Beowulf

8/6/2012

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Assignment #1: Beowulf

Points Value: 100

Due Date: Tuesday, August 14 by 5:00 P.M. (10% off each day late/Zero after Thursday, 8/16 at 5:00 P.M.)

Discuss the view of the Anglo-Saxon culture and lifestyle that is provided by the epic poem Beowulf. Consider the following questions:

1. What epic heroic characteristics are reflected in the thoughts and actions of the characters and the narrator?

2. What human concerns does the narrator raise?

3. What kinds of characters have been created to represent these concerns?

4. What hopes, desires and fears do these characters possess?

5. What details are provided to help you envision how (and how successfully) each character tries to achieve what he or she wants?

6. What words/phrases demonstrate these traits?

A minimum of 300 words is required. See the rubric for additional requirements.

49 Comments

MccarthyS

8/7/2012 06:37:50 am

The Anglo-Saxon culture presented in Beowulf is one of kings, queens, warriors, and heroes. As in any civilization, there are many basic needs such as food, shelter, water, and companionship, but the main need raised by the narrator is protection and a feeling of security. Threats come not only from Grendel, but also from other kingdoms and from within the kingdom of Heorot. To solve the problem of uncertainty and danger in everyday life, the Anglo-Saxons created a model of a perfect human, known as the epic hero. Throughout the poem Beowulf, the definition of an epic hero is shaped from several different viewpoints. The narrator and the Danes seem to consider epic heroes as fearless and ruthless warriors. For example, Shield Sheafson, a fierce warrior king, is the most honored among the Danes, for he started the great civilization of the Scyldings. As the poem says, “There was Shield Sheafson, scourge of many tribes,/ a wrecker of mead-benches, rampaging among foes./ This terror of the hall-troops had come far/…That was one good king.”(4-11). Beowulf is considered an epic hero by all characters and the narrator. Beowulf is strong, fierce, fearless, calm, confident, selfless and a true savior. He will fight to the death for honor. In the poem Hrothgar discusses Beowulf, saying, “A crew of seamen who sailed for me once/ with a gift-cargo across to Geatland/ returned with marvelous tales about him:/ a thane, they declared, with the strength of thirty/ in the grip of each hand. Now Holy God/ has guided him here/ to the West-Danes, to defend us from Grendel.” (377-383). Just the fact the he sailed the ocean from Geatland to save the Danes from Grendel is a very honorable effort. Beowulf appears to have no fears; his confidence is solid. In Geatland, Beowulf tries to protect his people by attempting to slay the dragon, but he fails. Before the battle, he says, “I risked my life/ often when I was young. Now I am old,/ but as king of the people I shall pursue this fight/ for the glory of winning, if the evil one will only/ abandon his earth-fort and face me in the open.” (2511-2515). This quote demonstrates Beowulf’s everlasting and true heroic qualities. As Beowulf dies, Wiglaf slays the dragon in Beowulf’s place, and he becomes a new hero.
Other characters present in the poem, such as Hrothgar, Wealtheow, Hrothgar’s thanes, and the coast guard are created to protect their countries in their own individual ways. Hrothgar is the core of the Danes; he provides leadership and does his best to keep them safe from outside enemies. Hrothgar fears for himself and his family because of Grendel. Although he most likely hoped for someone within his kingdom to take down the beast, so he could maintain his pride, his wishes were answered with someone from another land. Hrothgar was once considered a hero for his success in war and building the greatest mead-hall in the land. Wealtheow, although not a warrior, keeps peace within the mead-hall. She diffuses tense situations with her beauty and grace. The narrator describes her refinement, saying, “So the Helming woman went on her rounds,/queenly and dignified, decked out in rings…With measured words she welcomed the Geats/ and thanked God for granting her wish/ that a deliverer she could believe in would arrive/ to ease their afflictions.” (620-627). Hrothgar’s thanes guard the mead-hall and do their best to protect the king and queen from Grendel. They also fight against foreign enemies who may threaten the sanctity of Heorot. Their biggest fears are fighting Grendel, although they valiantly guard the mead-hall every night. These warriors secretly wish that they could be the one to kill Grendel, which would award them with honor and endless recompense of glorious goods. The coast guard is created to protect the kingdom from enemies abroad who may enter through the sea. The narrator describes the brave watchman, “So he rode to the shore,/ this horseman of Hrothgar’s, and challenged them/ in formal terms, flourishing his spear:” (234-236). They also fear foreign enemies and hope for peace. It is clear that dragons, demons, and sea-monsters derived from Caine are not completely real, but that they are exaggerated symbols of the fears and worries of the Anglo-Saxon people. Living in a much more advanced era, it is known that “sea-demons” were probably just whales and sharks. Anglo-Saxons had to compensate in order to survive in a time of such insecurity, so the epic hero was made. Although not everyone can be an epic hero, each character is a hero in their own way, courageously putting their kingdom before themselves.

SHayet

8/8/2012 09:32:27 am

Most high school students who read "Beowulf" would probably say that they cannot relate to this epic poem. After all, the title character is an epic hero, and most people would not be able capable of Beowulf’s many feats. It is completely understandable, then, that these students would dismiss "Beowulf" as outdated, perhaps even silly. However, just because it is understandable does not mean that they are right. In fact, the Anglo-Saxon world of "Beowulf" is not that different from the world students live in today.
It is true that Beowulf certainly fits all of the requirements of an epic hero. He has super human strength, impressive leadership skills, a sharp mind, bravery, and an unquenchable thirst for glory, just to name a few. He is willing to put himself in the line of danger to save the Danes, and later the Geats, even if it means his own death. He is also devotedly religious, often accrediting God with his deeds, such as prior to his fight with Grendel when the narrator says, “...Beowulf was mindful of his might strength,/the wondrous gifts God had showered on him:/He relied for help on the Lord of All, on His care and favour.” (89) If readers find this challenging to relate to, then Beowulf is serving his purpose as a character. He is what the author feels people should aspire to be but rarely are, which, of course gives us a good sense of the time period. The author, though, does do his best to make Beowulf slightly more human, as opposed to superhuman, with his fault: his desire for glory. This need to be a hero, and then continue to live up to the expectations of others’ ultimately leads to his doom with the dragon.
This idea of glory is so prevalent in the story, as it was vital to those living in the Anglo-Saxon era. Being a hero, or at least dying a heroic death, is the main aspiration of most of the men. Unferth is jealous of Beowulf because of this, as he can never be the hero Beowulf naturally is. It is demonstrated, too, when Beowulf says to Unferth, “Often, for undaunted courage/fate spares the man it has not already marked.” (39) In other words, being a hero is seen as so important that fate will even reward men for their brave acts. This idea of glory and valor is still prevalent in the world today, as shown by the idolization of athletes and celebrities, as well as in contemporary literature such as John Green’s "The Fault in our Stars."
As shown in the last quote, fate plays a part in "Beowulf." Beowulf and the narrator often speak of destiny and in one passage, Beowulf says, “Fate goes ever as fate must.” (31) In our modern world, most people have a strong belief in free-will and scoff at the idea of predetermination, something which the Anglo-Saxons believed in whole-heartedly. This ties in with the religious undertones of the book, which combined can be difficult for secular high school students. However, the theme of destiny is still important because it tells the reader about Anglo-Saxon life, and the reader also gets to see how the narrator looks down on the Dane’s pagan rituals. Really, though, it is not so distant from modern ideas. The phrases, “Everything happens for a reason” and “It’s all apart of God’s plan” are still popular to the point of being cliché. Just turning on the television shows that people have not let go of the idea of fate or an all-powerful God; the commercials for Christian Mingle, with the slogan “Find God’s match for you,” prove that much.
One further focus in "Beowulf" is that of good versus evil. Grendel is meant to serve as the representation of sin, just as Beowulf is supposed to represent all that is good. Human weakness is also looked down upon many times throughout the story, including Beowulf’s final fight with the dragon. It is seen as its own form of sin, practically. At one point, Beowulf’s thane, Wiglaf, says, “As God is my witness,/I would rather my body were robed in the same/burning blaze as my gold-giver’s body/than go back home bearing arms./That is unthinkable/” (179) Wiglaf is representative of pure goodness and strength. The thanes who abandon Beowulf, however, are supposedly the cause of future turmoil for the Danes because of their cowardice. This is certainly still pertinent. Even in today’s time, boys are taught from a young age that they should not cry or show fear. Those living in the Anglo-Saxon era evidently thought this way, and people continue to do so in modern times.
Lastly, "Beowulf" deals with mortality. It is quite easy to see how this is a common thread between the past and the present. Although everyone knows they must die, death is still a frightening and unwelcome concept. Even when Beowulf knows his death is eminent, he still wants to live. As the narrator states, “For the son of Ecgtheow, it was no easy thing/to have to give ground like tha

