Beowulf Essay Some people see similarities in today's society with the poem Beowulf. I believe that our society has many characteristics that can be viewed as similar with Beowulf. The roles in the story portray the way people are in today’s society. Beowulf has comparison to the real world as he is in the story: He is a arrogant being, a loyal being, and a ruler for all the land.…
In the epic Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, Beowulf’s first intention when traveling to the Daneland was to keep his father’s friendship with Hrothgar intact. Although Beowulf had a sounds cause for traveling to the Daneland, the fame and glory Beowulf later received became his main focus and motivated him to continue entering life threatening battles. This piece of literature showcases the accomplishments and celebrations of a young Geat named Beowulf. Throughout the entire epic, Beowulf has many achievements which influence his god-like appearance within the Anglo-Saxon society. The average reader may be so mesmerized with his talents, they might overlook the fact that Beowulf continues to enter battles in order to boost his self…
During the Anglo Saxon era in England, a valiant and brave warrior was one of the most valuable assets a king could have. Due to this, much of the writing from this period were epics and tales with a heroic warrior as the main character. One of the most famous examples or archetypes of this type of writing is the epic poem Beowulf. In this story, the main character, Beowulf, is a marvelous warrior and possesses many of the various Anglo Saxon traits. There are three categories of characteristics in Beowulf that are particularly effective and intriguing, and those include: The lord providing rewards for a warrior’s service, the values…
Great works of literature are interesting in numerous ways, but especially for their ideas. In other words, such texts compel our attention for the thoughts they express. Certainly this is true of the anonymous Old English epic titled Beowulf, which describes how a young hero helps his friends and his people by defeating three different ferocious monsters. This poem perfectly exemplifies many of the most common ideas of Anglo-Saxon literature. For example, it illustrates such important ideas as hierarchy and patriarchy. These two ideas (hierarchy and patriarchy) play an important role in the story of Beowulf. Moreover, a patriarchal society (with a limited role of women) is essential to Beowulf, because it defines the warrior code that the men abide by in Beowulf.…
Gregory Bateson said, “Without context, words and actions have no meaning at all” (Mind and Nature 15). That quote may seem melodramatic, but surely you acknowledge the axiomatic certainty of the foundational importance of context. The proper context is imperative to understanding the content, and context is fundamental to understanding Beowulf. Warren Christopher said, “It's very important to always put statements in their historical contexts. It teaches important lessons about the country in question.” To assimilate the historical context of Beowulf you must envisage the time period it is set in, the culture at the time, and the technology. I will aid you in your comprehension of the cultural context primarily.…
The epic Beowulf is seen today as a fine representation of Anglo-Saxon nobility and ignobility. The setting is Denmark, land of Danish Anglo-Saxons that lived as the Vikings of the first millennia. Many characters in Beowulf are brutal warriors that would charge into battle hoping to find glory in battle or an honorable death that would send them to Valhalla. Despite a somewhat belligerent way of life, many lived by a code of honor and had a sturdy, thick moral fiber. This tale accurately details its characters as noble and ignoble in the eyes of an Anglo-Saxon by introducing them to deadly battles, wealth, and achievement.…
To understand the famous Anglo- Saxon hero Beowulf, one must understand the culture that created Beowulf. The Anglo- Saxons were influential, strong, and loyal people. Research has found that, “the Anglo- Saxons arrived in Britain in about 449 A.D.”(BBC). This shows that Anglo- Saxon culture has had an influence on American history for a long duration of time because they are still discussed today. And were probably some of the first heroes that ever lived. This culture showed a great deal of braveness throughout their time. The men were put in many different situations, but their daring drive, and courageousness allowed them to persevere. According to the Germanic (Anglo Saxon) Warrior, “A glorious and courageous death was the only fitting end to a glorious life” (Hammack). This statement shows that the men took pride in fighting to protect their citizens, no matter what adversities came their way. It also shows that they had no fear and dying to save someone else, which was a very brave thing to do. Another characteristic displayed in Anglo- Saxon culture was loyalty. The warriors would never leave any of their comrades behind in battle. Hammack described this idea in this way:…
