how is beowulf ethical

Then suddenly Beowulf speckled a magical giant sword he decided to use it to cut through the mother spine killing her. Read a Beowulf description, analyze Beowulf's characteristics, and discover his significance in Anglo-Saxon culture. Heroic Identity in the World of Beowulf. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 15, 439-452. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. The poem is quite scant on physical descriptions of him, but goes into detail about his heroism. The potential consequences of relying upon charismatic leaders need to be explored further by researchers and organizational decision makers. A funeral pyre is built, and as Beowulf and the dragons treasure are consumed by the flames, an old woman bewails their loss and looks gloomily into the future, for surely, now the Geatish people will suffer invasion, enslavement, debasement, and death. When the leader is gone, who in the organization will have the necessary leadership ability to carry on? It is also part of the broader tradition of heroic poetry. To contemporary audiences, Beowulf's arrogance can be grating. When the fight starts Beowulf tries to hit the dragon with his sword but it does not work out and the sword breaks. freebooksummary.com 2016 2022 All Rights Reserved, We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. The work deals with events of the early 6th century, and, while the date of its composition is uncertain, some scholars believe that Wiglaf, Beowulfs cousin and one of his warriors was the only one to stay and fight along his side. After killing Grendel's mother, Beowulf is given many gifts by Hrothgar, including an heirloom sword. The speaker is saying that it is better to get revenge for the departed, than to mourn their death. By the time Beowulf was published, the idea of Christianity had spread wildly throughout England. By clark February 1, 2022. As the following synopsis of the three episodes of the Beowulf poem reveals, Beowulf epitomized these traits and for a long while successfully led his people against all foes. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. Even though Beowulf was the story of an epic hero highlighting his strength, it ends with Beowulfs death. Burns, J. M. (1978). Such characters are usually found in epic poetry and they tend to have various shared traits. Beowulf: Lordlessness in ancient times is the theme, as much as the glory of kings, if not more. Stories form the basis of numerous popular culture artifacts, written and visual media emanating from popular culture, recommended by Callahan et al. Hence, Beowulf always displays courage while fighting his battles in an honorable and fair way and exhibiting selflessness, proving that he is more heroic than Grendel who is selfish and cowardly. He displays courage and loyalty in eloping Beowulf defeat the dragon, which is why he is named the next leader. Although Beowulf wounds the dragon, he is himself mortally wounded. His people mourn him but celebrate his noble death in battle. Grendel then attempts to seize Beowulfs arm, but the warrior instead grabs him, and in the ensuing struggle Beowulf wrenches Grendels arm off as the monster escapes. Hrothgar recalls, Ecgtheow acknowledged me with oaths of allegiance (472). Partly to fill that gap in our knowledge of this important work and to further an understanding of leadership in general, the authors (a) review the historical and cultural indicators of the period as they relate to leadership in the poem; (b) recap the three major episodes of the poem; (c) summarize the Conger-Kanungo model of charismatic leadership; (d) examine the character of Beowulf for elements of charismatic leadership; and, (e) explore the risks to organizations of an overreliance upon charismatic leaders. Beowulf's character traits provide great insight into the values of the Anglo-Saxons. In seeing this monument, future generations will remember Beowulf and the qualities he embodied, reminding them to fight evil forces with courage and strength and to always use the best judgment of morality (Gwara 90). Beowulf attempts to kill her with the sword Hrunting, but to no avail. This kills Grendel, and the monster's mother attacks the hall in revenge; she is also killed by Beowulf in her lair beneath the marsh. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 9(2), 146-165. Beowulf is ethical in the way he went to Hrothgar and asked for permission to kill Grendel. He brings several warriors with him to defeat the creature, but all but one abandon him because of their cowardice. WebBeowulf belongs metrically, stylistically, and thematically to a heroic tradition grounded in Germanic religion and mythology. All of Beowulfs actions are clearly motivated by loyalty, starting with his decision to help the Danes. This epic is also greatly influenced by Christianity. With greedy motives, Beowulf tries to steal the Dragon 's treasure and is bitten by the Dragon, poisoning Beowulf and ultimately killing him. In the course, the instructor uses a process similar to what Cartwright (2002) (citing Chris Argyris and Donald Schon) recommends that attempts to get underneath the starting perceptions about leading and managing (p. 70). as ideal for teaching leadership because they allow learners to both identify with current trends and process concepts by using tools that capture their interest (p. 147). Beowulf tears Grendel's arm from its socket with his bare