''Beowulf'' and ''Hamlet'' are probably two of the best-known works in British literature. Both deal with themes that are in many aspects interesting and fascinating to us modern human-beings. They are stories about royalty, heroism, honor, love, glory, hate and revenge. Ingredients that are even today essentially for every movie which is supposed to bring in money. But during the bygone ages ''Beowulf“ and ''Hamlet“ take place in, making money was not the only goal. The authors wanted to deliver certain messages to the audience.
In this work I will concentrate on the concepts of honor and revenge in both texts. What is considered as honorable? Which behaviour is typical for a coward? How important is revenge and how can it be achieved? And, most important, how does these concepts differ if you take a closer look on ''Beowulf'' and ''Hamlet''? What are the differences between the ages?
To answer this questions it will be important to compare the main characters, as there are Beowulf and Hamlet. Both of them are confronted with situations in which decisions have to be made. Decisions on how to act, on how to react to different events and threats in their lives. By watching the characters, it should be possible to point out differences and similarities between them.
I suspect that there are quite a lot of differences, because ''Hamlet'' several hundred years younger than ''Beowulf''. Therefore some concepts (e.g. that of revenge) may have changed during the time.
At first I will do a critical assessment on the sources I used for this paper. I think this is very important, because over the years a lot of different varieties of both texts were published. The second step will be to analyse them in order to gather information about the plot as well as the characters and their behaviour. At that point I used also some secondary literature and essays which you can find in the bibliography at the end. By doing so it should be possible to draw a sufficient conclusion and to answer the questions stated above.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Sources
3. Beowulf- The Theme
4. Beowulf- The Hero
5. Hamlet- The Theme
6. Hamlet- The Hero?
7. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines and compares the concepts of honor and revenge as portrayed in the literary works "Beowulf" and "Hamlet". By analyzing the motivations, decisions, and social contexts of the protagonists, the research explores how these fundamental themes evolve and differ across the respective time periods of the two works.
- Comparison of the concepts of honor and revenge in British literature.
- Analysis of the protagonists Beowulf and Hamlet as literary heroes.
- Assessment of historical context and the evolution of societal codes.
- Evaluation of the influence of the source material on the narrative.
- Investigation into the decision-making processes under moral and situational pressure.
Excerpt from the Book
4. Beowulf- The Hero
Beowulf is a complex character. As one could expect, he is described as a hero, "the mightiest man on earth, highborn and powerful"13. He is the descendent of a noble family and has available great physical and mental power. And he is a leader, the commander of a mighty warband and well-known in the northern countries.14 Beyond that, he is able to express his thoughts and deeds in his boasts. They show him as a "proud, highspirited, young man"15. More than that, he is humorous, optimistic and can take part in the feelings of others.16
This qualities become visible throughout the poem. Beowulf is clearly a man who acts without hesitation. He boards his ship as soon as he hears of the problems of Hrothgar. He decides to fight Grendel's mother as soon as he hears of the horrible murder of Aeschere. And he rides out to fight the dragon as soon as he hears of the attacks on the peasants and on his own home.17 But he does not see himself as invincible. On several occasions it becomes obvious that he is well aware of the possibility to die in battle. Before the fight against Grendel's mother he says that "living in this world means waiting for our end"18 and before his attack on the dragon he is sure that he will die: "[...] sensing his death. His fate hovered near, unknowable but certain"19. But although he is aware of death, he does not hesitate to risk his life. The author tells us one reason for this attidude:
"Let whoever can win glory before death. When a warrior is gone, that will be his best and only bulwark."20
Chapter Summary
1. Introduction: Outlines the research focus on honor and revenge in both texts and establishes the comparative approach regarding the protagonists.
2. The Sources: Provides a critical assessment of the various manuscript versions and editions used for the study of both literary works.
3. Beowulf- The Theme: Examines the recurring nature of feuds and the structural increase in the difficulty of battles throughout the epic poem.
4. Beowulf- The Hero: Analyzes Beowulf's character traits, his motivations driven by glory and gift-giving, and his acceptance of mortality.
5. Hamlet- The Theme: Discusses the central role of revenge following the ghost's revelation and introduces the courtly setting of the play.
6. Hamlet- The Hero?: Explores Hamlet's introversion, his struggle with inaction, and the moral dilemmas leading to his final heroic acts.
7. Conclusion: Summarizes the differences in honor and revenge between the two eras and reaffirms the ongoing relevance of these themes.
Keywords
Beowulf, Hamlet, Honor, Revenge, Heroism, British Literature, Shakespeare, Feud, Mortaility, Gift-giving, Comparative Literature, Character Analysis, Moral Code, Claudius, Hrothgar
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper performs a comparative analysis of the concepts of honor and revenge in the two seminal works of British literature: "Beowulf" and "Hamlet".
Which central themes are explored?
The primary themes include the nature of heroism, the social function of revenge and feuds, the importance of honor, and the moral decision-making processes of the protagonists.
What is the main objective of the research?
The goal is to determine how the concepts of honor and revenge differ across the vastly different historical periods represented by these two literary works.
Which methodological approach is applied?
The author employs a comparative literary analysis, assessing character development, plot points, and historical context through both primary texts and secondary literature.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body details the historical sources of the texts, examines specific themes within the narrative of "Beowulf", characterizes Beowulf as a hero, explores the themes in "Hamlet", and analyzes Hamlet's complex psychological state and heroism.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Beowulf, Hamlet, honor, revenge, heroism, comparative literature, character study, and historical context.
Why does Hamlet hesitate so long compared to Beowulf?
The text suggests that unlike the direct hero of the old times, Hamlet faces a more complex societal and religious landscape, leading to his introspection and fear of the consequences of his actions.
How does the setting influence the characters' behavior?
The "Beowulf" setting values straightforward violent action and honor in battle, whereas the courtly environment of "Hamlet" requires a more cautious, legalistic, and intellectualized approach to justice.
- Quote paper
- Daniel Ossenkop (Author), 2011, The Concepts of Honour and Revenge in Beowulf and Hamlet, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/172830
