Beowulf is a great hero, he is couragous, selfless and strong. He saved the Danes from not one, but two monsters, on his own. Do you think Beowulf would make a good leader or will he only ever be a warrior? Why? (Think about other literary works like
Oedipus Rex.)
53 comments:
I feel that Beowulf would in fact be a good leader due to the fact he has already proven that he works on behalf of the people and their needs. In reality, it was not essential for Beowulf to go to the kingdom and kill the monsters ,seeing that they were not an immediate threat to him or his people. While some may question his motives as to why he felt the need to do this, I feel that he is good natured and has the interest of all people at heart. Therefore, I feel that he would not only be a just leader but one with great compassion. It is clear that he does not back away from a challenge but rather deals with it hands on.
I think that Beowulf would be a good leader becasue he is strong and has showed the people that he can hold his own. So, if the time arises where he would need to fight he could join the battle and help his people. He makes a great warrior but an even better leader.
I believe he is too self confident and reckless to ever be a leader. He would lead his men or country into too much danger and at some point would not get lucky. I think he will forever be a great warrior or soldier. He shows strong qualities in which a warrior posseses. And weak qualities that a leader would have. For example, he acts without thinking which is good for a warrior but not so good for a leader. Therefore, Beowulf would only be a warrior in my eyes.
I think that Beowulf would make a good leader, not jsut be a good warrior. I feel this way because Beowulf didn't have to go to Denmark to save the Danes from Grendel, but he offered his services to help out strangers, just becuase he knew he could. His will to assist those whom he doesnt know shows that as a leader he would have peoples best intentions in mind.
As apparent from the days of when Beowulf ruled over Geatland for fifty years when King Hygelac had died in battle with much wisdom. Beowulf had brought upon peace and unity within his country and with neighboring nations. Only when a thief had angered a dragon did troubles begin. Just because you were trained in the arts of war, does not mean you can't lead a country politcally. Take George Washington, our first president, for example. He was first a commander-in-chief for the Continental Army, but when he became President, he lead America to be a strong nation.
I believe he would make a great leader. In today's society, the U.S. president is encouraged to have some sort of military experience. Beowulf has more than enough of this, along with the Anglo-Saxon dependency on heroes, to back him up. I think his strong image would be a conforting thing to people. Making him their leader would give them a sense of protection.
I think that Beowulf would be a good leader. He is courageous, strong, and commands respect from the people around him. People want to follow him, and they are willing to do anything for him.
I think that Beowulf will always just mainly have the qualities of a warrior not so much of a leader. A leader displays interest for other people and it just seems as though Beowulf is more focused on himself getting attention. He has made numerous speeches after fighting off Grendel and his mother, and telling everyone that he saved the Danes. So i feel he is more a warrior and wants to be kept on that high pedesteal that he is on for his bravery.
I don’t think Beowulf would make a great leader. He is always risking his life to gain fame. If he was a ruler, his people would be in trouble because he would be more interested in fighting monsters than making sure they are okay. His desire to go to battle to defeat monsters has made him a great warrior, and that is all he should be. In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus gained his position on the throne by solving the Riddle of the Sphinx. He was so wrapped up in his previous defeats that he thought they would get him through his whole life. He was wrong and put his people through more pain than needed. Just because someone made a great warrior does not mean that they would make a great leader.
Beowulf already has demonstrated his leadership with his overpowering of Grendel and Grendel's mother. He was the one who organized the group of Geatish warriors that would fight the monsters. He was the one who led the warriors overseas. He was the one who fought alone and risked his life for the rest of his men. He will continue to fight and lead the Geats in addition to being a courageous warrior.
I don’t believe that Beowulf would be a good leader. There are certain qualities and attributes that a leader should have, such as: the ability to motivate others, give reassurance to others and make the best decision for the cause. Many people aren’t meant to be leaders, such as we saw in Oedipus Rex. A man so infatuated with him, he became oblivious to where the truth laid and how much destruction he had caused others. Like Oedipus, Beowulf would fail to be great leader, due to his overwhelming need to always prove himself to be the best. I believe that Beowulf would ultimately lead his people to devastation as opposed to bringing victories being a soldier.
I believe Beowulf will only ever be a warrior. He is much too arogant to be a leader of a large number of people. Also, I don't believe Beowulf would want to be a leader of a nation. He would much rather be on the front lines of battle, fighting side-by-side with his kinsmen. Beowulf would not be content sitting on the throne away from the battle.