Jeffrey Diament

8/10/2012 06:05:35 am

Beowulf was written around 750 AD during the Anglo-Saxon era, so it accurately reflects many aspects of the culture during that time period. Beowulf, the protagonist of the poem, is an epic hero who represents the ideal man of the time in terms of character, strength, and bravery. In addition to the heroic traits the narrator also brings up human concerns such as fear, jealousy, revenge, and loyalty. The characters in the poem embody many of those concerns and also have individual aspirations, which they strive to achieve. The Anglo-Saxon writing style contains literary devices unique to the time period such as kennings and also ones that are still common today such as alliterations, epithets, and metaphors. The characters, themes, and language found in the epic poem, Beowulf, reveal many details about Anglo-Saxon culture and lifestyle.
The presence of an epic hero in the novel shows that such figures were looked upon with much respect and admiration during the time period. Beowulf, the son of King Hygelac, is a male born into a prominent position in society. He then makes an epic voyage across the sea to help King Hrothgar’s people. Beowulf’s duel with Grendel will determine the fate of the Danes, and he enters the battle with extraordinary courage. His bravery is supported by his super human strength and fighting prowess; Beowulf is confident enough to say, “I count myself as dangerous any day as Grendel” (677-678). Even when Beowulf is preparing to enter Grendel’s lair he shows no fear, which causes Unferth, one of his biggest critics, to respect and support him. Hrothgar, King of the Danes, also shows how much heroes are appreciated when he rewards Beowulf with many gifts. Furthermore, Beowulf embodies valued traits such as loyalty, which is demonstrated when he gave his rewards to his uncle and mentor, Lord Hygelac. Even during his last moments fighting the dragon, Beowulf stays fearless and trusts that fate will determine the proper outcome of the battle.
Many people living during the time period were not as brave as Beowulf; in fact many characters in the poem are terrified of the monster ravaging Heorot. The narrator helps convey these fears through the use of kennings and alliterations. For example, he describes Grendel as the “shadow-stalker, stealthy and swift” (704). Many of the Danes just want to survive Grendel’s attacks, however, some of them can’t achieve what they want. The gruesome recollection of Grendels murder and consumption of one of the guards helps show why the Danes are so mortified of night time in Heorot.
Another human concern that Beowulf lacks is jealousy. Unferth, who is regarded as somewhat of a hero before Beowulf’s arrival, is “sick with envy” (502). Unferth just wants to be looked upon as a great warrior and he doesn’t like that Beowulf is taking the attention away from him. In an attempt to degrade Beowulf, he questions the warrior’s strength and bravery. However, Unferth’s heroic façade is revealed when it comes time to enter Grendel’s lair. He is shown to actually be a coward and not a hero, who was just greedy for the rewards and fame that a hero receives.
A need for revenge is one of mankind’s most unfortunate qualities, and it is very prevalent in the epic poem. The tribal wars that occur in the poem all seem to stem from revenge for lost lives, land, or treasure. Grendel’s mother, although not entirely human, is the epitome of a revenge-crazed character. After she learned about her son’s defeat, she became “grief-racked and ravenous, desperate for revenge” (1278). Her need to avenge Grendel’s death causes many more to die in the mead hall. Despite her success in avenging her son’s death and stealing back his bloodied hand, Beowulf kills her in the end.
Some human characters in the poem did display noble qualities similar to those found in the hero, such as loyalty and honor. Wiglaf is a prime example of a man who embodies those traits. While the rest of his army abandoned Beowulf when they saw the dragon, Wiglaf “displayed his inborn bravery and strength” (2697), and fought beside his king until the end. Wiglaf’s main concern is to care for his king and honor his wishes. Although he was not able to save Beowulf, he was at least able to fulfill the king’s final demands.
Beowulf depicts an accurate view of what life was like during the Anglo-Saxon era. The epic hero in the poem embodies the ideal-character traits from the time period. In addition to his strong morals, Beowulf shows super-human bravery and strength, which ultimately help him triumph over evil. The way Beowulf was revered and showered with gifts shows how much heroes were treasured during that time period. However, many people from that time were just ordinary individuals who struggled with feelings of terror, envy, and venge

Jeffrey Diament

8/14/2012 01:49:07 pm

ance. The characters that were created to embody those negative traits usually did not achieve their goals, which shows that those qualities were undesirable. There were also people with honorable qualities such as dedication to a king. Society back then favored people who were strong, brave, and loyal while they looked down upon those who were weak, scared, and jealous. These ideas about the culture and lifestyle of Anglo-Saxon times are strongly conveyed to reader due to the distinctive poetic language and strong character development in Beowulf.

JD

Emily Lang

8/11/2012 05:49:00 am

The epic poem Beowulf portrays Anglo-Saxon ideals through the tale of a courageous warrior. Initially, Beowulf symbolizes the honorable heroic qualities central to the Dark Ages: divine strength, bold valiance, and unrelenting loyalty to one’s kingdom. However, as the novel progresses, the reader ponders whether Beowulf is worthy of his celebrated reputation or if he is merely a narcissistic murderer.

Throughout Beowulf’s ventures in the Land of the Danes, he proves himself to be an admirable hero. For instance, as Beowulf commences his quest to defeat Grendel, a destructive beast, the Danish coastguard extols Beowulf for his magnificent audacity; “Never before has a force under arms/ disembarked so openly – not bothering to ask/ if the sentries allowed them safe passage/ or the clan had consented.” Additionally, the narrator emphasizes the significance of heroes in the Anglo-Saxon society by virtually deifying Beowulf. When Beowulf battles Grendel, the narrator depicts the hero’s superior power with phrases such as: “a handgrip harder than anything/ he [Grendel] had ever encountered in any man/ on the face of the earth.” The narrator also illuminates Beowulf’s loyalty to the Geats when he leaves the Danes, who honor him as a celebrated hero, to return to his homeland where his capabilities have been underestimated.

It is not until Beowulf becomes king of Geatland that the narrator challenges the reader to consider the true definition of a hero. In the barbarous Dark Ages, heroes are honored for being strong, loyal, and courageous leaders, as well as for being murderous warriors. Therefore, when King Beowulf approaches an opportunity to slay the dragon and further inflate his reputation as a hero, he cannot resist, despite his old age and declining strength. Although Beowulf exemplifies courage when he challenges the dragon single-handedly, he fails to recognize that his death would wreak havoc on the unprotected Geats, making them vulnerable to attacks from neighboring nations. In indulging his selfish desires, Beowulf actually betrays the Geats, who need Beowulf’s leadership as a king more than his skill as a combatant. The reader realizes that a true hero cares more for his kingdom than for his own superior status.

In contrast, during Beowulf’s fight with the dragon, Wiglaf, a Geatish warrior, demonstrates his loyalty to the Geats by joining Beowulf in battle, despite the likeliness of death. Wiglaf fears the fate of the Geats and sacrifices his well-being for the benefit of his kingdom; “ I would rather my body were robed in the same/ burning blaze as my gold-giver’s body/ than go back home bearing arms.” The narrator thereby suggests that loyalty to one’s kingdom has a greater value than self-regard, and that the Anglo-Saxon culture fails to recognize the disparity between selfish murder and heroic leadership.

EDL

Dan Verderese

8/11/2012 08:38:56 am

The Anglo-Saxon culture is best described in their literature as brave, loyal, generous and friendly deriving from Germanic roots. Their governing system was built on the fundamental of loyalty and without the faithful adherence to a sovereign, the Anglo-Saxon culture could not have survived. The epic poem Beowulf thoroughly depicts a Germanic warrior society, in which the relationship between the lord of the region and those who served under him was of paramount importance. The poem also contains characters that perfectly portray the ideals of the Anglo-Saxon society.
Beowulf is the quintessential hero throughout the entire poem. His strength and courage are unparalleled, and he is much more honorable than the warriors around him. He displays his strength repeatedly whether he is fighting Grendel, Grendel’s mother, or a massive dragon. An Anglo-Saxon hero must also display an unwavering devotion to his homeland and Beowulf constantly refers to his loyalty to his lord, Hygelac. Furthermore, Beowulf is exalted by the Danes after his victories, but he refuses kingship and humbly returns home and gives away all of his hard-earned treasures. Beowulf is described as having “the strength of thirty men in just one arm,” but he is also noted as being “the mildest of men and the gentlest, kindest to his people, and most eager for fame.” Another important aspect of Anglo-Saxon society Beowulf shows repeatedly is his generosity and friendliness towards other nations such as Denmark. He claims that he “heard how Grendel filled nights with horror and quickly commanded a boat fitted out, to that famous king would sail across the sea to Hrothgar.” Beowulf is willing to risk his life in a battle with this horrific monster in order to help a neighboring ally, which makes him a highly respected warrior. There is no other character in the poem that portrays the ideals of the Anglo-Saxon society quite like Beowulf making him the epitome of an epic hero.
Although Beowulf is the protagonist of the story, he is not the only warrior who displays the Anglo-Saxon ideas. Wiglaf, an ally soldier of Beowulf stays loyal to his lord at all times. At the end of the poem when Beowulf is in the middle of fighting the dragon and the flames billow, Beowulf’s companions run in fear. Wiglaf is the only one who feels loyal enough to come to the aid of his king. He scolds the other warriors, reminding them of their oaths of service to Beowulf and he explains how the time has come when their loyalty will be tested. When no one decides to go with him, Wiglaf sets off by himself to assist his lord. Beowulf respects Wiglaf for coming to his side and as Beowulf is dying he tells Wiglaf that he must now look after the Geats. After his lord dies, Wiglaf is filled with grief and rebukes his fellow warriors bitterly when they return declaring that all of Beowulf’s great generosity has been wasted on them. The other warriors are cowards and are not willing to face an honorable death to protect their king, which causes them to be the subject of pugnacity from Wiglaf. Beowulf, throughout the poem, shows constant bravery, courage, and generosity, and so does his new successor, Wiglaf.
The anonymous author of Beowulf gives a detailed depiction of an Anglo-Saxon society that displays many characteristics of their Germanic ancestry. Fate and interaction with the divine were key factors to people during the setting of Beowulf and Beowulf himself brings up an Almighty throughout the epic poem. Loyalty to companions and sovereigns was the most important thing to the Geats and Danes and the noblest characters always show an unwavering loyalty throughout the story. This epic poem was written centuries ago, but the themes that are presented in it and the ideals of the Anglo-Saxon society are still relevant to our society today.

