Beowulf Values

Beowulf is an epic poem that has been handed down orally for centuries, but was finally written down in the eighth century. It is the story of an epic hero, named Beowulf, who travels with his men, the Geats, to conquer the many beasts who terrorize the lands of the Danes. The scops describe Beowulf as “greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world”(110-111). This example shows one of many qualities that make Beowulf the epic hero that he is. He uses his strength to demonstrate both the dedication and bravery needed to bring peace and justice to the people who have been terrorized for such a long time. Cultural elements exemplified in Beowulf occur in the aspects of the mead hall, the warriors, and their belief system.

Beowulf is an epic poem being cited as one of the most important works of Old English literature. Beowulf is an Old English epic poem. The poem is set in Scandinavia. Beowulf, a hero of Geats, comes to the aid of Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, whose mead hall in Herot has been under attack by a monster named Grendel. After Beowulf slays him, Grendel's mother attacks the hall and is then also defeated. Victorious, Beowulf goes home to Geatland and later becomes king of the Geats. After a period of fifty years has passed, Beowulf defeats a dragon, but is mortally wounded in the battle. After his death, his attendants cremate his body and erect a tower on a headland in his memory. Beowulf is clearly a hero because of his brave deeds, he is a strong and responsible leader, and his courage. Beowulf is a hero because of his brave deeds. Throughout Beowulf, Beowulf does many deeds which are considered to be brave during the Anglo-Saxon period.“Grendel is no braver, no stronger/Than I am! I could kill him with my sword; I shall not,Easy as it would be. This fiend is a bold And famous fighter, but his claws and teeth.../ Beating at my sword blade, would be helpless. I will meet him With my hands empty-unless his heart /Fails him, seeing a soldier waiting /Weaponless, unafraid. Let God in His wisdom /Extend His hand where He wills, reward /Whom he chooses!”. In his first battle, Beowulf fights Grendel. He fights without any armor. Also, Beowulf kills Grendel’s mother. He then

The epic poem Beowulf shows a society much different from others in literary history, and it is very period of its time. A great deal of this novel is spent setting a background and introducing the values and peculiarities of Anglo-Saxon culture to the reader. In particularly, the ideals of masculinity are frequently and obviously portrayed throughout the story and mainly through the character of Beowulf. The poet who wrote Beowulf communicates the masculine values of Anglo-Saxon men through the loyal and prideful motives of Beowulf.

In “Beowulf,” the hero is faced with challenges that are both physical and moral, both of which threaten his life. Beowulf could be considered the ideal hero and king. From an early age, he has proven his worth for both of these titles, and in this epic tale the reader is able to learn his history to see how he came to fame. As an epic hero, Beowulf possesses the qualities of valor, loyalty, generosity, and honor. He fights for the survival of his tribe. Even as a hero, he

Beowulf is a classic story whose author is still unknown to this day. This epic poem was written as early as the 8th century. It displays the age-old concept of “good vs. evil” through the use of two characters battling one another throughout the entire story. Beowulf’s protagonistic qualities are displayed through various ways to show just how “good” he actually is.

Beowulf remains one of the most important works of English literature though it was written centuries ago. One reason for this fact is that many of the themes that it touches on are still pertinent in today's extremely different society. One of the most prevalent themes found in Beowulf is the importance of the heroic code. Much of this epic poem is dedicated to conveying and exemplifying the heroic code which values such attributes as strength, courage and honor. Conflicting with this ideology are other factors such as Christianity, and these tensions affect the lives and decisions of the narrative's characters.

Beowulf is an epic poem that, above all, gives the reader an idea of a time long past; a time when the most important values were courage and integrity. The only factors that could bestow shower fame upon a person were heroic deeds and family lineage. Beowulf, as the paradigm of pagan heroes, exhibited his desire to amass fame and fortune; the only way to do so was to avenge the death of others. This theme of retribution that is ever present throughout the poem seems to color the identities of its characters.

