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Cultural values of beowulf
The heroic virtues exemplified in beowulf
The heroic virtues exemplified in beowulf
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Reputation Seeking a great reputation can be a man’s worst nightmare, or their best accomplishment, either way, a great reputation is not easy to get. The epic Beowulf demonstrates that a man must be a hero to obtain a great reputation in the Anglo-Saxon society. Obtaining a great reputation can cause a man to be selfish and reckless in the most important situations. Beowulf hears of Grendel and orders a ship be sent out to Herot. Without fear, he is on his way to fight the beast himself. Beowulf asks King Hrothgar to defend his land and fight off Grendel. He states that he has heard Grendel needs no weapons and fears none, therefore, decides to take on Grendel with his bare hands.(Beowulf 168-169). His decision to fight Grendel without weapons …show more content…
Beowulf wishes to stand tall against his most challenging opponent yet and begins to say, “I’d use no sword, no weapon,...”(Beowulf 668). He believes that he is bound for a better reputation and tries to portray that “No one else could do what I mean to;...”(Beowulf 682-683). When up against the most challenging “monster” yet, Beowulf decides that he will take on the dragon alone. As he states, “no man but me could hope to defeat this monster,” he portrays recklessness once again as he makes, making this fight about himself and his reputation when he could have easily defeated the dragon with more soldiers (Beowulf 683-684). This decision to fight the dragon by himself has ended in his death, and has portrayed himself as a beaten warrior (Beowulf 746). Beowulf’s recklessness has once again caused harm not only to himself, but to those that looked up to him as a …show more content…
Many times throughout the story Beowulf quickly longed for battle without his men to save him, or believed that he needed no weapons to defeat the most gruesome of monsters.The concept of a perfect reputation is not only demonstrated in the Anglo-Saxon society, but through today’s society as well. Many teenagers today believe that they must keep up a good reputation to fit in. However, what they do not know is that their brains do not fully develop until they are twenty-five. Due to the need for a perfect reputation, teenagers make reckless decisions daily. Studies show that “Good judgement isn't something they can excel in, at least not yet”(“Understanding the Teen Brain”). A modern example of a teenager making a reckless decision is best exemplified in the Ethan Couch case. On June 15, 2013, sixteen-year old Ethan Couch was throwing a party of his own. Everything was going fine until “Starr Teague, the only one at the party who wasn’t drinking, told Couch she needed to get to a convenience store”(Klass and Valiente). Intoxicated Couch, whose teenage brain has not been fully developed, decided to drive and play chicken with oncoming traffic. This reckless decision resulted in the death of four people he hit standing outside of a SUV after swerving off the road. Instead of saying no to drunk driving, Ethan Couch did not want his reputation ruined
Towards the end of the story, Beowulf travels to fight a dragon who is protecting a large treasure. He wants to prove to his kingdom that he is still the brave and strong man he used to be, but his main motivation is the treasure he will get after his victory. "And Beowulf uttered his final boast: 'I've never known fear, as a youth I fought In endless battles. I am old, now, But I will fight again, seek fame still, If the dragon hiding in his tower dares To face me'" (606-610). On the other side, the dragon has the same motivation. He is willing protect the treasure if it takes his life. This makes the fight one to the death. "When he comes to me I mean to stand, not to run from his shooting Flames, stand still till fate decides Which of us wins" (619-622). Beowulf feels that if he cannot have this victory, that this is the proper way to
In the anglo saxon society in which Beowulf took place, there was a warrior code which resulted in everyone trying to gain power over one another. Everyone lived by a heroic code that encouraged battles, feuds, and murders and rewarded the victor with treasure. By showing your insecurities or weaknesses in this age you will be taken advantage of. Beowulf understands the heroic code and uses his pride to get the upper hand on everyone else, Beowulf boasts himself as an invincible hero and goes in battle with out an ounce of fear. Beowulf’s justifies his excessive pride through his . Lastly, Beowulf’s pride made him a leader and led by example to defeat the dragon and ultimately sacrifice himself in the process. Beowulf’s desire for pride
