He recalls a time when he and the other ten received rings and the very armor that they now have with them from Beowulf. We are told that he is a kinsman of Beowulf, the last of the Waegmunding clan. Protecting a sizeable treasure trove, the dragon’s wrath is ignited by the theft of a single gold goblet. Fairness 16. An epic may describe how a nation was established or describe specific traits associated with its people. Grendel. Faithfulness 11. Confident : I am not afraid to ask questions. to save his lord. Optimism 19. When he realizes that Beowulf is in serious jeopardy in his battle with the dragon, Wiglaf calls to the other 10 retainers who accompanied the king to the barrow and reminds them of the promises they have made to their leader. This is the honor code that exists between the king, or feudal lord, and his warriors, sometimes called "thanes" or "retainers." Beowulf exhibits these qualities in the Old English epic poem named after him. When we talk about positive character traits, we mean any of the following: Features of personality or character that tend to be ascribed positive values: Qualities such as kindness , empathy or generosity Unferth is presented as a lesser man, a foil for the near-perfect Beowulf. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from Sparknotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Character Analysis. Loyalty 4. Competitive: I thrive under pressure. Generosity 2. than to grieve. What theme does this suggest about the struggle between good and evil? Unferth. from the early scenes of the poem that it is always better to act and any corresponding bookmarks? Beowulf’s personal characteristics include the heroic traits of loyalty, honor, bravery, faith, and superhuman strength. Patience 12. He just jumped. Wiglaf represents courage and loyalty in the face of unbelievable odds. Read lines 109-124. In a way, his valor only serves to underscore just how weak in general and dependent on Beowulf the other Geats have become. Adventurous 15. Think about Beowulf's reputation, position and wealth. (Technically, retainers would be of higher rank, but the words are often used interchangeably.) Here are a few traits we can infer from actions: Jesse had no idea how deep the river was. They have literally shared a baptism of fire, the test of battle that is the only criterion earning Beowulf's trust. Wiglaf is loyal, brave, and ethical because he was able to defend the king when he was in nee against the dragon. Persistence 14. 109 Words To Describe Character. At this point, Beowulf is an old aging king. bookmarked pages associated with this title. from your Reading List will also remove any February 23, 2016. Charismatic : I can be a leader when need be. 2. is strong, fearless, valiant, and loyal. future holds. Loving 6. Wiglaf has earned the right to rule, not inherited it. His bravery and solid bearing provide 1. Cain's name in Hebrew is Qayin, meaning "creature," and, according to legend, the monsters of the earth are his descendants. Trait… Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# Wiglaf is a young warrior in the service of his king, Beowulf. The purpose for Wiglaf is the show is the moral of the story and remind us of the Anglo Saxon earthly virtues that are displayed through his actions. He knew that his duty was was to stay with able even to death as the other Warriors right away in fear. The one retainer who comes to Beowulf's aid in the battle against the dragon represents the theme of loyalty in the system of the comitatus. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. Read on to discover more words that describe personality traits! Wiglaf rules the Geats after Beowulf dies … How to teach character traits so all students can master it. Character is the overall mental and moral qualities of an individual. February 25, 2016. Attempts to describe personality types, character traits, and temperaments have always amused people. Character traits are the individual qualities or attributes that make up your character, or personality. Thanes swear devotion to their leader and vow to fight boldly, to the death if necessary, for him. Either way, a lack of honesty results in the fact that you destroy the trust of those who follow you. I invite you to look over this character traits list and pick at least one of these good qualities to begin working on: 1. Prev Article Next Article. [British Literature, p. 47] 8. Almost all national cultures have their own epics, whose stories and heroes play a role in defining the national character. Next. They’re what we outwardly observe when interacting with someone. Wiglaf thus represents the next generation of heroism Bravery beyond compare, superhuman intelligence, strength or skills and a driving desire to find