Honor And Glory In The Epic Of Beowulf

Beowulf revolves around the story of a brave, geatish warrior who fights in three battles to defeat three monsters. King Hrothgar is threatened by an evil beast named Grendel and Beowulf comes to the Danes to slay Grendel and restore peace and harmony. After killing Grendel, Grendel’s mom seeks revenge on the Danes and attacks Heorot. Beowulf selflessly seeks her out and kills her to maintain the peace. Fifty years later, Beowulf is king of the Geats, when a thief steals from a sleeping dragon. The thief manages to wake the beast and cause terror on the Geats. Beowulf battles the dragon in his old age and was able to defeat him, however he was mortally wounded in the battle. Throughout all of Beowulf’s life, he selflessly and heroically helps other people by risking his own life. His

During the time period the poem was written, reputation, honor, and glory was very important to warriors. Beowulf devoted, and eventually sacrificed, his life in search for immortal glory.

Glory and courage was an important aspect of people’s lives during the time period of the poem Beowulf; people strived to be remembered for their heroic actions. The beginning of the poem tells the legends of warrior kings and how they are remembered for their bold actions. “The Spear-Danes in days gone by/ and the kings who ruled them had courage and greatness./ We have heard of those princes’ heroic campaigns.” (1-3). The reader gets an impression of the importance of reputation and glory, and how people were remembered for their heroic deeds from the very first lines of the poem. When Beowulf arrives in the land of the Danes, he is thrown a feast in the mead-hall to celebrate his arrival and potential slaying of Grendel. However, a man named Unferth is skeptical of Beowulf and the strength of which he claims to have. He challenges Beowulf by telling a version of a swimming contest between Beowulf and Breca. He asks him, “