Beowulf Group

Question:


arma
Student
High School - 12th Grade

What is a good essay topic that will explain the heroic story of Beowulf?

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Posted by arma on Thursday September 20, 2007 at 7:43 PM and tagged with beowulf, essay topic.

Answers:


  1. jilllessa Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    I am not sure I understand your question exactly but you could write an essay on how Bewulf fits the tradition of an epic hero.  A description of the general characteristics of an Epic hero can be found at http://www.victorianweb.org/genre/epic2.html.

    You could also look at the essay questions in the Sample Essay Outlines in the Beowulf enotes. http://www.enotes.com/beowulf/sample-essay-outlines

     Another suggestion is that you could trace one of the themes of the work as discussed in the section on themes in the Beowulf Enotes: http://www.enotes.com/beowulf/themes

    Let me know if I can be of any further help. 

     

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/beowulf/sample-essay-outlines
    http://www.enotes.com/beowulf/themes
    http://www.victorianweb.org/genre/epic2.html.

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    Posted by jilllessa on Thursday September 20, 2007 at 11:01 PM


  2. sullymonster Teacher
    Community / Jr. College

    eNotes Editor

    Consider as well, instead of identifying the details of an epic hero, identifying the details of an epic and developing an essay in which you explain how Beowulf fits the definition of an epic.

    The definition of an epic can be found here: 

     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_poetry

    You could make a critical essay in which you explain why Beowulf is a good epic hero or why he is an unsuccessful hero.

     

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    Posted by sullymonster on Friday September 21, 2007 at 5:29 AM


  3. linda-allen Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    One aspect of Beowulf that has always intrigued me and that you might want to explore is the Christianization of a Viking saga. Is Beowulf a great hero because of his strength and courage or because God has given them to him? With the Christian elements added, is Beowulf truly a traditional epic hero?

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/classical-medieval-criticism/beowulf
    http://www.enotes.com/classical-medieval-criticism/beowul...
    http://www.enotes.com/salem-lit/beowulf-0089900044

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    Posted by linda-allen on Monday September 24, 2007 at 6:56 AM