Gold In Beowulf Essay

Throughout the poem, Beowulf, the repetition of treasure plays a significant a role as it was important in Anglo-Saxon culture. Treasure had a positive moral value and symbolized honor and recognition as it is given after someone has performed a heroic act, such as after a battle. It also proved the heroism in the character as well as their showed their victory and achievements. This idea is depicted in the very beginning of the book when “they stretched their beloved lord in his boat, laid out by the mast, amidships, the great ring-giver. Far-fetched treasures were piled upon him, and precious gear” (34-37). This quote starts off giving the reader an indication that treasure meant importance,

Beowulf is a poem with pagan origins, yet it has many Christian elements. Indeed, the second quotation we are given from this passage assigns fate as the "ruler of every man." A true Christian poet would never assign rule over man to any other than the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. Additionally, the gaining of earthly treasures or, specifically the taking of treasure from a defeated enemy, is not an activity that is heroic in the Christian sense.

We are currently in the twenty-first century, which means the poem was written fifteen centuries ago. Even though it is a really entertaining poem with an interesting story line about a man who procures a new honor by defeating a monster that is terrorizing all of the people, stories have evolved since the sixth century. Yes, real people and poems can be written about in the same way, but there is a different way of comprehending due to the century it was written in. Beowulf is one of the oldest poems, in the English language, since it was written fifteen centuries ago.

In this passage kennings that were present had much to do with gold, for example in line 239 it says " ...gold-shinning hall..." Given the context clues surrounding this sentence I think this is a kenning for the mead hall that Grendel was heading for. I also think that the word gold was meant as a representation of treasure, in this case people that were in the mead hall that Grendel was going to kill. Not only were there kennings that had to do with gold there was also one in line 270 "...strong-hearted wakeful sleeper" In this case they are talking about Beowulf who Grendel is snatching while he is asleep.

Throughout the epic poem Beowulf, there are countless mentions of gold, jewels, swords and other treasures. The role of wealth, treasure and gold all lead to glory and honor and being able to settle scores. Gold acted as a score settler because the characters could avoid problems or other altercations by paying wergild or "manprice". During this time period kings gave treasures and gold to their followers as a reward of their glory and honor earned as well as their loyalty to their king. The idea that the role of wealth, treasure and gold is a symbol of glory and honor and is used to “pay debts” is absolutely true in this poem.

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.

As previously stated, comitatus was also a value expressed multiple times in Beowulf. When Beowulf arrives and discloses his intention of killing Grendel and riding the Danes of their burden, Hrothgar rejoices and says he will reward Beowulf with great gifts if successful.(Beowulf 381-386) This idea of benefits in exchange for protections reoccurs again when Grendel's mother seeks vengeance for her son's death, and Hrothgar affirms that he will again repay Beowulf for killing this monster, which is a challenge he agrees to.(Beowulf 1379-1382) Although Beowulf's arrogance and thirst for fame plays a factor in this decision, Beowulf is persuaded again and again the protect the land of Heorot in exchange for wealth. Through winning these battles, Beowulf earns the respect and love of Hrothgar, repays his followers through their own little system of comitatus, and returns to his land with gifts for the king and queen. Through this gesture, Beowulf is rewarded with land, and becomes revered in the eye of the king, assisting him in his assent to the title of king.

When a hero accomplishes something great, he or she will be remembered for that tremendous action, which is what every hero strives for. For Beowulf, the thought that he will be remembered is what gives him that extra push to help him accomplish those great things. It is not enough to achieve glory in a lifetime, to Beowulf, but he must also be remembered for that glory. In the conclusion of the poem, Beowulf is fatally murdered in his final battle with the dragon. It is described “He carried that terrible trophy by the hair, brought it straight to where the Danes sat drinking, the queen among them.”

In Seamus Heaney’s translation of Beowulf, treasure and weaponry were of great importance to the people of that time. During the Anglo-Saxon period (410 to 1066 A.D.), gold treasures and swords were distributed to show loyalty and trust among a kingdom’s great warriors (“Beowulf Project - Archeology” 1). For biblical figures, such as Jesus and his disciples, treasure represented wealth and weaponry showed the ability to fight against Satan (“What Does the Bible Say about GOLD?” 1). In today’s society, treasure represents the success and riches one possesses while weaponry can be seen as strength or even arrogance. No matter what period in history, treasure and weaponry play a role and its importance is ever changing.

In Beowulf, the cultural traditions of the ancient Germanic tribes are expressed. Throughout the poem, treasures are a symbol of achievement, glory, and wealth in the Germanic culture. The possession of treasures such as gold earns one respect within the Germanic tribes. Moreover, the act of partitioning is celebrated and it earns you a title of a good king and warrior. While the doing the opposite condemns you and titles you a greedy king and warrior.

14. What role do the digressions play in Beowulf? What light do they shed on the main action?

Many readers of the poem Beowulf may find it difficult to distinguish the 'good' kings from the rest – indeed, almost every man who holds a throne in the epic is named at one point or another to be 'good'. By examining the ideals of the time period as identified by the 'heroic code', it becomes clearer that a truly 'good' king is one who generously distributes treasure and weaponry to deserving retainers to honour courage and strength displayed in battle and to encourage the defense of the kingdom (Intro). When Beowulf ascends the throne of the Geats, the heroic traits of courage and strength for which he was so highly praised as a warrior do not serve well in making him a good king. Indeed, by exhibiting the traits of a thane, that is, by

For every battle, both glory and gold were the reward. Thus, the greed for gold is very similar to the lust for honor. The dragon that causes the death of Beowulf, sitting atop it’s hoard of gold, is symbol of the lust for gold that was central to this time period. Furthermore, greed was the cause of the majority of the conflicts in the text. It was Hrothgar’s excessive extravagance when building Heorot that first caused Grendel’s envy. It was a thief stealing a golden chalice from the dragon that led the dragon to razing Beowulf’s kingdom. In the same way that his quest for glory motivated him, so did his search for gold. In his last few minutes of life, Beowulf’s last request is to gaze upon gold and jewels. He says that his going “will be easier / for having seen the treasure” (2749-50). This makes sense when the gold is understood to be symbolic of the glory he has been chasing the entire poem. In the end though, it is useless. “They let the ground keep that ancestral treasure / gold, under gravel, gone to earth / as useless to men now as it ever was” (3166-69). For his people, the gold is a representation of his success, yet once the gold is beneath the earth, it is useless. Beowulf’s quest for glory was the very thing that killed him.

In the epic poem Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, it discusses the advantages and disadvantages of wealth that are shown in today’s modern society.

The Importance of Beowulf in Modern America By Jennifer Carley Modern culture and literature include many stories of great heroes and fictional adventures. Many people grow up reading about these great adventures and looking up to the heroes of the stories. Heroes are great roll models because they are portrayed as courageous and trustworthy individuals, two very admirable qualities. Despite numerous cultural and technological advancements, life in modern America continues to bear resemblance to the Anglo-Saxon world of the hero Beowulf. The poem Beowulf, though written many centuries ago, still contains the same universal themes of any great action-adventure story in today's society. The poem is about a great hero who overcomes seemingly