Connor Walsh

8/12/2012 09:36:10 am

The Anglo-Saxon culture and lifestyle is fully embodied throughout the epic poem, Beowulf. Their culture seemed to revolve around the heroics and bravery of the heroes in the epic poem. The character, Beowulf, possesses many heroic qualities such as bravery, strength, and intelligence. He uses these key components in his fights against Grendel and his mother. However, as Beowulf matures, he begins to gain other important traits such as loyalty, courtesy, and pride. This is further displayed when Hygelac dies and it is time for an heir to take the throne. Instead of rushing for the throne himself, as Hrothulf does in Denmark, he supports Hygelac’s son, the rightful heir. “And a young prince must be prudent like that, giving freely while his father lives so that afterwards in age when fighting starts steadfast companions will stand by him and hold the line. Behaviour that’s admired is the path to power among people everywhere.” (20-25) This is a reference to Beow and his descendant, Hrothgar, as it shows the key features needed to become a wise and noble king. Wiglaf’s role in the poem is to represent the future of brave and noble men, as he stands by his king, Beowulf, in a battle that can almost be considered suicidal.
The narrator poses many concerns about the human race and utilizes various characters to symbolize them throughout Beowulf. Grendel represents resentment and spitefulness as he seems to long to be reinstated in the world. Grendel is cited as being a part of “Cain’s clan, whom the creator had outlawed / and condemned as outcasts.” (106-107) Grendel did not choose his own fate and almost seems to desire companionship of some kind, although he has not been granted it. Unferth is an embodiment of jealousy as he is upset over the attention that Beowulf receives and the fact that he could not protect Heorot himself. “Beowulf's coming, his sea-braving, made him sick with envy: he could no brook or abide the fact that anyone else alive under heaven might enjoy greater regard than he did…” (501-505) Unferth then chastises Beowulf and attempts to diminish his greatness, by telling an untrue story about Beowulf’s swimming contest with Breca. Lastly, Grendel’s mother symbolizes the human motivation of vengeance. Distraught about the death of her son, the mother of Grendel begins to terrorize Heorot and later attempts to kill Beowulf. The people of Heorot had no personal vendetta against Grendel’s mother, yet she angers and threatens Heorot simply because she is in a blind rage. This attempt at revenge later leads to her brutal decapitation at the hands of Beowulf.
Each character in the poem has many hopes and desires. The most important one appears to be every person’s attempt at establishing their own identity. The poem lists almost every character as “son of…” When speaking about their identity, every character refers to their family’s lineage and the heroic deeds that their ancestors accomplished. Every character wants to create his or her own story and have their name be remembered forever. Beowulf chooses to fight Grendel and save Heorot, but never seems to do it from the goodness in his heart. It may be that he partially wanted to perform more heroic deeds, so that his identity will always be known. This may also be a fear, as nobody in the poem wants to taint their family’s history, thus having heavy expectations placed upon them from birth. Unferth symbolizes this by being terrified of Grendel and him having killed his brothers which Beowulf states will lead to “damnation in the depths of hell…” (589) Every character also desires glory in the many events that transpire throughout their life. Along with being remembered in the future, they want to be known in the present time as a great hero. “It is always better to avenge dear ones than to indulge in mourning. For every one of us, living in this world means waiting for our end. Let whoever can win glory before death. When a warrior is gone, that will be his best and only bulwark.”(1384-1389) These warriors choose death over life by performing near-impossible tasks. This desire eventually leads to Beowulf’s tragic death by fighting a dragon one-on-one in an attempt to increase his glory. However, Beowulf’s glory in combat is already well-known and always will be.

Rachel Zacharczyk (RZ)

8/13/2012 12:00:59 am

RZ
In the Anglo-Saxon time, a man would be judged primarily upon the hierarchy he is born into and how he conducts himself. Heroes were typically the most courageous, strong and eloquent leaders of society. In Seamus Heaney’s translation of Beowulf, among the noblest of men is Beowulf, “son of Ecgtheow” and “kinsman of Hygelac”—“the mightiest man on earth,/ high-born and powerful” (197-198). Beowulf is the epitome of an epic hero; he ventures into foreign lands to fight “hell-dams” and avenge his kith and kin; he is viewed to be the ideal ruler of a nation. He knows of his power and capability and, with pride, displays it in his formal boasts as he asks to fight independently—letting the outcome be the Lord’s wish—in his duels with the “God-cured brutes” that wreak havoc upon the land.
A noble man like Beowulf either fulfills his boasts or dies trying, otherwise it is his fear of failure to protect his people would humiliate him: “I meant to perform to the uttermost/ what your people wanted or perish in the attempt,/ in the fiend’s [Grendel’s] clutches. And I shall fulfill that purpose,/ prove myself with a proud deed / or meet my death” (634-638). Similarly, Wiglaf, the young soldier who helps Beowulf defeat the dragon, tells his fellow, cowering soldiers, “I would rather my body were robed is the same/ blaze my gold-giver’s [Beowulf’s] body/ than go back home bearing arms.” Wiglaf is the most loyal, noble, and brave and the least greedy of the soldiers that follow Beowulf to his final duel; he says that the other soldiers should feel ashamed for not fulfilling their responsibility of helping Beowulf fight the Dragon.
The Dragon and King Hrothgar experience failure to carry out a responsibility as well. Due to hubris, the “hoard-guard” fails to prevent a mere human from stealing a golden cup from his “earth-gallery” of treasures. Because of his own experiences, King Hrothgar warns Beowulf of such dangers that occur with arrogance and power in lines1736-1755:
“His [a man in the peak of his power] mind is untroubled/ by envy or malice or the thought of enemies/ with their hate-honed swords…Because of the good things/ that the Heavenly Powers gave to him in the past/ he ignores the shape of things to come./ Then finally the end arrives/ when the body he was lent collapses and falls/ prey to its death.”
The Anglo-Saxons seems to explain all occurrences as the working of fate. Beowulf speaks often of the wish of the Lord. In lines 683-687, preceding Beowulf’s quarrel with Grendel, Beowulf says, “No weapons, therefore,/ for either this night: unarmed he shall face me if face me he dares. And may the Divine Lord/ in His wisdom grand the glory of victory/ to whichever side He sees fit.” Referring to Beowulf’s battle with the Dragon, the Narrator says “that final day was the first time/ when Beowulf fought and fat denied him glory in battle” (2573-2575). Unlike the “hell-brutes”, who are dubbed heathenish, Anglo-Saxon peoples are strong believers in predetermined fate.
To celebrate God’s gift of victory, Beowulf takes pride in presenting “trophies” of the body parties of the enemies he kills to King Hrothgar and his company. The trophy after Beowulf’s fight with Grendel is Grendel’s arm, and after his fight with Grendel’s mom, the trophy is Grendel’s head. Beowulf and his soldiers are presented gifts by the King and his family; the King is hospitable to his guests and generous in his gift giving—a lot of gold, some horses, adoption into his heart and much acclaim at joyous feasts.
Anglo-Saxon culture and lifestyle in Beowulf is demonstrated by the actions and words of the characters. The epic poem exhibits a keen leader with the goal to gain fame through kindness, fairness and graciousness (3180-3182).
RZ

Diana Lee

8/13/2012 10:53:23 am

Diana Lee
Ms. Hanley
AP English III
14 August 2012

Anglo-Saxon Culture and Lifestyle

Short Synopsis: Beowulf, an epic poem, describes the hero Beowulf trooping with his fourteen men and arrives at the place of Heorot, a mead-hall in the Danes. Here he finds that the king of the Danes, Hrothgar, is terrified by a monster called Grendel. Beowulf manages to kill Grendel and the monster’s mother at their dwelling beneath a lake. After his heroic accomplishments, he returns to his country, Scandinavia, and becomes the king, ruling his kingdom for fifty years. Later on he dies by fighting with a dragon, which he successfully kills.

Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, is an imposing epic poem in Anglo-Saxon literature. By culture, to be a hero was to be a warrior. Beowulf, a Geatish hero who is the utmost moral and valiant of all characters, presents the notion of this culture and lifestyle by his prestigious endeavors.
An Anglo-Saxon warrior was willing to fight to his death for glory and to bring salvation upon a nation and its people; he had to execute countless glorious feats and face imminent adversities. He had to surmount all of these encounters and display certain traits such as strength, loyalty, modesty, courage, and acumen. Beowulf accomplishes many deeds and displays all of the characteristics presented. He faces an external conflict with inhumane foes and an internal conflict with human tendencies of pride, greed, and self-concern. Beowulf is well defined as a true Anglo-Saxon warrior.
Several examples that support Beowulf’s title as an Anglo-Saxon hero are presented in the poem. In line 247, it pronounces, “Nor have I seen a mightier man-at-arms on this earth than the one standing here…” This quote refers to Beowulf’s appearance of great strength. His strength is one of the principal aspects that contribute to his accomplishments of grand deeds. Not only is strength a major quality of a true warrior, but also courage. In line 435, it states, “Therefore to heighten Hyglec’s fame and gladden his heart, I hereby renounce sword and the shelter of the broad shield, the heavy war-board…” This line displays Beowulf’s great audacity and valor; he is willing to fight Grendel without any weapons. Even when Beowulf knows fate is against him and he is going to die, he continues to keep fighting to protect his fame and glory. Beowulf’s boastful self-confidence, his overpowering strength, and his victories in battle make him a classic legendary hero and a model for the Anglo Saxon culture.
Throughout this poem, the narrator tends to speak with a tone of formality. The poem itself seems to have a tone of formality, including the characters. However, the narrator also uses several different tones as well. When a character performs some type of heroic action, the narrator acclaims him and becomes sycophantic; when a character fails at something, the narrator becomes somber.
Human concerns are raised by the narrator throughout the context of this poem such as human nature, social relations, and activity. As for human nature, characters in this poem are generally virtuous people and are altruistic, but some can have a degree of egoism and jealousy. In terms of social relations, Beowulf acts as a superior model and others are willing to follow him. Beowulf strives for fame and glory and reaches his potential by achieving success through epic battles, which identifies the human concern of activity. Characters that have been created to represent these concerns are Beowulf, King Hrothgar, the ruler of the Danes, Unferth, a Danish warrior who is inferior to Beowulf, Wiglaf, a retainer of Beowulf, and Breca, Beowulf’s childhood friend. Although Beowulf seems like a hero with no qualms of his own, he did have one apprehension - the demise of his people. All the characters have some fear, and many hopes and desires. Their ambition for peace and glory brings upon fear and worries as a consequence.
Beowulf is a hero who exemplifies the ideal characteristics in the Anglo-Saxon culture; these characteristics all come together to make up an epic tale. He possesses the virtues, traits and beliefs that were respected in the Anglo-Saxon culture. Beowulf displays these virtues in his own actions and words during different circumstances throughout the tale. The classic poem Beowulf provides the view of Anglo-Saxon literature and culture through its characters and their virtues.

Matthew Fullerton

8/13/2012 11:01:37 am

Literature is just one of many ways to gain insight into a culture, and an example would be understanding the Anglo-Saxon culture through the epic “Beowulf”. Throughout the epic poem, the narrator references many basic aspects of the culture. Besides that, the narrator helps portray the culture through the characters and specific scenes. Beowulf and Grendel are just a few of the characters the narrator uses to aid in the understanding of the culture. Through the characters’ emotions and characteristics, an understanding of the Anglo-Saxon culture can be achieved.
Throughout the epic poem, Beowulf displays a myriad of heroic characteristics through his actions and the narrator. The most obvious characteristics are bravery and courage. Beowulf not only travels to the land of the Danes to aid Hrothgar and kill Grendel, but he does so with a positive attitude that shows no fear. Additionally, Beowulf shows great leadership throughout the poem, especially when he rallies his men in the fight with Grendel. Besides that, the narrator raises some human concerns which contribute to the understanding of the culture. These concerns include fear, death, and destruction. Some representations of these concerns include Grendel, the swamp-hag, and the dragon. The narrator states that the dragon, “… began to belch out flames and burn bright homesteads, there was a hot glow that scared everyone, for the vile sky-winger would leave nothing alive in his wake.” This helps visualize the death, destruction, and fear the dragon induces within the people.
Understanding the hopes, desires, and fears of Grendel, the swamp-hag, and the dragon help the reader identify components of the Anglo-Saxon culture. For example, Grendel’s hopes and desires are to devastate the Danes under Hrothgar’s rule by causing destruction to Heorot and killing its people, ever since the bell’s there began ringing. Grendel has no fears until he reaches a formidable foe, Beowulf, who can kill him. During the fight with Beowulf, it’s stated that, “(Grendel) quailed and recoiled, but he could not escape. He was desperate to flee to his den…” The quote shows Grendel’s fear. In addition, many details can be found that visualize how each character tries to achieve what they want. To illustrate, Beowulf desires to kill Grendel and save the Danes under Hrothgar’s rule; so, during the epic the narrator explains how Beowulf puts Grendel in a hand-grip he has never experienced before, and then the narrator explains how Beowulf inflicted a large wound on Grendel’s arm. These instances help visualize Beowulf’s determination and success in defeating Grendel. One other method used to instill the reader with an idea of the culture is the use of words and phrases to describe a character’s successes and traits. For example, the narrator says that Beowulf inflicted a, “… resolute blow…” to the swamp-hag, and this phrase indicates Beowulf’s success by defeating another monster.
The epic poem, “Beowulf”, provides a basic view of the Anglo-Saxon culture and lifestyle. The characters’ characteristics, fears, and desires helps unveil this centuries old culture. Furthermore, comprehending the human concerns of the poem through the characters created to represent them and details of a character’s success help envision and interpret the culture. The epic poem “Beowulf” is not only a wonderful piece of literature but also provides a basic representation of the Anglo-Saxon culture.

-MJF

Elizabeth Howson

8/13/2012 11:15:26 am

Elizabeth Howson
Ms. Hanley
AP English III
7 August 2012
Beowulf: An Analysis
Throughout Beowulf, the narrator and the characters that are introduced as the plot unfolds for share special relationships. Throughout the work, the narrator and the characters both help the reader gain an understanding of how heroes were portrayed in early Anglo-Saxon literature. Each major character possesses all the major qualities a hero was expected to posses, ready to engage in battle with any creature or army that attacks in land or sea. These qualities, among others, allow the heroes written into this epic to stand out from the average: the bravery, the wisdom, the intelligence, the qualities that seemed only appropriate for the gods, fell to earth in the form of Beowulf himself.
The narrator exists to level out the almost inhuman qualities the characters, including Beowulf, seem to possess. It seems that Beowulf and other heroes are made out to be heroic in the sense that they are more godly than human. Being intelligent, wise, brave, and noble, these characters are set up to be heroes, despite what befalls them. The narrator exists to essentially humanize these characters that are somewhat blown out of proportion. After all, even Beowulf is reminded that “[his] piercing eye will dim and darken; and death will arrive… to sweep [him] away.” The narrator balances out the sense of pride the characters have, acting as a source of normality in a severely heroic world.
The characters portrayed in Beowulf, although heroic, do, in fact, have their weaknesses. These include hopes and desires, which unfortunately, are the very things that dilute a focused mind. And when the hero Beowulf is determined to save the lives of paralians along the coast, ready to accomplish his dream of killing the demonic monster that threaten his people and the people around him, the only obstacle that befalls him is his (however subtle) sense of doubt. As Beowulf is only human, he possesses fears just as any other, despite the fact that he is made out to be almost superhuman. The Anglo-Saxon culture focuses on the major characteristics of bravery and intelligence, but the very human dreams and fears humanize the characters enough to make them relatable and realistic.