hands, leaving the monster to limp away to his death. w ^V? Wiley, 1998. He is the only person who can fight with monsters. For instance, Virgils Aeneid tells the story of Romes legendary founder Aeneas in order to examine the limitations of dutifulness, which was an The moral presented in the epic poem Beowulf is the recognition that human destiny is controlled by God. Given the enormous popular interest in large, menacing beasts that terrorize and devour humans, such as the ones that inhabit the film Jurassic Park, Dragonslayer, Lord of the Rings, Reign of Fire, Godzilla, and many others, the story of Beowulf should appeal to modern audiences. He is ethical because he asked permission to kill Grendel. Colvin, R. E. (2003). In a heroic epic, the warrior protagonist sets a moral example: through his story, the value and meaning of a societys ethical code can be examined. However, there are several problems with this theory. board with our, See She also serve as the vice president and philanthropy chair for Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. The following morning Grendels arm is prominently displayed to awestruck onlookers as a trophy on a wall in Heorot. Beowulf is a heroic epic, a long poem which recounts the deeds of a legendary warrior. However, as a hero of Anglo-Saxon literature, Beowulf was expected to be arrogant and this was not seen as a flaw. Beowulf belongs metrically, stylistically, and thematically to a heroic tradition grounded in Germanic religion and mythology. Because he is the bravest and strongest of the warriors, Beowulf deserves to be made king, and he is. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. Being a hero in a battle seems like a tough thing to do especially when you are expected to do unrealistic things in the eyes of the public. Then there is Grendel's mom who is stronger, wiser, and repellant to Beowulf's sword. Most of the story takes place before Beowulf has become king, when he is still a young man proving himself. The moral presented in the epic poem Beowulf is the recognition that human destiny is controlled by God. She has been teaching English in Canada and Taiwan for seven years. As with other funerals in the poem, the burial is the measure of the stature of the man. Wigwag, who becomes Beowulf successor, also embodies these traits. genre Alliterative verse; elegy; resembles heroic epic, though smaller in scope than most classical epics. It is Unferth, however, who gives Beowulf a sword with which to fight Grendel's mother, in order to make amends. Lucky Wiglaf stayed loyal and tried to fight the dragon by stabbing him, in turn the dragon takes Wiglaf 's hand. All morals intertwined with theme of good vs. evil A. Christianity influence B. Heaney, S. (2000). By clark February 1, 2022. }r9O1,RvR%H @bE4{8kH$_&Y/truz{]g`~0po{-{{P(w=g4\}{?8yQ-UJ6 Beowulf himself embodies all of the qualities of a typical epic hero, and there are clear examples throughout the text. His men saw that not even the great Beowulf could beat this beast they ran away into hideout and left him alone to fight. A great example of this is when Beowulf meets a man named Unferth at Hrothgar's court. The case in Beowulf is quite different, however, in that nobody is claiming nor is likely to claim the throne. Most scholars read Beowulf as a multi-sectional poem, with the first being the story of Heorot, where the Danish warriors celebrate their heroic deeds in song until the attacks by Grendel begin. Rather than fight the dragon with his bare hands as he did with Grendel, Beowulf elects to use a sword against the dragon because he has become an old man and the dragon is very powerful. This is demonstrated in the Hrothgars Sermon where Hrothgar says, Do not give way to pride. The art of creating leaders: Popular culture artifacts as pathways for development. A more frequent occurrence, as Bazelmans (1999) suggests, is that because a vanquished leaders succession is not a predetermined event, struggles can take place among pretenders or potential successors (p. 129). He goes into the underworld on a dangerous journey. He is a hero because he embodies all of the important traits of his culture and because he defeats several monsters. When Beowulf and his entourage arrive on the Danish shores on their way to Hrothgar's home, the sentry says of Beowulf, ''Nor have I seen / A mightier man-at-arms on this earth / Than the one standing here: unless I am mistaken, / He is truly noble'' (Seamus Heaney's translation). Beowulfs father once started a feud, which Hrothgar helped to end. An error occurred trying to load this video. Journal of Leadership Education, 2(2), 32-40. What Are the Good & Evil Forces in "The Epic of Gilgamesh"? He meets unnatural phenomena. Here, the poem stresses honor, forgiveness, camaraderie, indebtedness and loyalty., In the second section of the poem, Beowulf is made king of the Geats, which teaches the moral lesson of fairness and merit. Beowulf, an Epic Hero essaysAn epic hero is defined as a larger than life hero who embodies the values of a particular society. Because Beowulf is the poem's hero, he embodies many of those values. Ethics and Beowulf Assignment. The first example of this came in the line do not grieve. He and his retainers, as well as members of Hrothgars court, track Grendels mother to the foul mere containing her den. Beowulf is challenged by Unferth, one of Hrothgar's warriors who doubts him. Beowulf is also phenomenally strong with