Their relationship embodies the old hero and the new, the predecessor and …show more content…
“So the Geat people, his hearth companions, sorrowed for the lord who had been laid low. They said that of all the kings upon the earth he was the man most gracious and fair-minded, kindest to his people and keenest to win fame” (Heaney 3178-3182). During this earth burial, Beowulf is literally being lowered into the depths of the cold hard ground, but figuratively lifted upon a pedestal ascending into the gateways of Heaven. Despite this mortal-like funeral, he will forever be immortalized in the hearts and souls of his fellow companions. “…so the men of the Geats lamented the fall of their prince, those hearth-companions; they said that he was of all the kings of the world the mildest of men and the most gentle, the kindest to his folk and the most eager for fame” (Liuzza 3178-3182). Suffice it to say that Beowulf’s epic and heroic legacy will eternally live on past this proclamation of death. This funerary procession is short lived while his actions and virtues will be long lived and idolized more so than the golden spoils he retrieved for his countrymen. In my opinion, Beowulf’s sacrificial and selfless actions are what make him a self-righteous leader, I believe such intangible attributes outweigh materialistic or monetary retributions. That being said, the fact that Beowulf took his life for the sake of his people’s

Show More

Beowulf: A Literary Analysis

Joke: Beowulf and Defeats Grendel Essay

Similarities Between Hamlet And Beowulf

Essay about high school

English Syllabus Essays

Essay Pop Culture

Out: Gender and Sexual Dimorphism Essay