Beowulf knows that he has the strength to stop this monstrous creature from killing more people, so he does what is best for others and battles the dragon. Beowulf told his people that he should risk his life once again for them, “I risked my life often when I was young. Now I am old, but as king of the people I shall pursue this fight… Men-at-arms, remains here on the barrow, safe in your armor… This fight is not yours, nor it is up to any man except me…” (2511-2534). Beowulf knows that he had the ability to defeat the dragon but was not sure if he would end up alive or not. Even though he was not sure of his life he still did not back down from confronting the dragon because he knows that is was for the best of others. Beowulf calculated the happiness and the pain of others in order to make his decision; he knows that by killing the dragon he will reduce the amount of pain of others. Reason why this action makes Beowulf a hero is because Beowulf sacrifices his life to reduce the amount of pain the dragon was causing to others; Beowulf follows Bentham’s utilitarian idea by calculating his decisions between happiness and
A key turning point for Beowulf is when he is an old king and fights a dragon. Being his usual prideful self, Beowulf chooses to fight the dragon alone and asks his men to remain outside during the battle. However, when Beowulf needs help to fight the dragon, his fellow men “broke ranks and ran for their lives” (2598). Beowulf’s “high-born comrades” and “hand-picked
Next, Beowulf decides to fight Grendel with his bare hands. He could have easily obtained some kind of weapon to fight with. Beowulf was the first warrior ever to have enough sheer bravery to go up against such a monster with neither help nor weapon or shield to aid him. he was a warrior that believed somewhat in fate and in God. Believing that God made the decisions and was in control, Beowulf trusted that his life was in good hands. Defeating Grendel with his bare hands, Beowulf not only proved his bravery but also his loyalty.
The famous poet James Russell Lowell once said, “Reputation is only a candle, of wavering and uncertain flame, and easily blown out, but it is the light by which the world looks for and finds merit” . Reality stresses the importance to be more concerned with personal character than self reputation, because character beholds who you really are, while your reputation is merely what others perceive. The epic of Beowulf, written in Old English, describes the adventures of a great Scandinavian warrior of the sixth century. Having an outstanding reputation was an important aspect of life, and in the world of Beowulf it was no different.
Throughout history, honor has always been a very important aspect in life, whether it be codified or just ingrained in someone’s brain. These ideals are emphasized in works of literature throughout the ages. The major characters including Beowulf in the folk epic Beowulf, Sir Gawain in Le Morte D’Arthur, and John in Brave New World all strive to maintain their honor and integrity, which ultimately results in their demise. In Beowulf, the great leader Beowulf courageously fights Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and finally the dragon, but in the end, his heroic actions lead to his death. Le Morte D’Arthur features Sir Gawain, who maintains his honor by fighting Sir Launcelot over and over, but eventually dies from his injuries as well. Lastly, in Brave New World, John, or “The Savage” kills himself after trying and failing to maintain his honor and integrity, which has been tainted by his thoughts and actions.
Everyone feared his abilities and wouldn’t dare attack him. Then a dragon was woken from its slumber and attacked part of Beowulf’s land. “Yet the prince if rings was too proud to line up with a large army against the sky-plague.” (159: 2345-2347). Beowulf could have taken all of his warriors to fight, but he was too smug. He had to be the one to fight it, or die trying. Beowulf had a need for glorious battle and impossible tasks. He brought few warriors with him to kill the murderous creature. When they reached the dragon, Beowulf made the decision to go in alone because he was too proud, and full of himself to ask for help. When the time came that he needed his warriors, they all ran except one. Beowulf was such a great warrior that no one else in his army had any skill at battle. They had no courage or experience because of Beowulf’s need to go in alone. Beowulf met his match against the dragon, and perished. The need for all the glory and fame drove Beowulf right to his death. It wasn’t the actual threat that killed Beowulf, but the careless decisions that were the real
Beowulf wants to fight Grendel, a monster wreaking havoc, and is boasting that he is more powerful and courageous.