extraordinary endurance, which is what allows him to defeat the monsters he encounters in the poem. Good kings would be referred to by kennings (poetic epithets) such as dispenser of treasure or ring-giver, while bad kings who were not generous tended to lose thanes as well as the respect and military might the thanes brought with them. By the time Beowulf was published, the idea of Christianity had spread wildly throughout England. Beowulf. Online Computer Library Center. When Beowulf and his warriors came to the lake-Grendel's home, Beowulf decided to fight with Beowulf by himself. Beowulf himself embodies all of the qualities of a typical epic hero, and there are clear examples throughout the text. It is an Anglo-Saxon work that was written in Old English. Second, as mentioned above, Anglo-Saxon readers would not have seen Beowulf's arrogance as a flaw at all. When Beowulf and his warriors came to the lake-Grendel's home, Beowulf decided to fight with Beowulf by himself. A depiction of Beowulf returning triumphantly with the head of Grendel. Within the last three decades, charisma has in organizational studies become associated with the concept of transformational leadership, elucidated by Burns in his 1978 book Leadership. Lessons: Second Section. In the corporate world, as in Beowulf, the over reliance on a charismatic leader unfortunately can result in a problem of succession because no future leaders have been groomed to take the place of the departed one. Before dying, Beowulf told Wiglaf his last remaining wishes., There is one soldier that decides to stay and be loyal to Beowulf. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. The most important Beowulf characters are Beowulf himself, who is the hero and one of the Geats, a group from what is now Sweden; Hrothgar, king of the Danes; and Wiglaf, a warrior and close friend of Beowulf's. Who is Beowulf and what is Beowulf about? The death of Beowulf is shown in his final success against a monster during battle, as a result of this, his time is ending. The poem explores his heroism in two separate phasesyouth and ageand through three separate and increasingly difficult conflictswith Grendel, Grendels mother, and the dragon. First, the idea of a fatal flaw is one that is most readily found in the Christian literary canon, not something that exists regardless of culture and throughout history. Beowulf Mastiffs are raised in a family situation. Queen Wealhtheow in Beowulf | Character & Analysis, Universal Themes in Beowulf | Overview & Analysis, Beowulf & Old English | Story, Summary & Characters, Heorot in Beowulf | Significance & Cultural Analysis. In the modern organization, the question of who or what will take the place of the charismatic leader should be on the minds of all those responsible for seeing the organization live long and prosper, especially if relying upon leaders Lastly, Beowulf and Wiglaf both show outstanding loyalty throughout the piece. As such, certain Christian ideas and themes are easily recognized throughout the text. Beowulf is what is known as an ''epic hero.'' Beowulf belongs metrically, stylistically, and thematically to a heroic tradition grounded in Germanic religion and mythology. The poem includes many histories of various warriors: their ancestry, deeds of valor and debts they owe or have paid. / What weapons does he hold? God is associated with good C. Characters look to praise God when good things happen Sydney Grimes Prof. Evert Blomberg English 2322 9 December 2012 Critical Paper The battle of good vs. evil has been one of the most recognizable themes of literature throughout time. However, it was actually a trait that was expected of heroes in Anglo-Saxon culture; humility was not considered appropriate. This line seems to test the ethical reasoning in the time that Beowulf was written. Beowulf defeats Grendel with ease and utilized his pure strength. a5v~4;(x]3`3IABF@X=+ WebBeowulf exemplifies the traits of the perfect hero. This epic is also greatly influenced by Christianity. Cunning, strength, and courage were obviously prized in the warrior, and especially in a leader who maximized these warrior traits and upon whom the band depended. In the end he is able to kill the most powerful monster. He goes into the underworld on a dangerous journey. Commonly epic heroes have superior strength, have strong love for their people, are fearless of death, and are very ethical people. Beowulf. As he had done many times before, Grendel breaks into the hall, creates a general panic, and greedily devours one of the warriors. Tom Loughman, Ph.D., John Finley, Ph.D.10.12806/V9/I1/AB1. Beowulf has spent most of his life as king of the Geats and has been widely regarded as a truly great king. To bring this point into a present context, what is likely to happen with a company such as Apple when Steve Jobs finally decides to give up the reins? Print Parker, Mary A. Beowulf and Christianity. Beowulf fights bravely and kills the dragon, but is mortally wounded in the process. (1999). The thane vowed loyalty to the lord and in turn received affectionate care as well as material rewards for his valor and allegiance. Here he realizes that his armor, shield, and sword is worthless because no sword could slice her skin open., He stuck it deep in the dragons flank (page 99, line 2703-2704). The process of moving from one open window to another is called what? In this sermon by Hrothgar towards, Beowulf faces the struggle