Example research essay topic: Sense Of Duty Mortal Combat - 991 words

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Beowulf Critical Analysis Despite the fact that there are many Christian motives can be found in Beowulf, the poem is firmly based on heathen worldview, as such that was dominant among Europeans, before they were being gradually corrupted by Christianity. The poems main character, Beowulf, clearly possesses the spiritual qualities of true heathen, even though they contradict to authors view of Beowulf, as defender of Christian religion. Beowulf behavioral traits represent him as an embodiment of traditional virtues of courage, strength and the sense of duty. In early medieval times, it was necessary for the authority figure to posses these qualities, in order to enjoy peoples respect.

This is why Beowulf always acts in straightforward manner. He is well aware that in his realm, only the action matters, this is why he seems to always act without giving much thought to the possible consequences of his actions. At the same time, we cannot describe Beowulf's behavior as being driven by emotional motives alone, because he is never wrong, when it comes to dealing with a problem. Beowulf might appear as quite ignorant person, at the beginning of poem, when he brags about his strength. However, as plot unravels, it becomes clear to us that Beowulf stands by his words. Beowulf is committed to serving the idea of greater good, which he views as well-being of his fellow citizens.

Serving his country allows Beowulf to find his true calling, because it enables him to realize his hidden potential. At first, Beowulf is shown as a young man who simply likes combat. He is endowed with extraordinary strength, which allows him to defeat his enemies, without having to apply too much of an effort. However, as times goes by, Beowulf grows into a wise leader, who would rather use diplomacy instead of naked force, when it comes to solving a problem.

Nevertheless, Beowulf's acute sense of duty and his love to his country do not leave him any choice, except for challenging Dragon to a mortal combat. Beowulf knows that his chances are slim, but he does not back down: I ventured many battles in my youth; now, old, I will seek another, try again for glorious deeds, if that avenger will come out Beowulf's existential mode clearly points out to his affiliation with Scandinavian combat philosophy of berserkers, which is absolutely heathen, in its essence. What seems to attract narrator more than anything else to Beowulf, is that he never walks away from the fight, even while facing an impossible odds. Although Beowulf prays God, before challenging his enemies to a mortal combat, his prayer has more to do with the prayer of Conan from movie Conan Barbarian, than with his dependence on divine graces: Please grant me victory and if you will not, then to hell with you! . This allows us to talk about Beowulf as person who relies on himself, when it comes to dealing with challenges.

This, of course, is nothing but indication of his deep affiliation with heathen tradition. However, it is poems metaphysical dualism that betrays its heathen essence more than anything else. Grendel, his mother and the Dragon cannot be redeemed, in traditional sense of this word, because it is their physiology that defines who they are. In Beowulf, Dragon represents ancient evil, as it is always the case with serpent-like creatures in early Western literature. At the same time, he is sublimation of a challenge or obstacle, which Beowulf needs to overcome. Dragon, just like Grendel before him, is driven exclusively by irrational impulse seeking revenge.

This prevents him from planning his course of action in most effective way, which is becoming a reason for his ultimate demise. We can say that dragon is highly allegorical figure in the poem. He represents force, but the essence of this force is irrational. Thus, the fight with dragon is unavoidable for Beowulf, because Dragon symbolizes values that are absolutely alien to European mentality.

Even in old age, Beowulf is shown as being quite capable of bringing the Dragon down, because his mind is not clouded with hate. This is why Dragon does not kill Beowulf in fair combat. Beowulf dies from Dragons venom, which symbolizes both authors belief in eventual triumph of good over evil and his awareness of dark forces fighting techniques. In its turn, this triumph is associated with Beowulf's willingness to defend his countrymen in very active manner, instead of laying down his weapons and passively accepting his fate. Scandinavians were resisting the attempts to convert them to Christianity to the last. This is the reason why heroic death in Beowulf is described as such that benefits society.

Beowulf achieves a real, not illusionary immortality, after he dies, because his spirit will remain with his nation. He is not concerned about saving his soul, as any true Christian should, because Beowulf understands that his soul cannot have any value, when taken out of social context. At the time Beowulf was written, Christianity, as religion, was much different from what it is now. Until the time when Martin Luther translated Bible into German in 16 th century, the overwhelming majority of Europeans did not even know that Bible actually consists of Old and New testaments. They simply associated Jesus Christ and Saint Mary with good, while worlds evilness was linked with devil. That was it.

We can only imagine how surprised Beowulf would become if he was told that Jesus actually used to encourage people to expose their left cheek to the enemy, after being hit in the right cheek. For Beowulf, Christianity was associated with practical advantages. This again portrays Beowulf as heathen, who was mentally and physically healthy, which prevented him from finding pleasure out of indulging in sadomasochism, as it became the case with later generations of Christians. We can say that the reason why Beowulf represents both: literary and philosophical values, is because Christianity did not affect poems semantic properties.

Research essay sample on Sense Of Duty Mortal Combat