success. It is regularly said that honesty is the best policy, but I would add that honesty is the only policy for great leaders. Wiglaf, one of Beowulf’s kinsmen and thanes, is the only warrior brave enough to help the hero in his fight against the dragon. All rights reserved. We hope these lists help you choose the negative and positive character traits you will need in your books. Integrity 3. Teaching Character Traits. Wiglaf is Beowulf's most loyal warrior and the only person who comes to his aid during his grueling battle with the dragon. This passage from the poem Beowulf features the character Wiglaf speaking to a group of soldiers who are hastily fleeing the scene of battle. Wiglaf conforms perfectly to the heroic code in that he is willing The son of Weohstan the Scylfing, and a relative of Beowulf, as well as his most loyal warrior. If you want to receive a free daily writing prompt, click here to … 350 Character Traits – A Fabulous Resource For Writers. warrior brave enough to help the hero in his fight against the dragon. Let's look at 25 good character traits that impact your happiness. He embodies Beowulf’s statement It is Wiglaf's blow that slows the serpent and decreases his firepower, thus enabling Beowulf to manage one last thrust with a knife that opens the dragon's belly and kills him. Epic heroes possess qualities that mere mortals lack. He declares that he would rather be burned to death than to abandon his king, and he rushes to Beowulf's defense. A Dane, the son of Ecglaf, and a follower of Hrothgar. In this regard, Wiglaf appears as a reflection of the young Beowulf in the first part of the story—a warrior who is strong, fearless, valiant, and … Tolerance 18. In fact, he's a sort of a reverse-Judas figure. You can view our. (A foil is a character whose traits contrast with and thereby accentuate those of another character.) © 2020 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Why do people hedge the truth? Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. of the young Beowulf in the first part of the story—a warrior who Some character traits show a person's underlying values or beliefs: 1. Usually for a few basic reasons: They are either afraid of the ramifications or they are trying to hide something. Cooperation 17. This means you don't have to fully describe a character. Use synecdoche when one trait represents a character. "Possible words for describing a character" Beowulf, Wiglaf, and the ten other soldiers are under fire (no pun intended) by an angry dragon. Wiglaf: He is a warrior who aids Beowulf against the battlewith the dragon. Beowulf, heroic poem, the highest achievement of Old English literature and the earliest European vernacular epic. Clever : I can juggle multiple tasks. This is generally true, but remember that words are often used subjectively. Kindness 7. H M. Often times, when kids read a story, they’ll love a certain character, relate to the character and learn valuable lessons. Being able to think deeply about character traits for the characters in a short story or novel is an important part of understanding the author's deeper message. Even though human personality has defied all attempts to categorize it into a few types, so many attempts have been made to do so. The epic hero often battles for good, or accomplishes a set of tasks to complete an important goal. Cheerful : I develop a positive work environment. Here are two completely different images: Theoretical Physicist; Blacksmith’s apprentice; Professions are one of the quickest ways to describe characters - especially if they’re a minor character. Determination 13. Whereas Judas is the only one of the twelve apostles who betrays Jesus, Wiglaf is the only one of eleven thanes who remains loyal to Beowulf. Often you’ll see terms like ‘good character traits’ bandied about without any explanation of the term itself. Describing Personality: Character Traits and Temperaments. 3. It is common to describe an individual's character in informal conversation and formal communications such as a character reference. Adjectives are used to describe someone’s character and personality. If he is not as mighty as his heroic predecessor, he certainly lacks nothing in courage and loyalty. Wiglaf is a young warrior in the service of his king, Beowulf. How would you describe Wiglaf's character traits? Enjoy developing character traits. define the literary term 'character trait' and give examples analyze characters in familiar text infer character traits from text Length: 1-2 hours Materials. Unferth is presented as contrast to Beowulf, providing a glimpse of a poor warrior in contrast to Beowulf's good warrior. From George R. R. Martin’s new novel, The Winds of Winter: They had no trouble buying horses, though the cost