Justin Silverberg

8/13/2012 12:06:47 pm

Justin Silverberg
Miss Hanley
AP Lang and Comp
8 August 2012
Beowulf the Hero
Good and bad is usually easy to tell the difference between, but things like perspective can change the way a reader judges a character. Beowulf by Seamus Heaney is an epic poem which is told from the character, Beowulf, point of view while he tries to save the Danes from a vicious character Grendel. Beowulf is a true leader and hero immediately due to the fact that he receives the undivided attention and respect of everyone who encounters him, but ultimately like any other epic hero, his hubris leads to his demise. Beowulf goes on a journey to save the Danes and Geats from dangerous monsters like a true hero would, but a combination of old age and too much hubris leads to Beowulf’s death at the hands of the dragon.
Throughout Beowulf, every character that is encountered has at least one heroic trait which is loyalty. Beowulf shows his great loyalty to his people and his father by taking on Grendel, and ultimately killing him. Before Beowulf arrives in Denmark, the Danes bravely guarded Heorot Hall even after many of their fellow soldiers are killed by Grendel. They all know they have a duty to their country, and they will stay loyal no matter what. Also, from Grendel’s mothers prospective, she stays loyal to him by trying to avenge his death. Loyalty also ties in with bravery because when it is time to face their biggest fears they all get over that sensation and they fight for their country and land.
The narrator throughout Beowulf almost spoils the poem by his great foreshadowing. Throughout the poem the narrator makes his fears open to the reader through foreshadowing or just simply stating something will happen. Beowulf starts out at Shield’s funeral which shows the reader that something is going to happen later at a funeral. “Shield was still thriving when his time came…His warrior band did what he bade them when he laid down the law among the Danes.” After Beowulf defeats Grendel they all celebrate together by drinking wine and receiving gifts. The narrator states, “how could they know fate, the grim shapes of things to come, the threat looming over many thanes…” The narrator is foreshadowing Grendel’s mother trying to avenge Grendel’s death, and perhaps even going as far as foreshadowing the dragon. This dinner really shows the start of Beowulf’s hubris as he is being praised by King Hrogthar, and the feeling of invincibility kicks in. Hanley created several other characters that possessed similar characteristics such as strength, loyalty, bravery, and cunning to represent the narrator’s fears that something bad is going to come. The only way to beat a beast is with another beast. These characters would be Grendel’s mom and the dragon.
The author creates several characters throughout the poem to cope with the narrators fears. These characters have a common goal and that is to be as powerful as possible. Grendel’s mom hopes to avenge her son’s death by trying to kill Beowulf. She does not fear Beowulf too much because she has nothing to lose knowing that her son is already dead, so she fights as hard as she can. The dragon is the third and final beast Beowulf faces on his journey. The dragon hopes to cause destruction to the Geats land as pay back for the thief who disturbed the dragon. He does not necessarily desire to do anything he is just simply mad for being disturbed. The narrator also portrays the dragon as being fearless when Beowulf and Wiglaf try to fight him. The dragon seems to think he is invincible.
The great detail that the author uses in describing how the characters try and achieve their hopes allows the reader to clearly understand what is going on. The use of imagery really brings out the true description of the current setting. “She came to Heorot… Dains lay asleep, earls who would soon endure a great reversal, once Grendel’s mother attacked and entered.” This quote is describing the moments before Grendel’s mother strikes, and it is a clear ominous and dark feel to the setting. The narrator describes the scene of Beowulf being captured by Grendel’s mom as, “Quickly the one who haunted those waters,… sensed a human observing her outlandish lair from above. She lunged and managed to catch him.” Grendel’s mom successfully catches Beowulf, but Beowulf finds a sword that will do great damage. “The Shieldings’ hero took a firm hold of the hold and swung the blade in an arc, a resolute blow that bit deep into her neck-bone.” Beowulf found a sword that no other man could use in battle, but his great hereoic strength saves his own life for the price of Grendel’s mother’s life. Beowulf’s third encounter comes at the hands of the dragon. “When the dragon awoke… writhing with anger when he saw the f

Phoebe Abramowitz

8/13/2012 12:38:06 pm

The characters and narrator of “Beowulf” exhibit characteristics of epic heroes portrayed through their thoughts and actions within the poem. While each character is extremely different from the others, they each have similar traits which the narrator uses to develop the plot. Grendel and Beowulf while opposite and enemies both reveal courage and bravery by supporting their own land and loved ones. Hrothgar, king of Denmark is trusting, due to his love for his land. He puts his confidence in Beowulf who is the son of Ecgtheow, a man Hrothgar did a favor for many years before. Beowulf is given this opportunity for multiple others reasons including his incredible physical vigor and his mental strength of optimism and determination. The narrator uses kennings often to provide the reader with ways of identifying the heroic characteristics in the poem. One specifically which is often used is “stout hearted” meaning bravery, as it is referred to Beowulf and his courage to put his own life on the line to protect the Danes.
The narrator, supplying the reader with imagery of war, brings about fear in many characters over the course of the poem. These concerns include fears of being mortal with facing death and defeat. Each character has strong faith in "the lord of all life" or god as the author refers to in this epithet. Hence, each character is pushing for victory and therefore has concerns of failure which are most likely to result in death. Equality is important to the Anglo-Saxon culture of the poem. Revenge is considered one way to bring equality, which ultimately leads to a never ending war with enemies. Concerns can then arise after being victorious, due to knowing that the supporters of ones enemy will want revenge on those who became superior. The desire for equality also leads to jealously such as Unferth has for Beowulf; which puts Beowulf in danger.
It is likely that the concerns of each character could turn into reality for a select few. This is why the author introduces characters to spark fear in others. Grendel’s mother is presented to show that revenge after victory is feasible and no one is safe. Unferth is introduced to prove that more than just enemies of countries exist. Unferth is an enemy of jealously which in the long run can prove to be just as detrimental as an enemy of lands. These make it difficult for characters such as Beowulf to trust others. He can never know who might be trying to take him down and rise above the rest.
Each character introduced has their own hopes and fears for the future based on his actions. Grendel’s mother, upset after her sons defeat, finds it satisfying to defeat those who have caused the demise of her precious child. She hopes specifically to kill Beowulf since he is most responsible for the occurrence. Her fears include failure at revenge and ultimately her own death. These fears actually turn to certainty as she is faced up against Beowulf the great warrior himself. In this scenario Grendel’s mother’s desire for equality does not prove to be strong against Beowulf and his immortal strength. Unferth has selfish desires including getting praise and treasury for being better than Beowulf. His carelessness for others leads him to defeat as Beowulf protects his land and people, staying superior. Unferth has the fear of losing, which would result in Beowulf remaining with power. His jealously gets the best of him and he is unsuccessful even under the eye of the "ruler of glory" or god as the narrator refers to.
The narrator uses specific details and language to help the reader envision what he desires. Beowulf in particular is humble about his ability; he wants to defeat his enemies for the sake of doing what is expected of him. The details of his “mail shirt” or armor, and “mail armor” or helmet give the reader the ability to distinguish the attitude Beowulf has as he enters a battle of many possibilities. The details of the fight between Beowulf and Grendel’s mother provide support of just how important victory is to both sides of the fight. The narrator uses kennings and metaphors to present specific images in the readers head in order to picture the scene as if it is happening in front of oneself.
The traits of each character are given with specific detail throughout the poem. Hence it is clear that Beowulf has bravery, courage, strength, power, and humbleness, while Grendel and his mother have wrath, anger, persistence and struggle. Each character has obstacles and determination making it difficult to predict the outcome of each individual battle. The Anglo-Saxon style provides key evidence in the ending of the poem but not of the specific details so thoroughly touched upon in the work of “Beowulf” itself.

Alyssa Cichy

8/13/2012 01:11:51 pm

Assignment #1: Beowulf

Beowulf is the most well known Anglo-Saxon poem and was originally written in Old English, the language of the Anglo-Saxons. The essentials of Anglo-Saxon culture and lifestyle are provided in the epic poem as well as an excellent understanding of the spirit and embodiment of heroic epic tradition.
Beowulf can both define and set the standard for an Anglo-Saxon hero. In Anglo Saxon culture and literature, to be a hero was to be an honorable warrior. A hero had to be strong, intelligent, and courageous. Warriors had to be willing to face any odds, and fight to the death for their glory and people. Beowulf exemplifies the traits of the perfect hero. He is described as having the strength of “thirty men” in just one of his arms. In addition to his strength and physical appearances, Beowulf shows that every hero must have courage. In an argument with Unferth, Beowulf says, “Fate often saves and undoomed man when his courage is good.” A true warrior’s bravery comes from a completely fatalistic attitude toward life and indifference to death. Everything is going to happen as God wills it. All that a warrior can do is meet every challenge fearlessly, increasing his own reputation for courageous deeds, so that when he dies, he will be renowned for their bravery.
Beowulf perfectly embodies the manners and values dictated by the German heroic code, including loyalty, courtesy, and pride. Loyalty played a very important role in Anglo-Saxon culture and life. A person’s life was determined by their status and rank in their country. In turn, those who were the loyalist to their lord received much generosity back. Reputation is what motivates Beowulf to be loyal to King Hrothgar. The more courageous acts he performs to rulers, the better his reputation and popularity. Although his reputation is important, he only wishes to protect his country and others and give all the credit to its rulers.
Warfare in Beowulf is looked upon as a part of the Anglo-Saxon lifetime. In Bewoulf, warfare is a means of protection from invasion by other tribes. Survival of the fittest is the crucial element the Danes and the Geats lived by.
Every culture has its own set of beliefs, values and customs. The importance of religion, values, and heroes are reflected a great deal in the epic poem of Beowulf accurately showing the Anglo-Saxon culture as a whole. Men dominated the Anglo-Saxon society and the people loved a great hero like that if Beowulf. Beowulf’s boastful self-confidence, his kindness and generosity towards people, his overpowering strength, and his victories in battle make him a classic legendary hero and a model for the Anglo-Saxon culture.