I do not think Beowulf would be a good leader because he is more content being a warrior. Although he is victorious in battle I don't think he would succeed as a leader. Even though he readily saves the Danes from any enemy they encounter I think he does this for himself so he will be acknowledged as a hero rather than for the good of the people. Like Oedipus Rex he likes the people to know his name and he likes to be loved by the people. Beowulf is a great hero but although he is strong on the battle field he isn't powerful enough to rule a kingdom.
I think that Beowulf would be a good leader. Hes definitely shown that he could protect his people by killing the two monsters. He is also loyal and trustworthy. The only thing that could potentially make him a bad leader is his recklessness. If he ever got his country in a war, he might put his people in the same danger.
I don't think Beowulf would be a good leader. He is too reckless in his decisions and never thinks them through. He also would try to do too much on his own, as seen when he chose to fight both Grendel and Grendel's mother alone. He also chose to do both of these very quickly, not thinking them through at all. His decisions turned out fine in those situations, but the first choice is not always the best, which he would learn if he became a leader.
I do not think that Beowulf would be a good leader. Beowulf is very much a fighter and enjoys going after the chase. In order to also be a good leader, you need to be able to think things through and admit your mistakes. Beowulf seems like he is far too arrogant and self confident to be a good leader. Leaders should be able to admit their mistakes and flaws, and I don't think that Beowulf could do this.
Beowulf would in fact make an effective leader becuase he leads by example. He's not all talk, he can show his men how it's done physically. Beowulf doesn't need exceptional social skills to be a good leader. A good leader is someone who people look up to and look to exemptfly. Beowulf's actions would act as a great standard for anyone of his time to go by.
Yes, I do think that Beowulf would be a strong and courageous leader for his people. He has already proved to them that he would go and risk his own life and single-handedly slaughter two beasts for the souls of many. His mind-set is in the direction of the people.
I think that not everyone who is a great warrior is capable of being a great leader. Beowulf definitely deserves veneration for his brave acts when he defeated Grendel and Grendel's mother. However, these acts showed that Beowulf was a very impulsive human being, and took things as they came, without really "thinking twice." In the second fight against Grendel, we also see a reckless Beowulf who at times does things for attention or because he is too self-confident.
His self-confidence can be related to that of Oedipus. We saw in Oedipus a man who was not so modest and who believed he could accomplish everything and that others around him could not do so (the blind prophet).
The same qualities can be associated with Beowulf(he fights on his own, doesn't want others to get involved because he believes he can do everything on his own).
Although these qualities are perfect for a warrior, they are not for a leader. These qualities are the ones that lead to Oedipus' doom, and also the same ones that can potentially lead to Beowulf's doom, were he to be a leader.
I think Beowulf will always remain as just a warrior. To be a leader, you must have the mind for it. In the story, the reader is only informed that Beowulf is a tremendously strong and successful warrior in battle. There are no hints given or details mentioned that make me believe he would make a great leader. He would need strategy, awareness; an immense list of characteristics that he does not seem to possess. He is great at what he does right now. He can win battles, but becoming a leader is out of his realm of talents. In addition, just because he, individually, is an incredible fighter does not mean the people he would be leading into battle would be skilled at fighting, too.
I feel that Beowulf would not be a good leader because he was made to be a warrior. He was trained to fight and be skillful at fighting. There are many components to being a great leader and Beowulf only has one of them. In order to be a leader you must have a clear thought process and must be able to control you emotions. I feel that if Beowulf was a leader he would be short tempered and always try to fight his way out of problems. That is not what a great leader does it is what a great warrior does.
I believe that Beowulf will only be a warrior. He doesn't think about his actions, he just acts. This can only bring you so far, and he will fall soon. Also, he thinks highly of himself, as Oedipus did, which will lead to his downfall
I think that Beowulf will only be a warrior. A leader needs to be more than just bravery and strength. Beowulf has not shown any signs that he could actually lead a group of people. Beowulf is clearly confident and having over confidence as a leader may not be good. He will probably lead his country into something it can't handle due to his confidence.
Beowulf would make an good leader because he is always working selflessly and for the greater good. He decided to travel to Danes in order to defeat Grendel and bring peace and order back to Danes. His desire to slay Grendel and aid the people of Danes was not driven by greed or selfishness, it was simply fight for a better future and to help others. This is very valuable and much needed quality in a leader. Beowulf is also strong and independent in the face to danger. It is not easy to cause him anger or fear. This quality of levelheadedness is also important in good leader.
I believe that Beowulf would make a very good leader. He is strong, dependable and maintains respect from his people. He wouldn't be a leader who expects others to do the work for him but instead would be right in there fighting the battle with his men. He uses his strengths to his advantage and this is an important quality that good leaders possess.