was five times what it would have been last year. Character traits may be positive or negative and are often described using adjectives such as loyal, honest, ambitious or friendly. In the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is a lawyer and single father to two young children. Most people would consider the character traits described by the personality adjectives below to be “good” or positive. In this regard, Wiglaf appears as a reflection Often this hero comes by his qualities as a birthright, sometimes having links to gods or other epic heroes. Consistent with the heroic code, they promised to come to the assistance of their king if he ever needed them. Beowulf is able to defeat evil in the form of Grendel and Grendel's mother, yet he loses his life. His heroic qualities were courage, loyalty, wisdom, boasting, and p… Three traits that would best describe this character would be honest, devoted, and firm. For his part, the leader rewards his thanes with treasure, protection, and land. Character trait vocabulary for Mrs. Schwartz: 8th grade English. Lower-level texts often spell these out directly, describing a character as friendly or sly, to help the reader. But words that describe traits, such as compassionate, driven, and selfish, are often totally new or only partially understood. Removing #book# We are told that he is a kinsman of Beowulf, the last of the Waegmunding clan. This includes their basic personality, talents and habits. Grendel. Devotion 5. Spirituality Taking the time to understand your traits can help in situations when you’re asked to describe yourself, such as in an interview, networking opportunity, writing assignment, … Unferth’s challenge to Beowulf’s honor differentiates him from Beowulf and helps to reveal some of the subtleties of the heroic code that the warriors must follow. In the battle against the dragon, he proves to be the only Geatish warrior with courage even moderately equivalent to Beowulf's. #3 - What Does Your Character Do? Wiglaf rightly accuses them of running when they vowed to fight. Integrity is a personal trait that has strong moral principles and core values and then conducting your life with those as your guide. Wiglaf, one of Beowulf’s kinsmen and thanes, is the only The bond between Beowulf and Wiglaf is apparent as the king speaks to the young man and Wiglaf tries to comfort him. Even if you tell them the truth but they know you have lied to othe… Integrity. Cooperative : I get along well in a team setting. Wiglaf's relationshipo with Beowulf is parallel to Beowulf's relationshipwith King Hrothgar. His generosity is one of the virtues for which he is admired. to die attempting to defeat the opponent and, more importantly, His generosity is one of the virtues for which he is admired. In fact, he's a sort of a reverse-Judas figure. A vocabulary list featuring CHARACTER TRAITS. Learn more about Beowulf in this article. Have fun, and happy writing. and the future of the kingdom. The traits that make up a character are not always stated in a story; you will have to determine each character's qualities as you read, by thinking about that person's actions. Instead, you focus on one prominent trait. Wiglaf conforms perfectly to the heroic code in that he is willing to die attempting to defeat the opponent and, more importantly, to save his lord. On the basis of your reading of Beowulf, what qualities or values do you think the Anglo-Saxons admired? The ogre who has menaced Hrothgar's people for 12 years is a huge, powerful descendant of the biblical Cain, the son of Adam and Eve, who killed his brother Abel out of jealousy (Genesis 4). He attempts to shame them into action, but no one returns. For his part, the leader rewards his thanes with treasure, protection, and land. Peacefulness 10. for the most part, is dominated by a tone of despair at what the the single glint of optimism in the final part of the story, which, Sincerity 8. He no longer possesses the power he once had to fight Grendel and his mother. Although Wiglaf is not his offspring, Beowulf thinks of him as a son when the dying king, unable to stand, briefly reflects on his life and passes control of Geatland on to the brave young retainer. Think about it. Self-control 9. Wiglaf is the only one willing to risk his life to help his ruler. Personality traits are the distinguishing qualities of a person. Synecdoche is a literary device where the writer uses one part of something to represent the entire person, place, or thing. Courteous : I … It deals with events of the early 6th century and is believed to have been composed between 700 and 750. Build vocabulary by including LOTS of read alouds with rich discussions about the characters.
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