DanthemanS

8/13/2012 01:23:45 pm

D.S.
The Anglo-Saxon culture is a male-dominated, warrior-driven culture, and this is shown in the epic poem Beowulf, which was written around 700 A.D. The protagonist of the poem, Beowulf, is a great Geat warrior who has travelled to Denmark to rid the Danes of the monster Grendel, who has terrorized the Danes for twelve years. Beowulf exuberates certain characteristics which the Anglo-Saxons held very highly; namely bravery, loyalty, brute strength, and self-confidence. It is clear that warriors were held to a much higher standard than all other walks of life in Anglo-Saxon culture. As Beowulf says, “no man swims in the sea as I can, no strength is a match for mine” (533-534). This boastful statement is not seen as conceit, but as righteous self-confidence, contrasting sharply with the Greek idea of hubris, in which a hero’s pride becomes his downfall. Beowulf does not fear death or pain, but he does fear defeat to some extent. For a warrior in this time, the rewards for success are great, with bountiful treasure to show for one’s valor. From success also comes the legacy, the prospect of being remembered after death. This becomes important to Beowulf later in his life, after he faces the dragon, his most formidable foe. In his dying breath he utters, “… construct a barrow on a headland coast… so that in coming times crews under sail will call it Beowulf’s Barrow…” (2802-2807). This barrow will become a lasting legacy for Beowulf so that he may live on after his death.
Other more minor characters also show certain traits which reflect how a Anglo-Saxon man was measured. Wiglaf, Beowulf’s kinsmen, shows unrelenting loyalty to his Lord during the battle against the dragon. For this loyalty, Wiglaf is given Beowulf’s collar as well as control of the kingdom. Grendel, the first monster which Beowulf battles, is a direct representation of evil and malice, as well as an outcast. Grendel’s attacks may have been motivated by a desire to be reinstated into society, which is impossible due to his monstrous nature. There are certain traces of Xenophobia here, in that the monster, representing all that is different or unaccepted, is not to be understood but to be banished or killed. The treasure-hoarding dragon which Beowulf fights his last battle against is a clear symbol of greed, and is ultimately killed by the generous Beowulf and his kinsman Wiglaf.
Fate also has a place in Anglo-Saxon culture, which contrasts with the Christian belief in one God who gave man free will. These two theological undertones play a crucial role in the poem and often conflict with each other. For example, when Beowulf boasts of his frigid swim with Breca he says, “For undaunted courage, fate often spares a man who is not already marked,”(572-573) , implying that fate controls who lives and who dies. But later on, after defeating Grendel, the first words of Beowulf’s speech are, “First and foremost let the Almighty Father be thanked for this sight.” (927-928). So in Anglo-Saxon culture around 700 A.D., Christianity was the predominant religion, but many pagan undertones, such as the idea of fate, remained to be a large part of the religious aspects of people’s lives
These characters and symbols are used to show how certain human qualities were viewed by the Anglo-Saxons, and are some of the strongest sources of evidence of this society today.

Sam Green

8/13/2012 01:37:33 pm

A true epic hero embodies the attributes valued by the society that created him. In the Anglo-Saxon culture, an epic hero is defined as being valiant, loyal, and containing super-human strength. Throughout the poem, the narrator describes the characters that manifest these traits and expresses their true role. While certain qualities are valued, some characters lose respect trying to live up to them. The Anglo-Saxons desired wealth, power and rewarded the heroic actions of warriors.
The narrator utilizes several different tones throughout Beowulf to emphasize the culture present in an Anglo-Saxon society. Through flashbacks and accurate predictions, he recalls key events and establishes his prominent, formal tone. During Beowulf’s acts of heroism and super-strength, the narrator’s tone shifts to that of a laudatory stature. Alternatively, when Beowulf shows his weakness towards the dragon in his final battle, the tone becomes somber as he laments Beowulf’s eventual demise. With each battle that Beowulf wins, the narrator expresses his concerns about future hostility or battles that may be ultimately inevitable. The narrator’s apprehension towards the Anglo-Saxon culture emanates through the deaths of leaders and warriors. For example, the narrator utilizes a mournful tone to foreshadow the likely attacks from neighboring nations when Beowulf is killed by the dragon. Each character contains distinct qualities that help enhance the poem’s tone and further the plot’s development.
The characters serve an optimal purpose in advancing the plot. Grendel’s Mother was established to enforce the narrator’s concern about future retaliation. Heaney makes this concern clear when he states, “Then it became clear, obvious to everyone once the fight was over, that an avenger lurked and was still alive, grimly biding time” (89). Immediately after Beowulf defeated Grendel, the narrator’s tone remained ominous as he alluded to the reader that danger still lurked in Heorot. On the other hand, Wiglaf illustrates the succession of generations of heroes, as well as the transfer of power. Before Beowulf dies, he gives Wiglaf his precious gold collar, endowing him with the honor of leading the Geat nation. Unferth purposes to express the inevitable doubts during Beowulf’s moments of heroism. Beginning with his twisted version of the swimming contest between Beowulf and Breca, both Unferth’s jealousy and the narrator’s uncertainty is captured. Unferth’s ultimate expression occurs once Beowulf kills Grendel without the use of any weapons. These acts of bravery, coupled with countless emotions, contribute to the poem’s illustration of an Anglo-Saxon culture.
Emotions emanate throughout the poem. Grendel’s Mother becomes enraged and plans to attack Heorot in order to get her revenge on the man that killed her son. Heaney helps the reader envision Grendel’s Mother’s revenge by stating, “But now his mother had sallied forth on a savage journey, grief-racked and ravenous, desperate for revenge” (89). When Unferth witnesses the sudden attention and acclaim for Beowulf, he secretly becomes jealous, ultimately wishing he has the courage and strength to be noticed. However, it is not possible for Unferth to get the recognition he dreams of because he is described as: “not man enough to face the turmoil of a fight under water and the risk to his life” (103). Wiglaf, too, desires to be part of the honorary action. Wiglaf notices how pathetic and unfaithful Beowulf’s hand-picked troops were, becoming disgusted and wishing he could help fight for his lord. Knowing the only way he could help his master is for him to muster up the courage to fight and go into the hoard, he decides to engage in battle with him. Therefore, the Anglo-Saxon culture rewarded the valiant heroes, while rebuking the ones who fell short.

