Print. He is ethical because he asked permission to kill Grendel. Ethical- talking about how he did the right thing by helping Beowulf and telling them that they should have helped also Strength- standing up to his own men taking charge and acting as a king Why is it so important that Beowulf does NOT defeat the dragon alone? Journal of Leadership Education, 2(1), 45-57. How about getting full access immediately? The poem explores his heroism in two separate phasesyouth and ageand through three separate and increasingly difficult conflictswith Grendel, Grendels mother, and the dragon. Back ground of Beowulf A. Wiglaf with his sword managed to stab the dragon on its flank and then Beowulf got the chance to stab it in the heart with his sword., she attacks and tows the great warrior but Beowulf matches back once in the cavern he didnt yet use the great sword he fails the attempt to get the ogres. The poem explores his heroism in two separate phasesyouth and ageand through three separate and increasingly difficult conflictswith Grendel, Grendels mother, and the dragon. )p'(\Gog(]vJg-c=P^uC(6*ZE~p~:+hp/Xj\1b'z"hU>_"m_;;KXHw`B}5xXOk17]sWgmI\SMkF#-
H Lastly, Beowulf and Wiglaf both show outstanding loyalty throughout the piece. Throughout the poem, we see Beowulfs bravery and courage again and again, together Beowulf: Lordlessness in ancient times is the theme, as much as the glory of kings, if not more. As with other stories related to leadership, discussions of the Beowulf narrative, in our opinion, exemplifies well what Colvin (2003), in his endorsement of leadership studies in liberal education, calls the symbiotic relationship between liberal education and leadership studies (p. 34). Beowulf tears Grendel's arm from its socket with his bare hands, leaving the monster to limp away to his death. New York: Random House. 2019 Association of Leadership Educators, all rights reserved. In addition to being tall, Beowulf is prodigiously strong. "Beowulf" is an epic poem because it traces the heroic deeds of its main character over the course of his adult life. Queen Wealhtheow in Beowulf | Character & Analysis, Universal Themes in Beowulf | Overview & Analysis, Beowulf & Old English | Story, Summary & Characters, Heorot in Beowulf | Significance & Cultural Analysis. Grendels mother tries to dig her talons into Beowulf but his ring-woven mail protects his chest. However, there are several problems with this theory. Both of these fights essentially allow Beowulf to prove himself both to the Danes and to the Geats, establishing his reputation. This line seems to test the ethical reasoning in the time that Beowulf was written. This is ethically twisted because in todays society, it is not considered morally correct to take an eye for an eye. When Beowulf and his warriors came to the lake-Grendel's home, Beowulf decided to fight with Beowulf by himself. 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 is a heroic epic, a long poem which recounts the deeds of a legendary warrior. Bazelmans, J. Finally, Beowulf locates an ancient sword on the cave wall and kills Grendels mother with it. After Beowulf slays him, Grendel's mother attacks the hall and is then defeated. Beowulf immediately counters Unferth's accusations, saying, ''The truth is this: / When the going was heavy in those high waves, / I was the strongest swimmer of all.'' When the leader is gone, who in the organization will have the necessary leadership ability to carry on? This shows the aging and oncoming weakness. All rights reserved. He kills Grendel's mother and returns triumphantly to Hrothgar, who rewards him handsomely for his service. Commitment to the groups cultural values and organizational goals was fostered through clan control, and members were acutely and intimately aware at all times how variable commitment to goals would result in equally variable success rates. Wigwag, who becomes Beowulf successor, also embodies these traits. The incident with the dragon occurs because a Geat slave steals a golden cup from its lair, which teaches the evils of greed. The poem serves to illustrate many of the values that were important in Anglo-Saxon culture. After seeing the sword break and Beowulf struggle to beat the dragon, the remaining soldier, Wiglaf, steps in to help distract. Beowulf: The heroic, the monstrous, and Anglo-Saxon concepts of leadership. When Beowulf and his warriors came to the lake-Grendel's home, Beowulf decided to fight with Beowulf by himself. One major similarity between the charismatic and transformational leaders is their ability to empower employees to exceed normal expectations of achievement. 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. The sword Beowulf uses against Grendels mother proves useless; it did not penetrate through the skin and bone. Second, as mentioned above, Anglo-Saxon readers would not have seen Beowulf's arrogance as a flaw at all. However, precisely because of their competence and power, charismatic leaders could easily generate overreliance as well. Avert Bloomberg 9 December 2012 The battle of good vs.. "Beowulf" is an epic poem because it traces the heroic deeds of its main character over the course of his adult life. Turning to the scholarly efforts devoted to the epic poem, numerous research articles cover nearly every aspect of the poems word choice, origin, thematic elements, history, literature parallels, weaponry, versification, and religious influences. After his sword breaks the dragon is able to bite Beowulf on the neck soon after leading to his own demise. An example of morality in the story is the idea that ones pride will be their downfall. Dissolution of an unsuccessful group often meant very unpleasant outcomes for the individual members. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you This king, Hrothgar, has been terrorized by a monster that attacks Heorot, his mead hall (the place where his subjects gather to eat and drink), nightly, usually devouring one or two of his men. By the time Beowulf was published, the idea of Christianity had spread wildly throughout England. In his three contests with Grendel, Grendels mother, and the dragon, respectively, Beowulf is portrayed as the very model of the warrior hero. To the warriors in numerous small roving groups, in ways similar to those of the Vikings in the ninth and tenth centuries, treasure represented not only material wealth but also a validation of ones worth and honor in the warrior society. Beowulf is an epic that came out of a warrior culture and was used not solely to entertain but also to teach the moral thinking of this culture (Checkering 86). (Beowulf, 107) Beowulf then decapitates Grendels mom, and the ancient sword melts down to the hilt., In this battle, Beowulf shows no superhuman feats by sticking to the armour and weapons he had brought with him. The work deals with events of the early 6th century, and, while the date of its composition is uncertain, some scholars believe that This language use usually suggests that the poem is expressing ideas that are very important to its culture of origin. WebBeowulf defeats Grendel with ease and utilized his pure strength. He brings several warriors with him to defeat the creature, but all but one abandon him because of their cowardice. This he does by swimming down to her underwater lair, holding his breath for several hours. 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. The potential consequences of relying upon charismatic leaders need to be explored further by researchers and organizational decision makers. flashcard sets. The first example of this came in the line do not grieve. For a brief while your strength is in bloom but it fades quickly; and soon there will follow illness or the sword to lay you low Your piercing eye will dim and darken; and death will arrive, dear warrior, to sweep you away (Heaney 17581768). Heroic Identity in the World of Beowulf. The dragon soon perishes and so does Beowulf. Unfortunately, the dragon also bit Beowulf and he began to die from the poison. He is ethical because he asked permission to kill Grendel. What Is the Resolution of the Poem "Beowulf"? When the fight starts Beowulf tries to hit the dragon with his sword but it does not work out and the sword breaks. Although the heroic epic Beowulf was composed in Old English, it deals not with native Englishmen for whom the poem was written but with their Germanic ancestors of around the sixth century. Journal of Leadership Education, 2(2), 32-40. Because of their potency, charismatic leaders often occupy positions of authority, trust, and respect. Warrior politics: Why leadership demands a pagan ethos. Beowulf himself embodies all of the qualities of a typical epic hero, and there are clear examples throughout the text. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. Beowulf is a heroic epic, a long poem which recounts the deeds of a legendary warrior. In the second section of the poem, Beowulf is made king of the Geats, which teaches the moral lesson of fairness and merit. Victorious, Beowulf goes home to Geatland and becomes king of the Geats. This is ethically twisted because in todays society, it is not considered morally correct to take an eye for an eye. In the poem Beowulf ,the character, Beowulf, is an example of a true epic hero, who fights with a powerful monster and saves Horthgors people. Tom Loughman, Ph.D., John Finley, Ph.D.10.12806/V9/I1/AB1. Beowulf, an Epic Hero essaysAn epic hero is defined as a larger than life hero who embodies the values of a particular society. Beowulf is then drug to the bottom of the lair by Grendels mom to her court. Before one more day goes, when morning light, sunclad in radiance, over the child of man shines from the south, we will be allowed to mead high-spirited." The "Beowulf" story is laced with moral lessons of forgiveness, camaraderie, and heroism which are still resonating with readers today. Beowulf never makes any attempt to alter his arrogant ways and he also lives a long and honorable life, dying in battle to protect his people. He does so with a sword instead of with his bare hands because he is in his seventies and is no longer as strong as he once was. Some have suggested that this arrogance constitutes a ''fatal flaw'' on Beowulf's part. The second battle with Grendels mother nearly resulted in the death of Beowulf and resorted to a weapon, which shows a decline in his strength and confidence. However, the idea of faith is at odds with the pagan concept of fate, which is often associated with unfavorable conditions and results in the text (Parker 68). Create your account. 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). Another major current involves the large number of popular accounts of legendary and mythical heroes, many of whom display their heroism in struggles with monsters. Beowulf defeats Grendel with ease and utilized his pure strength. The dragon managed to get a bite on Beowulf and now he was poisoned. Hrothgar recalls, Ecgtheow acknowledged me with oaths of allegiance (472). The poem's hero, Beowulf, represents a tribe called the Geats. 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. Commonly referred to as an Old English epic poem, it consists of more than 3,000 lines, all of which use alliteration. Oh, hell no. This is demonstrated in the Hrothgars Sermon where Hrothgar says, Do not give way to pride. At the beginning of the poem we met a young arrogant Beowulf who, at the end of the poem, became a great king who perished for his people. | 3 Dating back to between the 8th and 11th centuries and set in Scandinavia, the poem likely was used to teach lessons to young warriors of the day, said Alexander M. Bruce, in the free online journal "The Heroic Age." Only one of his warriors, named Wiglaf, stays behind to help, a scene that stresses loyalty and friendship. Christianity throughout England at the time of Beowulf is associated Witt g C. Characters look to praise God when good things happen Proof. Beowulf is a Geat of noble birth. Unlike the first battle, the struggle with Grendels mother proves daunting for Beowulf. He supposedly has ''the strength of thirty / In the grip of each hand'' (Heaney). Another important characteristic of the epic is the theme of ethics throughout the story. Beowulf Mastiffs Global dogs are testedand are able to gait for a few miles and remain sound prior to breeding as an added test of soundness. This overreliance could pose significant risks for an organization, whether warrior band, tribe, nation, or Fortune 500 company. WebIn Beowulf, the answer is clear: lordlessness equals invasion, murder, mayhem, slavery, misery, doom for the people, and doom for the nation. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Beowulf defeats Grendel with ease and utilized his pure strength. Schlesinger, W. (1953). Advancing the scholarship and practice of Leadership Education. However, the grim fate of the Geatish people at the demise of their king invites questions about relying upon charismatic leaders such as Beowulf as models of leadership. No one has time to read them all, but its important to go over them at least briefly. (Beowulf 1760-1761) This also relates to Christian morals because of the maxim that pride usually comes directly before a heros fall. Is the Beowulf-type problem of succession common in companies with charismatic leaders? 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. w
^V? (Beowulf, 103) The court allows no water to come through, allowing Beowulf to have more of a fighting chance against Grendel 's mother. The fight ends when Beowulf stabs the dragon in the abdominal region, killing, Beowulf is then drug to the bottom of the lair by Grendels mom to her court. WebBeowulf also occupies an ethical trait. You have grendel who can eat a man whole and not even give a second thought about it. Even though Beowulf was the story of an epic hero highlighting his strength, it ends with Beowulfs death. In essence, charismatic leaders differ from other leaders by their ability to formulate and articulate an inspirational vision and by behaviors and actions that foster an impression that they and their mission are extraordinary (p. 442). These traits demonstrate which things Anglo-Saxons valued the most. Many incidents, such as the tearing-off of the monsters arm and the heros descent into the mere, are familiar motifs from folklore. Wiley, 1998. The second battle with Grendels mother nearly resulted in the death of Beowulf and resorted to a weapon, which shows a decline in his strength and confidence. Reliance upon them comes easily to their followers. Often times throughout the poem, when major battles are won, the characters immediately turn to God to thank him and ask for guidance. Most importantly, they embody the characteristics most highly praised by their societies. He travels to help the king of the Danes, another tribe. He displays courage and loyalty in helping Beowulf defeat the dragon, which is why he is named the next leader. Many incidents, such as the tearing-off of the monsters arm and the heros descent into the mere, are familiar motifs from folklore. }r9O1,RvR%H @bE4{8kH$_&Y/truz{]g`~0po{-{{P(w=g4\}{?8yQ-UJ6 In the poem Beowulf ,the character, Beowulf, is an example of a true epic hero, who fights with a powerful monster and saves Horthgors people. His comrades willingly go with him because of their confidence in his ability to lead them and to achieve their objectives. They creep up from the ground, plummet from the sky, emerge from the seas, and materialize from thin air. Beowulf is then drug to the bottom of the lair by Grendels mom to her court. The work deals with events of the early 6th century, and, while the date of its composition is uncertain, some scholars believe that it was written in the 8th century. 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. Beowulfs father once started a feud, which Hrothgar helped to end. Beowulf defeats Grendel with ease and utilized his pure strength. Print. Author of Beowulf History & Theories | Who Wrote Beowulf? Who is Beowulf and what is Beowulf about? Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press. uTer^tKCA%wfo))ZbZ1Eaquavnvv'L ef{ Double-loop learning: A concept and process for leadership educators. It is an Anglo-Saxon work that was written in Old English. As the fight with the dragon got tougher for Beowulf to fight by himself. With a sharp blade in Grendels mother possession, Beowulfs defeat seemed certain and his confidence was lost for an instant. Beowulf is both the title and the main character of an ancient heroic epic. 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? All those who see the way he carries himself immediately assume, quite correctly, that he must be noble, strong, and wise. Hrothgar recalls, Ecgtheow acknowledged me with oaths of allegiance (472). His people mourn him but celebrate his noble death in battle. 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. 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 with charisma means neglecting to develop leadership ability in others. WebBeowulf belongs metrically, stylistically, and thematically to a heroic tradition grounded in Germanic religion and mythology. It spared her and failed the man in need (Heaney 1522-1525). freebooksummary.com 2016 2022 All Rights Reserved, We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. Finally, Beowulf is ethical which means he is be able to choose right and wrong. At IU, she works as a reporter for the Arnolt Center of Investigative Journalism. Increasingly over time, Beowulf was influenced by Christianity to include Gods help in order to remain moral and win battles of good vs.. Amsterdam Archaeological Studies, 5. He is absolutely fearless and supremely confident in his own abilities. He goes into the underworld on a dangerous journey. He is easily the best warrior in the country, which he demonstrates by killing Greened. 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. When he first lost his honor, he decided to not tell anyone. Beowulf descends alone into the mere and is attacked by Grendels mother, who drags him into her bone-strewn den and stabs at him repeatedly with a blade.
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