Beowulf was a highly skilled and great fighter, but because of his over-confidence in himself the fire-breathing dragon kills him. Beowulf’s excessive pride is evident from the very beginning of the epic. He is almost always boasting about himself to one person or the other. In the first part of the epic, when Beowulf first travels to Hrothgar’s kingdom to rid him of Grendel, he talks about the mighty deeds he has done in his life. “Hail, Hrothgar, health ever keep you! I am Hyglelac’s thane and kinsman; mighty deeds I have done in my youth…they saw themselves how I came from combat bloodied by enemies where I crushed down five, killed a tribe of giants, and on the waves at night slew water-beasts; no easy task, but I dove out trouble from Geatland-they asked for it, the enemies I killed.”(Beowulf p73) One can easily picture him standing proud and tall in front of a multitude of fellow warriors, proclaiming all the deeds he has accomplished in his lifetime.
Without Beowulf being so brave, allot of people would still be getting killed and no one else would have stepped up. “Was instantly seized himself, claws bent back as Beowulf leaned up on one arm”. Grendal the monster had killed for 12 years had never met anyone that fought back and was stronger than him. He was in fear. Beowulf talks about how he will kill the dragon as he did Grendal. “I’d use no sword, no weapon if this beast could be killed without it, crushed to death like Grendal gripped in my hands and torn limb from limb”. In this he talks about how he doesn’t need a weapon. Just his hand will do. He wants to kill him with his bare hands like he did Grendal and to not use any weapons at all. It was as if he was about to die, nothing left in him anymore. The dragon was defeating him. “Then the famous old hero, remembering days of glory, lifted what was left of Nagling, his ancient sword, and swung it with all his strength”. Beowulf now weak was trying to kill the dragon with his last. The dragon had him beat, down on the ground, Beowulf not knowing what to do, is ready to die. In the end of this fight the dragon and Beowulf both
This final battle proves to be the most difficult for Beowulf; he is pushed to the brink, but, “inspired again by the thought of glory”, he musters just enough strength to strike down the dragon (Heaney 19). This language proposes that Beowulf’s chief motive for fighting the dragon is “the thought of glory”. Additionally, this depicts Beowulf as selfish, as he seemingly neglects his people. Niles opposes this viewpoint, stating that “nothing suggests that the king enters [the fight] as a way of winning personal glory”(Niles 94). Rather than for solely personal gain, Niles correctly asserts that Beowulf is focused on saving his people, as that is his first duty as an Anglo Saxon king. However, Beowulf accomplishes this very goal by carrying out his desire to uphold his heroic image. It was Beowulf’s own “thought of glory” that spurred his rally to kill off the dragon; in effect, Beowulf’s desire to preserve his image saved his people. Even though the narrator uses the story of the dragon to emphasize Beowulf’s greediness and lust for glory, it is the outcome of the fight reveals the true reason for Beowulf’s bravery. By striving to retain his honorous reputation, Beowulf simultaneously protects his people, effectively fulfilling his role as king as both a servant and an esteemed
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.
Yet, Beowulf again puts his pride on a pedestal. As a king he has greater responsibilities and he should not jeopardize his life. The well being of his nation should come first. In addition, he should be a better leader to his people, who look for guidance and comfort in their king. The fight with the dragon proves that Beowulf is a fearless hero. His death is not his personal failure but it is a failure of a king. Tahmina Akhter shows what links Beowulf’s fight with Grendel to the fight with the dragon, “[a]s Beowulf silently observed his friend 's murder by Grendel in Heorot, only to prove himself the greatest hero, against the dragon his men also observe him to die, not providing any help to their dearest king”(Akhter). If Beowulf was a better leader and he respected the principles of comitatus, his companions would help him in every battle. He is himself guilty for his men turning back on him. It is his biggest mistake when he forbids his men to take part in the
“In my youth I engaged in many wars”, Beowulf boasts to his warriors, which is certainly true. Throughout his life, he faces many deadly foes, all of which he handily defeats, save one. His story focuses on the most challenging, as well as morally significant of foes, Grendel and the dragon. These creatures reveal much about society as well as Christian virtue at the time. Even after Grendel and the dragon are defeated physically, the two monsters pose a new threat to the hero on a higher plane. Beowulf is not only at risk of losing his life, but his humanity, virtue, and even spirituality.