Okay, so Beowulf was mentioned in the Suicide's Note topic, but I thought it would be better if there was a separate discussion entirely just for this.
I didn't really like it that much. Yes, it was entertaining, and it didn't take long to read, but I feel like I didn't GET anything out of it. I was talking to my sister about it, and she went into this nice rant about how historically significant it is; I told her that I didn't think it was relevant. If a piece of literature is infuential, like Beowulf is, I'll give the credit where it's due. I'm not degrading the quality at all. All I'm saying is that it's not my style: I don't like epic heroes because they're a little predictable. I want to read a character who is flawed and inconsistent, because that's what humanity is. Characters, to me, are the most important part of any story, and in Beowulf, it just seems like the weight of the message stifles possible character growth.
So, what did everyone else think about it?
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I think Beowulf himself was cocky, and he annoyed me. It was entertaining, yes, but I agree with Danielle, it really isn't my style. I'd rather have someone that I can relate to, someone who is flawed, inside and out. A character who is real, not one who walks around punching people in the face just to prove that he can.
ReplyDeleteI actually liked the character Beowulf, but I did not like the poem to much altogether. Mainly because it just seemed to easy, you know? I was going into the poem expecting to have a lot more depth and element to it, and yes, obviously it is very significant but like you said Danielle, it's not my thing either. I think Mr. Bruno might help and making me understnad/like it more but it's def. not up there with some of my top novels.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you Danielle. Did you ever read the Odyssey? I don't enjoy plays, epic poems, or stories that focus more on a story line rather than development of characters. I think this is probably because we learn how to behave and think according to the way people have behaved and thought in the past. However, I think the fact that Beowulf is poetry makes it harder for us to see clear character traits.
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ReplyDeleteI actually really enjoyed reading this book. I was surprised when I opened it and began reading that it was understandable to me. Though the book is drawn out very simply, I was intrigued by the "fairy-tale" qualities of the book, containing kings, dragons, and battles. I found this book very interesting, despite the fact that I usually cannot stand stories like these.
ReplyDeleteJust because a character is heroic does not mean that he or she is not complicated.
ReplyDeleteAchilles = moody and complicated
Odysseus = striving to get back to his wife while climbing into bed with every goddess along the way
Beowulf = There is more to this guy than his proclivity for punching. Can you find it?
I think that Beowulf himself is a very torn person. I see the coming of age of him through the battles and his journey to become king; but I feel on a more human level that he feels big pressure. I feel like through every battle and every fight he picks he feels he HAS to be violent because he was born with this big name, and huge expectations and if he doesn't be the best that he will disappoint his people, his father and himself. At the final battle when he fights kind of knowing he will die, I think he really knows that he's dying for his people, to preserve their loyalty and their views on him. But I also think that because he dies that he is choosing between his reputation and his good image and between being reasonable and just the king, not Charlemagne.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Marysssa and I just want to add that I personally think Beowulf was a flawed character, a stressed character yet, he has changed through the story however he made more subtle changes, changes that require you to pay attention to, and in agreement with Maryssa i can definately find the human traits that Beowulf might have experienced like the stress and pressure of his namesake and violence that comes with the expectations of his name
ReplyDeletewhen i started to read this book i was excited because i enjoy stories such as these, i was assuming that it was going to be very different but along the same concept of a greek tradgey, i was wrong. it reminded me more of like a super hero movie, i know that sounds so dumb, but i mean think about it. beowulf rolls up into this city that just so happens to need saving, and he kills not only one but THREE monster/villians, he is praised and glorified and has an amazing history of saving people, he has like the ability to hold his breath for 800 hours while fighting a beast, he is incredibly strong (he swam for 3 days straight). BEOWULF IS A SUPER HERO!!! period.
ReplyDeleteoh wow, i never thought of beowulf as a superhero till now, always kinda saw him as a legend, like an awesome super cool legend, but superhero fits so much better and now everytime i think of beowulf, im going to think red capes and cool helmets, instead of pelts and iron. thanks emilee!
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