Morgan Mostow

8/13/2012 02:46:26 pm

The epic poem,"Beowulf," makes it clear that the most respected Anglo-Saxons were the ones who possessed epic hero qualities such as bravery, confidence, honor to one’s country and ancestry, loyalty, and strength. Surely, Beowulf is the best example of a character possessing these noble traits. He travels to Denmark in order to protect the Danes from the vicious monster, Grendel. He uses his strength, which is equal to the strength of 30 average men, in order to kill the beast with his bare hands. Towards the end of the novel, Beowulf proves to not only be a powerful warrior, but also a noble and respected king as he rules the Geats for 50 years. King Hrothgar is also a very powerful leader whom many of the Danes consider to be heroic, especially due to his lineage. He cares about his people and wants them to be safe from the monster. The epic poem also proves that even seemingly common men, such as Wiglaf, can have heroic qualities. Wiglaf radiates bravery and loyalty as he is the only kinsman to help and protect Beowulf as he duels the dragon.
However, the characters of the epic poem, "Beowulf," also exhibit mortal qualities, such as fear, hubris, betrayal, greed, jealousy, and arrogance. For example, Beowulf shows his arrogance by delivering several boasts. He hopes to defeat Grendel in order to protect the Danes and also to become one of the greatest warriors of his time. Beowulf shows a hint of overconfidence when fighting Grendel when he proclaims, “unarmed he shall face me if face me he dares.” It is not until his last battle that Beowulf shows some uncertainty in his abilities. He is scared for himself and his people. He knows he is elderly and senses that his fight with the dragon could possibly be his last, but he still he proceeds to attack the dragon. Because of his pride, Beowulf feels that he needs to defend his honor by fighting, even though it puts his people in danger. He is being self-centered and putting his own reputation before the safety of his entire country.
Beowulf’s people, however, display fear and betrayal when then do not come to Beowulf’s aid as he fights the dragon. They too know that Beowulf’s death would put their country in danger, but they do not want to put their own lives on the line.
Unferth is a major example of how jealousy was frowned upon in the Anglo-Saxon culture. When Beowulf arrives in Denmark, Unferth gets defensive and questions Beowulf’s previous heroic deeds. Unferth taunts Beowulf and claims that he had heard that Beowulf had lost a swimming match against Breca. Beowulf, however, retorts that he had been the victor who had killed nine sea monsters in the process. Unferth tries to downplay Beowulf’s success because he is jealous of Beowulf’s praise and respect, and Unferth is envious that he is not the one who is able to save the Danes from Grendel. Because of his attitude, many of Unferth’s fellow Danes do not consider him heroic. This causes him to become increasingly bitter.
Even the non-human characters of the epic poem possess some human-like qualities. Although Grendel appears to be a monster that just enjoys terrorizing people for no reason, the narrator suggests that he may have deeper emotions that cause him to harm the Danes. The narrator says, “he had dwelt for a time in misery among banished monsters, Cain’s clan, whom the Creator had outlawed and condemned as outlaws.” This passage suggests that Grendel’s violence and rage may be driven by his loneliness and his jealousy towards the Danes who get to interact and live together in happiness. This passage also demonstrates the importance of religion and story-telling in the lives of the narrator and the Anglo-Saxons. Grendel’s mother possesses the human quality of vengeance as shown by the way she attacks the Danes in order to avenge her son. Her love for Grendel forces her out of her cave and into Heorot in order to get revenge. The dragon that Beowulf fights is probably the character that is the least human in the epic, but he possesses one of the most common human concerns—greed. He holds a hoard of gold and treasure in his cave and attacks any man who attempts to steal it. In the end he is killed in battle, which may serve to symbolize that greed is a negative quality that Anglo-Saxons condemn.
Throughout the epic, "Beowulf," a prominent theme is the contrast between virtuous epic hero qualities and flawed human qualities. The epic poem demonstrates how the Anglo-Saxons respected heroes with noble qualities, and scorned those who showed indecent qualities. In the end, those who remain noble, such as King Hrothgar and Wiglaf are alive, while those who acted undignified such as Grendel, the dragon, and even Beowulf are found dead. Apart from telling an exciting epic story, the narrator of Beowulf helps the reader to understand the human qualities that were prais

Morgan Mostow

8/16/2012 11:55:43 am

ed and those that were condemned in the Anglo-Saxon lifestyle and culture.

MM

Caitlin Herod

8/13/2012 02:47:29 pm

The Anglo-Saxons are a war faring people who must be able to find a balance between defeating their enemies and living at peace among themselves. Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, is a great warrior and hero to many. As a king, Hrothgar tries his best to make an enjoyable, peaceful home for his people. By doing things such as building the mead-hall, Hrothgar displays the heroic characteristics of true kindness, concern for others and fatherly love for his people. The prince of the Geats, Beowulf, is the incarnation of an epic hero. Beowulf displays selfless courage, and will go to any length to protect his people and bring glory to his name. Wiglaf displays characteristics of a hero by fearlessly entering battle to protect his lord. Also, Wiglaf is willing to die in order to slay the dragon to protect his people.
The narrator utilizes characters such as Beowulf, Hrothgar and Wiglaf to express the heroic selflessness of the Anglo-Saxons. As the heroes protect their society, there is a downfall that has to be explored as well. Although Beowulf slaying Grendel seems heroic, a few of his warriors are killed and it causes additional death and sorrow to the people from the retaliation of Grendel’s mother.
Before Beowulf slays Grendel, at least one of Beowulf’s best warriors dies in order for Beowulf to see how to defeat Grendel. During the retaliation of Grendel’s mother, Hrothgar’s most beloved friend is killed and carried away. Most times the focus of the story is when the hero defeats the monster, but in Beowulf the narrator tries to demonstrate that many others suffer from these so called successes. These characters who are usually not put in the spotlight are truly the selfless warriors who would do anything for their lords and people.
Beowulf spends his entire life fighting selflessly for other people in hopes of recognition as the mightiest warrior. In the words of Hrothgar’s watchman, “Nor have I seen a mightier man-at-arms on this earth than the one standing here: unless I am mistaken, he is truly noble.” Wiglaf risks his life in order save his lord and gain the title of a hero. The narrator says, “The noble son of Weohstan saw the king in danger at his side and displayed his inborn bravery and strength. “ Beowulf and Wiglaf are perfect examples of a true Anglo-Saxon hero who will do anything and everything to defend their people and leave a heritage for their name.

Samantha Chang

8/13/2012 03:08:29 pm

The epic, Beowulf aids the reader in his/her understanding of the Anglo-Saxon culture and lifestyle. Initially, the narrator takes time to describe both Hrothgar and Beowulf's patriarchy, which suggests a patriarchal society. The focus on ancestry helps determine status as well as the standard at which a man is held. Hrothgar creates tangible proof of his wealth and power by founding the meadhall known as Heorot where he shares his “God-given goods” with the Danes. (Anglo-Saxon leaders needed to be benevolent in order to gain favor and have a loyal guard.) Not only is Heorot a place for celebration, it is also where Hrothgar rules (making it the heart of his kingdom). When the hall is ravaged by Grendel's wrath, the Danes search for a hero that can vanquish the fiend. Many men fail to slay the monster but Beowulf decides that he must take the task. Beowulf is an ideal hero because he is of noble birth, shows supernatural strength, and uses rational thought in battle. Hrothgar announces that Beowulf will takeover the duty of killing Grendel. The public is reassured that this warrior will protect it due to Beowulf's confident air.
Beowulf is successful in defeating any opponent that has crossed his path, but he is still an imperfect human. Anglo-Saxons praise heroes that have honesty, a strong sense of justice, respect to tradition, modesty, etc., all characteristics that Beowulf possesses. In Hrothgar's address to Beowulf, Hrothgar states that these traits “...affirm that this man was born to distinction.” However, Hrothgar raises concerns such as the danger of power, arrogance, and death to the valiant warrior. Hrothgar tells the tale of Heremond, a king who abuses his power to bring about death and destruction, who ultimately reaches a sour demise. Beowulf is told that power is a gift that he must use responsibly for the general public. Those who receive such power grow to have such haughtiness that they are blind to their own weaknesses. Even though Beowulf is strong, he must learn that his strength will fade and “no life is immune to danger...” Hrothgar's experience is testimony to the fragility of life because his existence is stained with the blood of his people. Epic heroes are admirable not only for strength in mind and body but also for their potential to improve.
As a hero, Beowulf has the desire to have his story told for generations to come. Storytelling is a key aspect in handing down morals that portray ideal Anglo-Saxon values and traditions. Not only do the minstrel entertain, they also keep history alive so that people in the present may learn from the past. As Beowulf fights, he never forgets what it will mean to win: “Hygelac's kinsman kept thinking about his name and fame: he never lost heart.” This emphasis on fame can only suggest that most men from the Anglo-Saxon culture seek to be remembered as heroes so that they can represent their culture's ideals. From the poem's content the reader may infer that Beowulf has reached his goal of recognition because he receives the title of king over the Geats and Danes due to his reputation. The epic uses its narrator and characters to provide a clearer view into the esoteric Anglo-Saxon culture. Seamus Heaney's translation keeps true to the ideals and standards held in the time of the Danes and Geats.

Raul Mendoza

8/13/2012 09:47:04 pm

Beowulf
Seventh century to the twenty-first century, many

changes have occurred over such a long time frame; yet the need of

man to exemplify his prowess and dominance has not changed.

From the outset, in “Beowulf”, the reader encounters the great feats

performed by Shield Sheafson. After analyzing all the heroes the

reader can garner a few repetitive traits in each hero such as:

power, eloquence in speech, loyalty, valor, and strength. Eloquence

in speech is vital to a hero for not only does the tongue bite as

sharply as the sword, as Unferth found out, but it also spreads his

achievements as well. Every hero has a chink in their armor, a flaw,

which denies them the status of a God.

The primary and most blatant fear of Beowulf is not

death or danger; rather it is oblivion in death that concerns him the

most. To counter this fear Beowulf masters the art of boasting.

Throughout the epic, Beowulf boasts profusely of his past exploits

hoping to gain more recognition. Thus Beowulf’s thirst for adventure

can be justified as he tries to overcome his fear. Throughout the

poem the narrator delves into the hopes, fears, and desires of the

characters. Hrothgar, contrasting sharply with Beowulf, desires only

peace, “These were hard times…powerful counselors…would lend

advice, plotting how best the bold defenders might resist and beat

off sudden attacks” (Heaney 170-174). Unferth, afraid to look like

the lesser man against Beowulf, tries to humiliate him by

recounting an old swimming contest, “Are you the Beowulf who

took on Breca…you vied for seven nights; and then he out swam

you, came ashore the stronger contender” (Heaney 506-518). Upon

his death Beowulf cements his position in fame and glory, “They

said that of all the kings upon the earth he was the man most

gracious and fair-minded, kindest to his people and keenest to win

fame” (Heaney 3180-3182).

