The Anglo Saxon period is also known as the dark ages, mainly because written sources for the early years of Saxon invasion are scarce. This culture was a period of war breaking up the Britannia into separate kingdoms. The climate has changed the way the Anglo Saxons have chose their homes because of the glaciers melting caused foods so it made choosing more difficult. They ended up settling in Bbritain for sometime it was warmer. This meant that their crops were more successful. They had many loyal warriors that fought in the roman army in Bbritain. So they knew their land very well which made them extremely dangerous to their enemies. The Anglo Saxon Wwarriors were not always the most loyal to their other Bbritain fighters. Studies show …show more content…
He has the strength of a warrior; it has been said that Beowulf has the strength of thirty men… in each of his arms. Beowulf is with the Thanes; he is basically their protector. Beowulf shows that every warrior must have courage. Without courage death can occur easier in a battle phase,especially when fighting the monsters that are in the story of Beowulf. There was a monster terrorizing the Thanes, Beowulf was called upon by the king to destroy this monster they called they called Grendel. Beowulf accepts and says that he will fight this monster with his bare hands. Anytime Beowulf speaks, he speaks of giant courage., Thanes wish to be a mighty, brave warrior like …show more content…
There was a dragon tasked to protect the giant cave of treasure. The was a man who wanted to win his master 's favor so he stole some of the treasure to give to his master. This causes the dragon to go into rage and it starts attacking Beowulf 's people. This leaves him no choice but to fight the fierce dragon. Although Beowulf defeats the dragon, he was fatally wounded and eventually dies. All of the treasure that the dragon was protecting was left to Thanes. To this day Beowulf is know as the hero but most importantly a strong and brave warrior that no one would dare stand up against, unless they were wanting to
Beowulf used his strength for respect and recognition. As he became older his great strength was beginning to become weak. The weakness of his strength and the lost battle against Grendel’s mother was overwhelming to Beowulf; however he realized that his time was over and he would be remembered as a great hero in all battles he won.
We often think of the "Old English" time as an era filled with mighty pagan warriors gathered in a dark wooden room, drinking ale to celebrate their victory in a brutish bloody battle. Or maybe we picture brawny Vikings with dirty faces wearing animal skins while sailing in large wooden ships. You may even imagine the crude but lovable Hagar the Horrible from the popular comic strip. Regardless to which of these views you take, we always think of the "Old English" as a time far in the past. Even though we may not notice, the strong brutal men of this past era infiltrate our everyday lives.
The Anglo-Saxons prior to 1000AD were as a race fierce. They possessed great courage. Beowulf reflects their fierceness and courage in a variety of ways. Beowulf complains to Unferth in the Danish court: “Grendel would never have done such horrors … if you were so fierce as you suppose.” The hero, who had earlier killed nine sea monsters, opted to face Grendel in mortal combat WITHOUT sword or shield or the assistance of others: “but I shall seize my enemy in my hand grip and fight.” Later when the hero’s sword failed against Grendel’s Mother, he remained “resolute” and seized her by the shoulder and fought till victory came. Thus “Beowulf, fierce in war, received the cup from Wealhtheow.” Later, the hero went up against and killed Daghrefin, the Huga champion, without weapons: “Nor was my sword his death, but my hand grasp broke his bone-house, tore out his surging heart.” After fifty years of kingship, when the fire dragon molested his people, Beowulf, the old man, did not lose his fierceness; he was “ready to die … life from body parted … I am brave in mind.” In the final battle brave Wiglaf showed his own fierceness and advanced to help his lord who was englulfed in flames: “With him I will embrace the fire … he doesn’t deserve to suffer alone.”
Anglo-Saxon warrior bands share the same code of honor as the Greek resistance fighters called Klephts both nations having a common Indo-European heritage and concept of hero. Beginning in the fifth century Germanic invasions transformed the Celtic culture of the British Isles. Anglo-Saxon warrior bands conquered the native Celts and prevailed in England from the fifth until the eleventh century. Warfare, the idea of comitatus, and the Germanic heroic code comprised the Anglo-Saxon way of life. Their warrior clans were ruled by a heroic figure, a chieftain or king, and the heroic code valued bravery, boasting, and above all allegiance to their king.
For the thanes, warriors fight all their lives out of loyalty to their kings, and Beowulf, who was a well respected and highly acclaimed warrior, was getting to become that king that men would so shamelessly fight for all because of how bravely and hard he fought for king Hygelac. “So Edgetho's son proved himself,/ Did as a famous soldier must do/ If glory is what he seeks: not killing his comrades/ In drunken rages, his heart not savage,/ But guarding God's gracious gift, his strength,/ Using it only in war, and then using it/ Bravely”.
