The Wanderer Vs. Beowulf

Sandy Drew Carter

Dr. V

World Lit 201

15 October 2017

“The Wanderer” vs. Beowulf

“The Wanderer” and Beowulf are both set in a pre-Christian society discussing a wise man and a hero. “The Wanderer” discusses the characteristics of a wise man. Beowulf is an epic poem that discusses the characteristics and adventures the heroic king goes on, and the life he lives before he is killed by a dragon. Many people of the land of the Danes look up to Beowulf because of his heroic deeds and actions he chooses to do. Beowulf has many great heroic characteristics such as courage, strength, honor toward the Dane people, Christian like faith, willingness to risk his life for the good of others, and much more. However, Beowulf does not obtain all the wise man characteristics, as described in lines 65-72 of “The Wanderer,” which results in Beowulf being labeled as a flawed hero.

Beowulf is an amazing hero to the people of the Danes. The epic begins with the people of the Danes calling on Beowulf to fight off a monster that had been harassing them for 12 years. This is the first time a heroic characteristic was revealed in the epic. Beowulf states, “And I shall fulfill that purpose, prove myself with a proud deed or meet my death here in the mead-hall” (Beowulf 636-638). Beowulf is willing to fight a fight with a monster that could kill him. Beowulf put others above himself. He promises to fight the huge battle between Grendel and him with all his power, so that when the battle was over, he would either live as a hero or die trying. However, the glory of God was shown on Beowulf and he defeated the terrible monster. Beowulf is always worried about others instead of himself. “If this combat kills me, take care of my young company, my comrades in arms” (Beowulf 1480-1481). Beowulf knows he is walking into a hard fight that he could lose his life again; however, walking into the fight he is still concerned for the loved ones he would leave behind. Beowulf was a leader and hero that looked after the Danes. The Dane people would want Beowulf to come to the rescue when there are problems because they know Beowulf will fight with all his might and try to save the people. Beowulf is not hot-hearted, he always wanted the good of the people. Beowulf is a hero concerned about others. He wanted the best for them and wanted a good life for the land of the Danes all around him.

Beowulf might be a good hero to the Dane people; however, he does not fall under the category of a wise man. “A wise man must be patient, neither too hot-hearted nor too hasty with words” (“The Wanderer” 65-66). Beowulf could be described as patience at times, but he is also a person who speaks hasty with words. As stated in the epic, “Beowulf in his fury now settled that score: he saw the monster in his resting place, war-weary and wrecked, a lifeless corpse, a casualty of the battle in Heorot” (Beowulf 1584-1588). Beowulf is very hasty with his words and actions. He does not act wisely in the war or battle zone. He is filled with fury during this fight, so he reacts out of his fury. Instead of just killing the monster, he cuts her head off. This is a characteristic that leads up to Beowulf being labeled as a flawed hero.

Beowulf is not just a hero for what he does for others; he is also described as a hero because of the strength and power he obtains. Beowulf is a brave and courageous hero all in one. He is a well-rounded hero all together. He even has inhuman like strength that can defeat Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. Beowulf is described as the, “strongest in the days of this life” (Beowulf 789). No one hero is described as this. This describes Beowulf because it is true. He is amazingly strong; however, he is selfish about his strength. He is a hero that liked to use this inhuman trait when it is needed. He uses it when helping people, but also uses it when showing off his strength to others. One way he shows off his inhuman strength is when he decides he can take on a monster on his own. Beowulf is not wise about his power and strength and uses it in a boasting way. Grendel could not believe the strength that Beowulf obtained. During the fight between Beowulf and Grendel, “The captain of evil discovered himself in a handgrip harder than anything he had even encountered in any man on the face of Earth” (Beowulf 749-752.) Grendel has never faced someone so strong in his life. Beowulf has strength like no other. This is a major aspect when it comes to fighting others because Beowulf knows he can use this power to his advantage. Beowulf defeats Grendel and cut off his arm. Later, Grendel’s mother returns for revenge, and Beowulf defeats her again using his inhuman strength. Beowulf’s strength is a great hero trait; however, strength loses its power when it is used in a boastful way. Because of being boastful about his heroic strength, Beowulf can be described as a flawed hero. He likes to show off his power and strength by fighting monster alone; however, it comes back on Beowulf when he tries to defeat the dragon alone but dies.

Beowulf is a hero of faith and honor to God. Every fight or battle he faces, he prays to God, or states that if he would be alive after the fight if it was God’s desire or will. Beowulf said, “But now a man, with the Lord’s assistance has accomplished something none of us could manage before now for all our efforts” (Beowulf 938-941). Everyone a part of the Dane people knows that Beowulf honors his God. Many people knew of his faith and belief in his God. This is a huge aspect to the Old English time period because Beowulf was written by a Christian author. The faith Beowulf has made him who he is. Without faith, Beowulf would not be complete. Beowulf makes sure to bring up his Lord when talking to the people at the feast and celebration at Heorot. Beowulf spoke, “The Lord allowed it, my lock on him wasn’t strong enough; he struggled fiercely and broke and ran” (Beowulf 967-969). Beowulf gives all the glory to God, but also knows that all thing happened because it was of God’s will. Beowulf is a man of faith and it is shown through all aspects of his life. He wants to be in the will of God and wants to have a strong faith. This huge characteristic of the hero Beowulf was important in the Old English time period because Beowulf was written in a pre-Christian society.