Beowulf Response Paper In the epic poet Beowulf, Hrothgar; the king of the Danes, is a very successful leader and he built a mead hall for anyone to come in and drink, celebrate, and rest. This happiness doesn’t last for long until a big monster; Grendel, comes and eats some men sleeping in the hall. For years this unfortunate attacks keep happening until one day Beowulf sails in with some of his men and he agrees to fight this monster.

The epic poem Beowulf was written in Old English by in unknown author in England during the eighth or ninth century. This poem takes place in Scandinavia during the beginning of the sixth century and illustrates the idea of a traditional Anglo-Saxton hero. Beowulf is a god like hero who courageously sets out to defeat the monster Grendel as a way to repay his father’s debt. He also increases his heroic status by defeating Grendel’s mother and the dragon. Reputation and a person lineage is a theme used throughout the poem to describe kings, thanes, and monsters, and is the only thing Beowulf values the most. Because his father had already tainted the family name, and with the loss of the swimming match against Breca, Beowulf feels the need to push the limits of a hero in the fights against Grendel and Grendel’s mother to ensure that his reputation lives on.

    There is considerable debate as to whether the poem Beowulf is an epic narrative poem or an heroic elegy. Which is it. This essay intends to present both sides of the story.

One of the most obvious and important themes in Beowulf is the theme of the battle between good and evil. “In this battle, Beowulf represents an archetypal savior-hero,” meaning that Beowulf portrays the classic hero of every fairy tale; brave and fearless, the larger than life warrior his people have been waiting for (Dow). When Beowulf is introduced in the poem, he is described as “the good Geat,” and it is said that “he was the strongest of men,” (Breeden, Ep. 2). These descriptions of him set the scene for him to be the “good” hero and defeat the “evil” Grendel. When Grendel is introduced in Beowulf, it is said that “he was of a race of monsters, exiled from mankind by God,” (Breeden, Ep. 1).

Every culture has its own set of values, beliefs, and customs. These values, beliefs and customs create each unique culture, and these cultural constructions are directly and indirectly acquired throughout the lifetime of the culture. A major part of culture is literature; the literature of the time reflects upon daily life and society during the time that the story was composed. Beowulf, an epic poem, is one of the most important and only works of Anglo-Saxon literature. Much like a fable, the epic poem of Beowulf had lessons that taught the people within this society how to behave. This essay will outline how the importance of Christianity and the Germanic Heroic Code in Beowulf are revealed throughout the epic poem as important aspects of the Anglo-Saxon culture as a whole.

Beowulf, originally a tale told only orally by poets, is one of the oldest and well known pieces of surviving English literature. An example of a great epic poem, the plot surrounds a courageous warrior king with super-human strength who defeats demonic monsters. Besides the allure of a hero who reflects the warrior ideals of Anglo-Saxon society, the imagery and poetic nature add to its appeal to people across time. Specifically, the symbolism of light and dark, kennings to describe the courage of heroes and the evil of monsters, and the descriptions of setting make the poem captivating.

Beowulf speaks volumes about the ways of life during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is to England what Homer’s Odyssey and Iliad are to Greece. It is, as some call it, the mother poem of England. This mother poem has been passed down through oral tradition for numerous years and scholars believe that an educated Christian monk transcribed the poem, preserving it in written form. Beowulf has survived for nearly 1,300 years due to how well it conveys the Anglo-Saxon culture and the unique characteristics of the poem in its imagery, tone, style and diction.

“No better king had ever lived, no prince so mild, no man so open to his people, so deserving of praise.” This is an ultimate description of the heroic events of Beowulf, an old Anglo-Saxon poem about a warrior who battles and destroys three horrifying monsters. Although written long ago, the emotions expressed within this work, emotions of bravery, valor, and ethics still speak to us centuries later. The anonymous author of the poem convinces us through the masterful use of various literary elements that emphasize its meaning and message. Conflict, imagery and setting are three literary elements that contribute to the effectiveness of the poem.