Beowulf’s fight against the dragon shows Beowulf as a hero. Although Beowulf had previously defeated two other foes, he stands fast and fights his most formidable foe yet, the dragon. Dragons were notoriously difficult to kill, and the poem states that it was a great man, who could kill a dragon, even if it meant losing one's life. While others cower away Beowulf fights the dragon. Beowulf defeats the dragon but loses his life in the same instance. Like the classical hero Beowulf loses his special status in death. Beowulf sought no compensation for his services; the mere satisfaction of helping others was pay enough. Like his two previous battles Beowulf fights for those who could not fight for themselves.
Beowulf displays his heroic traits of bravery, strength, and glory as he fights the monster Grendel and earns the respect of the Danes. Before going into battle Beowulf decides that he needs no weapons and his “hands / alone shall fight for [him]” (Raffel 172-3). This shows Beowulf’s trait of bravery, instead of hiding behind a shield Beowulf is willing to fight with only his hands against a monster who in twelve years has not been harmed by any other man. Beowulf shows his strength as he causes “[Grendel’s] shoulder [to] / snap, muscle and bone [to] split” (497-8). The fact that Beowulf is strong enough to rip off Grendel’s arm shows that his strength is extraordinary, no ordinary man can rip off the arm of a monster who can
Beowulf was considered the mightiest hero among the lands of where he resided for his heroic actions and thoughtful actions towards his civilians and other rulers. In the beginning of the book there was a mythical creature that reeked havoc upon the village named Grendel that attacked the King’s Hrothgar’s mead hall. When Beowulf heard the news, he willingly volunteered to attack Grendel. He then gathers up the mightiest men to go on the journey with him. When he arrives at Herot he’s given a feast and allowed to stay the night at the Herot to confront Grendel. Then when Grendel arrives he kills one of the men waiting before Beowulf could get to the battle. Beowulf then begins fighting with Grendel and tears off his shoulder, when his shoulder
Beowulf is honored after Grendel and his mother’s defeat for his morality and willingness to help the king with his problem. He put aside the life he had at home and gave up everything so they were protected. Upon his return, everyone was praising him and lifting up the wondrous works and all that’d he’d done to protect them. Because of his respectable actions, Beowulf was rewarded for his true heroism. He becomes king over his people and ruled for the next fifty years.
Another trait of the Anglo-Saxon culture is loyalty to a leader. Which is a trait that is still shown today all throughout the world. For example, in the epic poem Beowulf the Geats show their loyalty to their leader when: “Beowulf is fighting with Grendel the Geats have their swords ready” (353-356). With the Geats being ready for the battle if their leader fails shows that they are loyal enough
To the Anglo-Saxons, a hero was both brave and mighty as well as audacious and arrogant. In Anglo Saxon society, warriors were assumed to be loyal to their leaders in battle, even if the battle appeared to be hopeless, because they earned great honor and riches from protecting their leader. These warriors were alleged to be just as fearless as their heroes, and always as loyal as a dove. In the epic poem Beowulf, created by Anglo-Saxon storytellers, the loyalty of Beowulf’s warriors varies depending on the levels of security they feel in fights; they are more loyal to their leader when they believe they can prevail, and their loyalty wanes when the predicted outcome of the battle appears unfavorable, contradicting the appetite for eternal
Beowulf shows physical strength in the story by defeating Grendel. In line 219 of Grendel’s mother, it tells how Beowulf killed her. “…cut it through, broke bones and all.” His strength is also told in line 213 of how he “lifted the sword that was so massive that no ordinary man could lift.” Beowulf’s determination, or his will to win, was throughout the story, even up until his death. A quote that describes this is, “…he cut the beast in half, slit it apart. It fell…”(line 185). He shows courage along with his cousin, Wiglaf, when they defeat the fire dragon. In line 189 it says, “…their courage had killed it, two noble cousins had joined in the dragon’s death.”
One of the beliefs of the Anglo-Saxon people is loyalty to their ruler. This be would allow for a strong army that is willing to fight and do what they must to maintain that loyalty. In the epic poem, Beowulf, the character Beowulf confronts an evil demon, Grendel, that has reaked havoc upon Herot, a guest hall for warriors, for 12 years and who has murdered many brave warriors
Beowulf, being Tolkien’s biggest inspiration in The Lord of The Rings, is the prime example of Anglo-Saxon Literature. Written anonymously, it is the oldest surviving epic poem in history. The Anglo-Saxon time period thrived on the heroic codes of Honor, Strength, and Bravery. The warrior, Beowulf himself, exemplified this heroic code...
Beowulf’s first accomplishment as an epic hero was his battle with Grendel. Grendel was a huge beast, a descendent of Cain, who ruthlessly murdered innocent Danes because he felt pity for himself. Upon hearing of the Dane’s problem, Beowulf set off to help the Danish without having been called upon. Even though Beowulf had men backing him, He drew battle with Grendel alone and without armor or weapons. Yet, Beowulf emerged victorious with the arm of Grendel as his trophy. Beowulf then went on to kill Grendel’s vengeful mother and a huge fire-breathing dragon who thought it had been done wrong by the Geats. Alas, the killing of the dragon would be Beowulf’s last great battle for the dragon took Beowulf’s life in the struggle for his own.