For example, if you do something bad, like kill 100 people in the mead hall, there are going to be severe consequences. Divine intervention, or god coming in direct contact with the protagonist to help him with his endeavors, kept Beowulf alive. The hero, usually a warrior, participates in a journey, faces adversaries, forms alliances and returns home significantly transformed. She and Beowulf are shown to be evenly matched in battle; it is only when divine intervention highlights a magic sword that he wins. The Danish … Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Beowulf and Hrothgar are very much alike, but Hrothgar's speech in the Hall of Heorot warns him of his excessive pride, or hubris, something Hrothgar recognizes as Beowulf`s fatal flaw. In the part of the battle with Grendel’s mother there is great divine intervenion as each time Beowulf is strucked by Grendel’s mother he is not scared at all. She and Beowulf are shown to be evenly matched in battle; it is only when divine intervention highlights a magic sword that he wins. Beowulf is a strong warrior from Geat with many accomplishments. ( Log Out /  One, can simply be the strength given to Beowulf as he approaches his battles. He always rises to occasion, by thinking of a way to get out of his current predicament. There is also some evidence that although he had the helmet’s strength, he received some divine intervention. In Beowulf, the protagonist represents the perfect hero. In the end, this is a fatal flaw, and it causes the Danes and Geats a lot of trouble.…, This fight made Beowulf’s ego go through the roof, and everyone was astonished in regards to his accomplishment. For their struggle with Grendel to lead to glory and honor, it must be a battle between men and monster without a pre-determined outcome by divine intervention. Divine intervention, or god coming in direct contact with the protagonist to help him with his endeavors, kept Beowulf alive. A sword that was given to Beowulf to him was failing him, a sword that was given him by a person on this earth, would have been his downfall. What is the difference between the two? The use of god in this text is mostly seen as a consequence. However, due to divine intervention he finds an ancient sword with which he kills Grendel's mother and decapitates Grendel. An epic is usually a long narrative poem that recounts the deeds of a hero. While it seems like they have all-powerful powers like immortals should, many of the arguments they get in amongst themselves demonstrate their humanity. You see examples of that intervention when Beowulf mysteriously finds a hammer that allows him to defeat the seh beast of Grendel’s mother. And that all signs of being the choosen one are constantly present in the poem, once again reflecting that God is favoring him over others. ( Log Out /  Atheists, agnostics, and deists can find alternate explanations for even the most clearly miraculous events. Unferth overcomes his jealousy and lends Beowulf his sword, Hrunting, and Beowulf dives into the water to kill Grendel's mother. 197-198), Beowulf engaged in three major battles leading up to his death. Basically, divine intervention is another way of saying ‘miracle.’ People point to divine intervention when there is no other explanation other than God for how something turned out. While divine intervention is present in majority of the story in favor of Beowulf, it is most prominently shown through his battle with Grendel’s mother. When he first encounters her, his sword is unable to hurt her. His loyal… The early English epic Beowulf is filled with a marvelous hero, ghastly villains, far off lands, and deeds of great valor. What is ironic about this victory? Once again, Beowulf is portrayed as being an epic, He is the typical, accomplished, “larger than life” man that survives quests that are too rigorous for the average person. In "Beowulf", divine intervention is displayed during Beowulf’s fight with Grendel’s mother. His intelligence is truly like no other epic hero, and is often what he known for in scholarly terms. We all know that actions speak louder than words, but when do words speak louder than the actions that you have done. Within each of the three battles, courage was always brought along as a source of strength. There were even objects that had the light in them, which were used to help Beowulf conquer these demons. In his quest to assist the Danes, Beowulf show great courage, physical strength and mental cunning when battling his opponents, which makes him appear superhuman and far superior to the average man.…, In cultural literature, there are usually two types of literature. Beowulf is seen as a close seed of God in the eyes of Herot so it makes sense that God is a motivator in his journey.The author’s point of view also shows his religious background. The best quotes from Beowulf - organized by theme, including book location and character - with an explanation to help you understand! Beowulf could be seen as powerful as god, however, god allows him to feel a sense of weakness in the battle with Grendel’s mother to show readers that he has human characteristics. We see small examples during the reading, but the divine intervention seems to top it off. This is common in the hero’s journey, as the epic hero is often reborn. Two of the ways Beowulf of the Beowulf takes on the role of an epic hero is by protects values of time and possessing supernatural traits. He uses it to put the readers at the scene and show the epicness of these battles that take place. In Greek literature, the gods play an immense role in the lives and fates of the mortal dwellers of the earth. Change ), The Purpose of Divine Intervention in ‘Beowulf’. The author’s purpose in utilzing divine intervention in “Beowulf” allows readers to see the connection between God and Beowulf. He proves himself a strong and brave hero, but as a king, it is debatable whether he is ideal. Fighting a dragon is more than just a fight against evil, but