Beowulf's strenghts are limited to those of battle and fighting. I do not think Beowulf would be a very good leader. There have been many successful war heroes that go on to thrive in a political career, especially in our very own nation, but i think that it would be harder to make that transition during Beowulf's time. Beowulf became very popular for his willingness to fight Grendel and Grendel's mother. Had Beowulf lost, he would have been just another crazy guy that tried to fight the big bad monsters. But because Beowulf won, he is now the Hero. Beowulf is indeed couragous, selfless and strong, but do those qualities make him a good leader? In my opinion he is still unpredictable and too earnest to enter a battle. I believe a president of recent memory has been put under major scrutiny for his decisions regarding war. Many people believe that our country should no longer be involved in this war, but we continue to fight it. I think thats what would happen if Beowulf is trusted as a leader.
I don't feel as though Beowulf would be a good leader. He comes off as being overly confident and has the personality of a warrior. He would be more successful as a warrior and not as a leader because he never really thinks things over, which would eventually get him into trouble. Beowulf is also very high strung, so being a warrior would be a more suitable position for him.
I beileve that Beowulf would not make a good leader. He has obviously shown that he can be strong in battle and can fend for himself, but how does that prove his ability of leadership? Of course he is admired by all of the people around him and he can get them to listen to him, but it doesn't mean he will know what to do in every situation that is thrown at him. Strength does not always make an amazing leader, they need to possess control over their strength and emotions. Beowulf was held back by his past defeats, that shows that if he suffered a loss during a ruling, it could set back the entrie group he was in charge of. I don't believe that Beowulf would make a good leader, but I do think will always be considered a good warrior.
Beowulf is strictly a warrior, he could never be a strong leader. He is reckless as Dave Wang clearly states. Reckless people can not make good leaders because they are sporatic and irrational. They act entirely on instinct without thinking about what the circumstances might be. A warrior should however act only on instinct. Beowulf slays the beasts using his killer instinct which makes him a great soldier but an awful leader.
I do not think Beowulf would make a good leader because he is strictly a warrior. I feel that if Beowulf were given the option of staying to help his people, or run off and fight for another place that is threatened by some sort of monster that he would choose to fight the monster. He doesn’t seem like the sort of person who can just sit around, he is born warrior.
Beowulf would be a good leader because he possesses all of the important qualities that a leader should have. He does not back down from a challenge and will do anything to be successful. Beowulf is resourceful and can make the best of any situation. He is also loved by the people. Any leader needs the support of the people to be successful.
If Beowulf was the leader of anything it would have to be of an army or military unit. He has a brain that is programmed for fighting. I think he would be able to direct and handle the men very well but some problems might he arise. Beowulf is a very strong man and is used to fighting off enemies all by himself. He might not be used to the help of other eager men and would end up fighting some of his own men.
There is no doubt that Beowulf was a great warrior but I don't feel he would be a good leader for the Danes. Beowulf acts on impulse and doesn't think about the consequences which wouldn't make for a effective leader. His decisions are quite rash and usually involve himself, never consulting others during these difficult times. He is a great warrior, defending his people although he wouldn't find success in leading the Danes like a king would.
I believe that Beowulf would not be a good leader. Some people do have the ability to be both a leader and a warrior but others only hold one of those traits. Beowulf works well on his own and enjoys the attention he receives from being the hero. When he went to fight Grendel’s mother, I did not have a plan and took many risks. If he was a leader, we would be responsible for many lives and I don’t think he would know how I go about that. Like Beowulf, Oedipus worked well on his own but when he was in charge of many lives, he cracked under the pressure.
I believe that Beowulf would be a great leader. He would do anything for his people, no questions asked. He would put his own life on the line for the safety of his followers. He would never act like he had the most pain to deal with, unlike some leaders like Oedipus.
I don't think Beowulf would make a good leader. His pride would get in the way and he would not make choices that help everyone, he would just be helping himself, and that is not what a leader should do. Beowulf would rather be out there fighting than leading. He could only ever be a warrior.
I think that Beowulf would be a great leader just not a great warrior. He has proved his devotion and his courage. He had all the qualities of a leader and i think he has already showed he cares for the people and their well being.
Beowulf definitely has the potential to be a leader. After hsi father passed away, he took the reigns and headed the people. Also, because he is a great warrior, he has the leadership skills to teach others how to fight and not fear others. People look up to him greatly and admire his deeds which is one of the major characteristics of a leader. It is not clear whether he would be the smartest leader in the long run, because of his spontaneous behavior, he does possess the skills to lead the people.