For over thousands of years, a poem has been told and has been passed on through generations of families. This poem is called Beowulf. Beowulf is an old Anglo Saxon poem that got told throughout many years by scops and would be accompanied by a lyre. It was very famous and would be told often at different places where there were a lot of people. This poem is one of the first to be told in the old-english language. However after various years of being told it finally got written down. But recently, there have been various movies that have been produced that tell the poem of Beowulf, the warrior who fought bravely against monsters. In the Beowulf movie and poem, there are similarities and differences in the comportment of a hero, gender roles, and in the role of religion, which reveal themes that reflect both Anglo Saxon and modern societies.…
Beowulf is the stepping stone for the creation of many stories of good vs. evil, ending with the hero receiving unending praise and adoration. With that many of the people who read of the epic poem now relate to it on many levels, my belief is that the Christian elements throughout this poem make it more intriguing to the modern day peruser. The author of the poem is unknown but based on the style of wording used and the Paganistic elements it is believed to have originally been scribed by Christian monks. Beowulf is a 'story' that has been passed down for generations being used as entertainment by the Anglo-Saxons in 10th century England. The biblical jewels hidden throughout this story not only help a reader to relate to the author’s work…
Beowulf is an epic poem set in Scandinavia during the sixth century. This epic was originally handed down through generations in spoken form by traveling minstrels. It was finally put in writing during the eleventh century. The poem reflects the culture of the time and the Anglo Saxon era. Beowulf is well known in Great Britain as a hero and great warrior. Beowulf exemplifies the traits of the Anglo-Saxon warrior code which include courage, confidence, and pride.…
Many human characteristics derive from the imperative trait of self-interest. This egoistic personality can be observed through the ages. A resulting characteristic from this self-centered behavior is the ambition for a lasting legacy. Self-centered behavior creates an aspiration for a legacy because people want their own names to be well remembered. Therefore, a legacy can create an illusion of immortality and have an eternal impact on future generations. In the epic poem Beowulf, Shield Sheafson, Hrothgar, and Beowulf display a will for a legacy. The Scop reveals the desire for a lasting legacy as an archetypal human trait because a legacy decreases the fear of death by providing a form of immortality and as a result can be seen throughout human history.…
In the epic poem Beowulf told by the Anglo- Saxons, the main character Beowulf shares some of the qualities that traditional heroes have. He shows bravery, fairness, responsibilities, and ambition. Throughout the whole poem, Beowulf’s actions characterize him as a hero. He puts himself in harm's way to protect his people and the people of Herot from the wicked monster Grendel. Beowulf never once ran from his battles against the monsters he faced. This shows the reader that he is truly a heroic figure.…
Based on a culture’s heroes, one can determine what the society’s values are. Beowulf represented the ultimate fighter of the Anglo-Saxon period, and what they considered to be the best characteristics for an individual to have (Allin 2016). He was the hero of lone combat against two horrifying monsters (Beowulf n.d.). He was incredibly valiant in his fights, as well as courageous (Beowulf n.d.). His story was told as an inspiration to young boys. They would want to be remembered as well as Beowulf was, and would be willing to do a great deal in order to ensure that they were successful warriors. The Anglo-Saxons were a Viking nation, always pillaging one nation or another…
Although Beowulf is a work of fiction, it is also an epic poem. Therefore, its story represented the culture and history of its characters, the Anglo-Saxons. Epic poems were stories of heroes and legends that were written during or near the time period in which their characters lived. They were meant to share the culture and history of the people with future generations and others around the world. Because of this, Beowulf is an accurate account of the culture, including the religion, of the Anglo-Saxons in the sixth century, the time period in which Beowulf takes place. Historically, Beowulf takes place sometime after the Anglo-Saxon people traveled from Germany to England and settled there. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle states that in A.D. 449, “then came the men from three powers of Germany; the Old Saxons, the Angles and the Jutes” (48). Once the Anglo-Saxons arrived in England, they began to be influenced by the…
Despite numerous cultural and technological advancements, life in America today continues to resemble the Anglo-Saxon world. Although it may take time and some loss of pride to admit it, since characteristics of human nature have stayed the same in the work place as to personal relationships, the similarities between the two worlds are remarkable. A king or the modern-day boss chooses the best worker in the land through their experience in battle or a resume of previous employment. The king/boss provides rewards with ha share of his wealth/salaries with the warrior/employee promising in return to remain loyal and ready to die in battle for the greatesat challenge. If a battle is won or a deal is closed, an ideal lord/boss , whose greatest characteristics is generosity, will divid the treasure amoun his danes, or award a big bonus check to his employees.…