a fight against all humanly fears. Beowulf Also the authors personal persepective of God, being Almight and All Seeing, and all that God is supoose to be, is presented throughout the peom. He also delivered a fatal wound when he ripped Grendel's shoulder out of its socket. God is protecting Beowulf because he sees him as his son and wants to protect him, such as he could not do with Jesus and his cruxification. God had let his son go through crucification, and intervined with beowulf becuase he saw that what had happened to his son could happen to beowulf. What is the significance of the brilliant light that suddenly shines once Beowulf kills Grendel's mother? After the defeat of Grendel he returns to Hygelac, and gives away all of his treasures from the battles (Garcia 1). In the traditional theme of good vs. evil, Beowulf plays as the epic hero against the evil demons and monsters. In the epic poem, Beowulf, we have a great Geat warrior who is best known for being the strongest and the best fighter in his land. Beowulf is a perfect example of an epic hero. With all that being said, Beowulf seems like a great candidate for being a role model to many, especially during the Anglo-Saxon era. Lof is much more prevalent in Beowulf than in Roland. Use your scholarly voice when responding, and be sure to write, at the very least, 7 sentences. He is also literally picked up and carried to a warriors arena where Beowulf was weak and vunerable. The purpose of divine intervention in Beowulf had a great impact on the poem. Remember to think outside the box. 38. Typically, this poem is exaggerated and/or elevated and the deed the specific hero performs are described as to be legendary.…, Throughout this epic journey and his challenges we can better just how all of these ideals come to light. Most importantly, the sword played a vital role in the struggle of Beowulf to defeat Grendels Mother. Jesus died to give us all salvation, but perhaps Boewolf doesn’t have to die to save everyone. God also saves Beowulf from Grendels Mother, by magically desending a sword to him, creating him the hero of another brutal fight. Explain your reasoning. divine intervention. I think normally that divine intervention and the supernatural do not mix well together, but in the case of this story its all about the legend and the legacy of this great warrior Beowulf. The Geats express some of their doubts in this passage, knowing how many Danes have been slain by Grendel. Divine intervention is defined as having a god, or higher class figure, show a likeness toward the epic hero being written about. Beowulf is many of those things, and more, but he is not always humble which leads to faulty, stubborn decision making. Beowulf is an epic because it has action that consists of deeds of great valor, the setting of… During the conquest, Beowulf pulls a sword out of a rock that nobody had been able to do before due to its massive size. The fact that God intervenes for Boewolf makes sense beacuse the author was christian. Diva Intervention is also available as a Prize Fight reward for getting either top 1-10% or rank 1-10 in the Gold Tier of the Blood Sport Prize Fight. Beowulf finally meets his match in his final fight of the book; I mean, he wouldn’t be a tragic hero without such an ending. King Hrothgar foresees Beowulf`s death. Beowulf is a sweeping tale that meshes together supernatural, historical, and moral elements, and it fits in right alongside Homer's epics, Iliad and Odyssey. This is not an example of brute strength from Beowulf, I believe that this was an example of divine intervention. … The author uses this to highlight the light religious tone throughout the story. When an enemy proves to be stronger, have the capabilities to defeat Beowulf and all earthly and human tools are useless, an outside force must intervene to preserve the integrity of good triumphing evil. List some examples of divine intervention in the story of Beowulf. In literature, supernatural intervention could occur between a character and God or another type of magical, all-knowing being. Although historians agree that sections of the story are absent, and parts of the story have most likely been modified, the main idea and plot of the story remain significant. When Beowulf was battling Grendel’s Mother, the sword that was given to him by one of Hrothgar’s followers was unable to cause damage to his foe. Beowulf Quotes | Shmoop … For example in lines 383-384 the poem mentions, “The best of all weapons, hammered by giants which no ordinary man could lift” these lines serve as literal lines to god intervening with Beowulf’s fate. The author is implying that the aid came from God or the Heavens. These are someof the reasons why Beowulf is a great example of an early English epic. He uses it to basically show the readers how strong God is compared to the nastiest monsters that walk the earth. In the epic poem, “Beowulf”, the author utilizes many events that involve devine intervention. Like most of us, it should come as no surprise that Odysseus is also an individual with a great amount of luck.…, Beowulf is an epic poem that is written in Old English. Supernatural intervention is classified as the effect of supernatural or divine powers in regards to fate, destiny, or other human affairs. God was like Beowulf’s ultimate helper in poem protecting and offering sanction when needed. He is courteous and loyal to everyone, but of a time of need were to occur his violent nature would arise.…, Beowulf How does divine intervention play a part in saving Beowulf’s life in this scene? Beowulf is the strongest warrior of all the land and sometimes can be seen as a god. One is amazed and even dumbfounded by the magical myths so frequently referred to. Divine intervention is a key factor in these feats Beowulf is able to accomplish. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Another reason for why this could be is that maybe God doesn’t want to let what happened to his son happen to Boewolf. Beowulf is seen as “the chosen one” in this scene, and he is considered to have been helped by a higher class figure. What is the author’s purpose in utilizing divine intervention in ‘Beowulf’? Furthermore, Beowulf does employ digressions, long speeches, journeys and quests, various trials or tests of the hero, and even divine intervention, as do classic epics. Using devine intervetion can help with a smooth transition from Beowulfs struggles to his most prominant actions, The author’s purpose in utilizing divine intervention in “Beowulf”, is to show the readers that when all of the odds are against you, you can rely on God, or a ultimate power, to lead you the way to safety. This failure represents that unlike Beowulf’s other two battles, the fight against the dragon is not just a physical fight; instead, this fight tests one’s true courage and bravery ("ENG 283E: Our Premodern Epics: The Three Battles in Beowulf"). Beowulf attempts and succeeds in several challenges asked upon him while also exhibiting nonhuman strengths. There must be an outside force that is assisting the hero in his battles. Seen as “the mightiest man on earth/ high-born and powerful”(ll. Thus helping him cross the threshold. The purpose of divine intervention in Beowulf had a great impact on the poem. Be creative with your response. Although it may not be obvious, Beowulf had met his match during the fight. ", Divine intervention is defined as having a god, or higher class figure, show a likeness toward the epic hero being written about. Like when Jesus was tempted by the devil as he walked 40 days and nights throughout the devil, yet Jesus refuses and continues onto his path. Beowulf promises the sword, Hrunting, to … This shows that Beowulf has Humility, another aspect of a hero in Anglo Saxon Old English time. Beowulf is set in Scandinavia, sometime in the fifth or sixth century A.D. ( Log Out /  God was like Beowulf’s ultimate helper in … The author of “Beowulf” can be assumed that he or she believed in God or a ultimate power because of this divine intervention that allowed Beowulf to fight and defeat Grendel’s Mother. Many Anglo-Saxon beliefs and codes of conduct are illustrated as the predominant themes in the text. Aaron David and Ashley Santiago. Sword apperences like that of hrunthing and Cain being related to Grendel, as well as the Dragon, among other supernaturl beings as evil and good divinity.Not to mention the divine battle between … The author himself to this poem is also of a religious beckground, although it not clearly stated the author uses a plethoera of religious illusions to support Beowulf’s character and storyline. This author is seemingly Christin or Catholic, so it could also be a story to show that their god is the most powerful and righteous. During the conquest, Beowulf pulls a sword out of a rock that nobody had been able to do before due to its massive size. The author’s purpose of utilizing divine intervention in Beowulf is to show the heroes strength and also to explain why Beowulf is truly the chosen one. For example, Beowulf was able to life the shewolf’s magic sword. These fights made Beowulf become a better leader because he grew stronger as a person, and his peers looked up to him, he’s become a role model to other warriors in this epic…, However, Beowulf’s armor fails to protect him like his armor in the fight against Grendel’s mother. Can divine intervention and the supernatural co-exist easily in the same story. All of the sudden, a sword appears as if timed with Beowulf’s need for aid. The author must show readers that no matter how strong and brave a human can be, when the time comes, you’ll will need to rely on God and God will come. An epic hero is a larger-than-life mortal figure from history or legend. Diva Intervention is a Light, Gold Eliza variant. To me it gives an example of Beowulf’s glory and maybe even be an allusion to Jesus connecting him with Beowulf. These are the stock monsters out of an epic fantasy tale. Chaucer's Palinode to Troilus and Criseyde does depict Troilus as being instilled with divine enlightenment, however, and one wonders if Troilus's epiphany manifests due to divine intervention, or merely because he is now emotionally separated from his situation. Before even engaging himself into the battle with Grendel, Beowulf sailed over to the Danish shore to help Hrothgar protect his people and to defeat this ruthless demon.…, Beowulf: The King and Hero We might call Beowulf a folk epic, although some scholars prefer an emphasis on its mythological background. The hero was confronted immediately, the battle was hard of Beowulf but by divine intervention our hero was able to survive and triumph using a giant’s sword. Divine intervention may also be used as a way to show how God is the almighty ruler and you must obey him. The epic hero illustrates traits, performs deeds and exemplifies morals that are valued by that society. Divine intervention, quite simply put, is when God steps in and changes the outcome of a situation. After reading this traditional Anglo-Saxon poem, one should recognize "Beowulf" as being a classic epic hero. Giving Beowulf the status of a heroic figure for the people in Herot. Even as the story changed from Anglo-Saxon based to Christian based, he is still a hero. Other exampls would be the many helpers Beowulf has along his way that would make the fights ‘easier.’. The supernatural is definitely present in Beowulf, but it's oddly complicated. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Therefore, god sent done a sword or allowed beowulf to spot a sword to help himself slay grendel’s mother inorder to prevent his own crucification. First, we have the two demons, Grendel and his mother, and the other assorted monsters of the epic – the dragon that Beowulf must fight, the serpentine creatures in the lake, and the sea monsters that Beowulf fought in the past. The author uses divine intervention mainly in the battle between Grendel’s mother and Beowulf.