Beowulf Values

The Anglo-Saxon society that inhabited Britain from 449-1066 was composed of Germanic warriors who idolized honor, strength, and war. In the epic poem Beowulf, the beliefs regarding these values were displayed. “Behavior that's admired is the path to power among people everywhere”(“Prologue” 25-26). This quote demonstrates how people would strive to be the best warrior they could possibly be to attain honor and admiration from others. By showing how strong and dedicated one was through battle, he would become respected by the other warriors in the clan. The efforts made by warriors in battles were displayed during funerals. For example, when Shield Sheafson died, “Far fetched treasures were piled upon him, and precious gear.”(Prologue 37-38).
Throughout the epic, Beowulf demonstrated his strength as a warrior and a leader. When Grendel arrived at Herot, the other warriors “could not scratch at his skin, for that sin-stained demon had bewitched all men's weapons, laid spells that blunted every mortal man's blade.”(92-94). Beowulf took charge and used his own hands to fight and eventually defeat Grendel since his fellow men could not do so. This conveys how Beowulf was not only physically strong in battle, but how he took charge to defeat Grendel since the others were unable to. Beowulf also took it upon himself to battle Grendel's mother, which was where he utilized “the best of all weapons / But so massive that no ordinary man could lift / Its carved and decorated length. He drew it.”(244-246). Since a normal man would have been unable to life the sword, this event in the text displays how Beowulf is an epic hero. An epic hero is often characterized by possessing an immense amount of strength, which Beowulf had from being able to utilize the sword and defeat Grendel's mother. His strength as a warrior and a leader is what classifies Beowulf as a quintessential epic