of an underwater mere, where Grendels mother resides. She deals deadly slashes and blows to Beowulf he would have been killed by normally without the aid of his chainmail. What does Beowulf look like in the poem? While perhaps not great in themselves, several very recent films have brought the story and character of Beowulf into full view. For instance, he has many of the characteristics of an epic hero, including noble birth, courage, honesty, and battle skills. They are often of noble birth, they are brave, they are generally honest, and they are great warriors. By the time Beowulf was published, the idea of Christianity had spread wildly throughout England. Beowulf spots a mighty sword in the armory of the creature only he could wield, due to the size and weight of the ancient weapon. Beowulf is also very arrogant, which is sometimes seen as his fatal flaw. Even though Beowulf was the story of an epic hero highlighting his strength, it ends with Beowulfs death. The third and final episode reveals Beowulfs having ruled wisely and well for 50 years as king of the Geats. In addition to being tall, Beowulf is prodigiously strong. )p'(\Gog(]vJg-c=P^uC(6*ZE~p~:+hp/Xj\1b'z"hU>_"m_;;KXHw`B}5xXOk17]sWgmI\SMkF#- H Conger, J. Often times throughout the poem, when major battles are won, the characters immediately turn to God to thank him and ask for guidance. "Beowulf" is an epic poem because it traces the heroic deeds of its main character over the course of his adult life. When he first lost his honor, he decided to not tell anyone. He is ethical because he asked permission to kill Grendel. Though only a man, Beowulf pits his strength against giants, demons and mythological beasts. A few recent examples include films such as The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and the Harry Potter films, all of which are populated with wizards, trolls, elves, and assorted monsters. Beowulf lays in wait and attacks Grendel, ripping off his arm in a fight. Its main behavioral components are revealed in three distinct stages: (Stage 1) Environmental assessment followers perceive the managers greater desire to change the status quo and a heightened sensitivity to environmental opportunities, constraints, and followers needs; (Stage 2) Vision formulation followers perceive the managers formulation of a shared, but idealized future vision and effective articulation of this vision in an inspirational manner; and, (Stage 3) Implementation managers who are perceived as charismatic are seen to be engaging in exemplary acts that subordinates interpret as involving great personal risk and sacrifice. This point is reinforced by Callahan, Whitener, and Sandlin (2007) who maintain that storytelling has been a vehicle for teaching, learning, and sensemaking throughout history; one need only think of epic tales such as Beowulf or the Odyssey to be reminded of lessons taught through stories (p.153). The protagonists actions highlight the human struggle between good and evil. What Is the Resolution of the Poem "Beowulf"? After his sword breaks the dragon is able to bite Beowulf on the neck soon after leading to his own demise. Although we can view these three encounters as expressions of the heroic code, there is perhaps a clearer division between Beowulfs youthful An epic poem is a long poetic work often written in elevated language. Victorious, Beowulf goes home to Geatland and becomes king of the Geats. One of Beowulf's traits that gets a lot of scrutiny is his arrogance. WebBeowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, whose mead hall in Heorot has been under attack by the monster Grendel. Wiglaf then foresees much trouble for the Geats because their great hero is dead and most of the Geatish warriors who still live are cowards. Sasha Blakeley has a Bachelor's in English Literature from McGill University and a TEFL certification. Author of Beowulf History & Theories | Who Wrote Beowulf? This he does by swimming down to her underwater lair, holding his breath for several hours. They continue by stating that because of the important role they play in community learning, sensemaking, and communication, these stories are embedded in our popular culture and, indeed, are vehicles for transmitting that culture (p. 153). Beowulf is both the title and the main character of an ancient heroic epic. The most significant Christian value in this text is the connection between God and good (Mitchell 337). lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. In the poem it says:' He leaped into the lake, would not wait for anyone's answer :The heaving water covered him, over. Beowulf. Idea of pride is a downfall C. Example of it in the bible IV. Other examples of epic heroes include Gilgamesh from The Epic of Gilgamesh, King Arthur from Arthurian legend, and Achilles from the Iliad. Is the Beowulf-type problem of succession common in companies with charismatic leaders? Decades later, he is fatally wounded killing a dragon. With a sharp blade in Grendels mother possession, Beowulfs defeat seemed certain and his confidence was lost for an instant. (2007). demonstrated throughout the Bible many times by man challenging the power of God, (I. E. Adam and Eve). Beowulf: A new verse translation. The poem offers a nod to the power of cooperation as the two together defeat the dragon, although Beowulf is fatally wounded., The poem ends with Beowulf's burial in Geatland.

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