I think that Beowulf would be a good leader because he is a strong person and takes a stand for what he believes in. He also sees what needs to be done and does it. I feel as if Beowulf has the needs of others in his heart, even if it seems that is not the case sometimes. Beowulf is just one of the people that everyone will always look up to and that helps when becoming a leader.
I think that Beowulf would be better served as a warrior than a leader. His skills are in his strength and ability to fight. While these are important, I'm not sure his qualities as a leader are good enough to be a leader, rather than just a really strong warrior.
Despite Beowulf displaying leadership qualities throughout the story, I believe he is in fact simply a warrior. It takes more than brute strength and bravery to be the leader of a group of people, and although he leads his men, his recklessness could bring death to them all. His skills are based on his strength, rather than his leadership skills. Beowulf's disregard for everyone but himself, and his strive for glory leads me to believe that he is nothing more than an arrogant warrior.
I believe that Beowulf would make a good leader, because inside every leader there is a warrior, but it is not all war and fighting. He was a caring, strong person, and cared deeply for the people he ruled. And though Beowulf could be a bit impulsive at times, he had the best intentions.
i feel that beouwulf would be a very great leader. I say this because he is a very strong and brave person and saved many of his people from two monsters. If it wasnt for him then all those people would have died. Also people know that they can count on him to protect them.
In the first fight against Grendel Beowulf had been a genuine warrior. He cared about the Danes and he risked his life by not wearing armor in order to trick the monster. The second time around he was struck with hubris and just like Oedipus became completely infused with the celebration in his honor. I think that because he so easily became arrogant that this would not make him a good leader. As we can see in the epic poem Oedipus Rex, when a leader is extremely arrogant not only will it lead to their downfall but also the downfall of their people.
In the first fight against Grendel Beowulf had been a genuine warrior. He cared about the Danes and he risked his life by not wearing armor in order to trick the monster. The second time around he was struck with hubris and just like Oedipus became completely infused with the celebration in his honor. I think that because he so easily became arrogant that this would not make him a good leader. As we can see in the epic poem Oedipus Rex, when a leader is extremely arrogant not only will it lead to their downfall but also the downfall of their people.
I think that Beowulf would make a good leader. If you have the ability to defeat two monsters, you have a good work ethic. When Beowulf won the battles, it was not because of recklessness, it was from his strength and strong leadership. Beowulf would be a great leader because he understands how to lead. Compared to Oedipus, Beowulf would be a very strong leader. Beowulfs ability to fight and lead, but be concious of what goes on around him would make him a good leader.
I think that Beowulf would be a good leader because of the way he dealt with the situation. It was his leadership that brought him to kill both monsters in the first place. He was the one that gathered men to do this, and he didn't stop once Grendel was killed, he went back and killed Grendel's mother.
In our time I believe that Beowulf would not be a great leader. He has proven himself in the military aspects of a leader, but he has not shown that he has the qualities to run a country in our time, such as the financial needs. In the Anglo-Saxon age however he would be a great leader because he has saved the country not once but twice. During the time of the Ancient Rome poets were chosen to be military leaders, and there were no difference between church and state. However now there is a fine line between the two, and many people could think that Beowulf could inflict too much war upon our country due to his fighting instincts and qualities.
I think Beowulf would be a good leader based on the fact that he would be able protect his countrymen. He would be able to keep his land safe and peaceful
Beowulf seems to possess many good leadership qualities through his fighting but he might be too hungry for war. This might cause him to make some rash decisoins just to get into a war that is not necessary. He has earned the love and respect of many people and definately knows how to protect them. If Beowulf could control his urge for conflict, then yes, I believe he will be a good leader.
I personally do not believe that Beowulf would be a good leader. I think he is too concerned with himself to be a good leader. One could argue that he could use the power of being a leader to do great things, and therefore more praise. However, I think he would worry more about his own issues, and push onto the people that they need to be fixed for their safety.
I dont think that Beowulf would be as strong of a leader as he is a warrior. When fighting there is very little to think about except saving your own life and killing the enemy. However, as a leader you are the power of everyone around you and I dont believe that Beowulf would have that kind of strength to rule over people. While he shows his power when he fights, I think that it would be mislead if he was in control over everyone and people would regret it.
I do not think that Beowulf would make a good leader. He is clearly a warrior because of his stregth, bravery and fearlessness of battle. But there are more qualities to being a leader than bravery. Leadership requires being conscience of your actions and your influence on other people. Beowulf was impulsive when going to kill Grendels mother he acted on impulse and a good leader need to think before they act.
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