Writing.....

Hey everyone! So I've been reading a lot of ancient English/British stuff lately (it inspired Tolkien to no end, particularly Beowulf) and I actually went and wrote out my thoughts on Beowulf vs. LOTR.

I hope you guys enjoy my little essay, written to show my admiration :) Please don't copy my work. I don't appreciate it. Thanks guys :D

~nicole

Beowulf as a protagonist is an exemplary model of the Anglo-Saxon values. He personifies loyalty, bravery, and fighting skill; he is strong in mind and heart, and is courageous in the face of danger. He would have been someone that, had he been real, rallied the people to him and led them effectively. He is also somewhat superhuman; he is a larger than life hero who does things that no realistic human could do. Yet that is part of what draws people to his personality and story. He does not hesitate to throw himself in dangerous situations to protect the king's people and risk his life.

Similar to Beowulf, the character Aragorn from the Lord of the Rings is an example of the values idealized by the Anglo-Saxon culture. While he isn't completely a superhuman, he still exemplifies the strength, loyalty, courage, and ability to fight that were so valued by the early peoples of what is England. His love for his country and people are strong, and he is willing to risk his life, much like Beowulf, in order to defeat the Dark Lord. Though he isn't the main character in the trilogy, he is the closest comparison to Beowulf because of who he personifies and what he does.

The antagonists in Beowulf are typical Anglo-Saxon as well; strong and superhuman, but using their power for evil, and lacking the "redeeming qualities" that makes the readers and listeners love the heroes/protagonists. It's usually their fault that everything bad in the story is happening, and they are a symbol of the conflict. They cause multitudes of hardship for the people, such as Grendel attacking the castle and eating the men who should have been able to fight him off. He seems unable to be defeated.

Again, the main antagonist in The Lord of the Rings, the Dark Lord Sauron, is a strong anti-hero, causing Middle-Earth constant turmoil and suffering, similar to Grendel and his mother. Sauron appears to be invincible, also like Grendel, and he uses his massive power for the wrong reasons, terrorizing innocent people and fighting back against those who try (and eventually succeed) to defeat him.

In both cases, values in our current society of fighting for human life and doing whatever it takes to protect it are reflected in the literature. Somehow heroes fighting against evil and the character development that they go through makes us drawn to them, and we apply what we see to our everyday life and culture.