A mighty warrior by any standards, Beowulf fought

valiantly until the very end. Although his decision to refuse help and

fight the dragon alone may be considered as selfish, he only sought

peace for his kingdom. The only hindrance Beowulf possessed was

his mortality which stopped him from achieving greater heights.

Radwa Nassar

8/13/2012 10:34:21 pm

The epic poem Beowulf provides readers with a view of the various elements and components of the Anglo-Saxon culture and lifestyle. For instance, reflected through the thoughts and actions of the characters and the narrator, are several epic heroic traits. In addition, the narrator raises sundry human concerns which are represented throughout the Anglo-Saxon literature by the crucial characters. Beowulf also displays the hopes, desires, and fears that the characters possess.
Beowulf is considered to be the hero through the whole of the poem as he is also the protagonist. He reflects epic heroic characteristics such as loyalty, bravery, and strength. Beowulf shows loyalty to King Hygelac as well as King Hrothgar at several instances during the epic poem. For example, he sails the sea to aid Hrothgar of the Danes for he had saved Beowulf’s father years earlier. While the Danes live in fear of Grendel, Beowulf alone has the bravery to battle him. Not only does the Geat challenge Grendel, but he states, “My hands alone will fight for me, struggle for life against the monster.” This threat to take on Grendel with his bare hands also proves his courage. Beowulf’s strength and skill is evident when he defeats Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon.
Many human concerns are seen during the poem such as pride. Beowulf’s pride, for instance, is his drive to keep his people safe from evil. Another human concern is betrayal. Although people proclaimed that no where “was there a warrior worthier to rule over men” than Beowulf, he is double-crossed when he and his men go to battle the dragon and they flee, leaving their leader and Wiglaf to fight the monster. In addition, the runaway slave who steals the golden cup from the hoard demonstrates greed, which is one of the human concerns as well. These concerns are similar to those of the Anglo-Saxon culture.
These characters possess desires and fears which were significant to Anglo-Saxon culture. Desires included wealth and glory, which Beowulf achieved in the epic poem. As a result of defeating the monsters, Hrothgar rewards Beowulf with treasures and such. He is also glorified as he attains recognition from others. The majority of the characters fear the murderous creatures. This included Grendel and his mother, and the dragon.
As one may infer, these elements demonstrated throughout the epic poem provide a basic view of the Anglo-Saxon culture and lifestyle. In more ways than one, the characters represent the culture and help the reader visualize it more efficiently.

Kelly Conway

8/13/2012 10:53:52 pm

Based on honor and courage, the Anglo-Saxon culture reflected in the epic poem Beowulf suggests the need for strong leaders to heroically save the population from evil forces. The leaders in the poem gain respect from their people through extreme selflessness, bravery, and exceptional strength in battle. Beowulf himself never takes advantage of his comrades and rightfully earns his title. He fights fairly, and he also, “kept his temper and, warrior that he was, watched and controlled his God-sent strength and his outstanding natural powers.” These qualities make Beowulf widely admired and the epitome of an epic hero. The narrator suggests that the Anglo- Saxons venerated those who did not lose control of their power or pride, but those who used their talents to serve the people fairly and courageously and to fulfill their ambitions.
The ideal warrior is a strong concept within the Anglo- Saxon culture. As Wiglaf explains, “A warrior will sooner die than live a life of shame.” Wiglaf, displaying heroic qualities, will not leave behind the ruler who has earned his respect. The other retainers who abandon Beowulf in his time of need are castigated. Respect towards tradition helped to engender a culture of truth and justice in this society.
The Anglo-Saxon culture was wrought with concerns about human conduct that the narrator addresses throughout Beowulf. He discusses the role of power and how to gain it successfully, “Behaviour that’s admired is the path to power among people everywhere.” The wise King Hrothgar reminds Beowulf that mismanaging power or prestige can have disastrous consequences. Also, the narrator stresses that no life is immune to death, including the seemingly immortal Beowulf. Through a perpetual cycle of vengeance, new problems continue to arise and trouble the society. Beowulf says, “It is always better to avenge dear ones than to indulge in mourning.” This seemingly uplifting theory only leads Beowulf to death. All of the problems are resolved by physical duel or death; peace appears to be a foreign concept. With the creation of non-human evil monsters such as Grendel, his mother, and the dragon, the narrator suggests that the Anglo-Saxons were incapable of creating verbalized peace with other forces. The heroes must kill the creatures in order to succeed.
Beowulf and the great leaders of the Anglo-Saxons all aim to achieve respect and recognition from present and future generations. Any introduction of a character includes a brief ancestry, thus the legacy one leaves behind is valued. Beowulf begins his quest for honor by risking his life for an ally, a selfless gesture that is not required of him. He wins fortune for his country and offers it to his king. The series of selfless acts gain him the thrown. At the end of his life, the narrator states, “They said that of all the kings upon the earth he was the man most gracious and fair-minded, kindest to his people and keenest to win fame.” Beowulf accomplishes his goal, and does not possess any fears that become a hindrance to this.
The lifestyle of the Anglo-Saxons is shown to have revolved around strict morals and qualities of an “ideal man”. These qualities contribute to ambitious individuals, who, with their personal goals in mind, possess a sense of loyalty towards their nation and their people. Not only are rewards considered in wealth and land, but intangible riches are highly sought out. The prestige of famously contributing to the good of society motivates the people. However, not all of the characters demonstrate heroic qualities; some allow their weak loyalty and fear of death to inhibit their success. Beowulf provides insight on a culture full of tradition, while also discussing timeless human concerns.
-KC

Bailey Falco

8/13/2012 11:04:12 pm

BF
Powerless
The epic poem of Beowulf tells the story of a Scandinavian prince, but it was composed in England. Beowulf became the first epic poem in the English language. Beowulf, the epic hero, offers to help Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, to kill a monster named Grendel who has been menacing Heorot hall for twelve years. Beowulf, the prince of the Geats, accepts the challenge as he will be determining the fate of the Danes, for the society has been ruptured and fear-stricken for the past decade.
The Dane society is violent and war-based, therefore being courageous and strong are important values of the era. The narrator and most of the characters unveil Beowulf as fearless, strong, and capable of slewing Grendel. On the contrary, Unferth, showing he is covetous, attempts to make Beowulf look weak and unsuitable for the job by mentioning Beowulf's swimming match with Breca in which Beowulf failed. The narrator raises the humans' concern of a loss of power. Grendel's brutal murders and vulnerability make the Danes feel helpless. The only thing they can do is perpetually reconstruct the hall of Heorot and anticipate the best. Grendel and his mother have been created to represent the fears of the people.
The Danes share a great concern for Grendel and the hope that Beowulf will defeat him; therefore, their fears would be diminished. Beowulf is unafraid of losing his life and selflessly devotes himself to the society. When Grendel attacks and kills some of Beowulf's thanes, Beowulf gains superhuman strength; “The captain of evil discovered himself in a handgrip harder than anything he had ever encountered in any man on the face of the earth.” Beowulf fulfills his boast as he tears off one of Grendel's arms; “he had healed and relieved a huge distress, unremitting humiliations, the hard fate they'd been forced to undergo, no small affliction.” Showered with gold, armor, weapons, and gifts, Beowulf is acknowledged as a hero. Grendel's mother, to avenge her son, attacks Heorot, claims her son's arm, and vanishes. Beowulf, determined to finish his deed by killing Grendel's mother as well, starts his expedition to the cave where the monsters are heard to live. Beowulf reassures the feeling of inviolability to the Danes when he vanquishes in the fight with Grendel's mother.
Grendel represents and creates fear among the Germanic society. The society revolves around the fear of the people and the willing who rises above and become the heroes. The desire for power and material items are interpreted within the Germanic society as well. As Beowulf is, the hero is awarded with gifts and gold by the king. With Grendel gone, the people are unafraid and feel powerful; however, the power the people feel can be lost as soon as another threat to their existence emerges.

Emily Howson

8/13/2012 11:04:38 pm

Anglo-Saxon culture and life, as a general rule, relied heavily on bravery and courage displayed often by a rare few. In the epic poem Beowulf, a hero is found early on in the titular character, a man named Beowulf, the nephew of the King of Geats, Hygelac. Beowulf is a man of not only the expected courage, but of intense pride. For example, immediately after defeating the second inhuman monster, he cuts off the head of the corpse of Grendel, the original monster himself, and brings it back to Heorot as essentially a bragging right (“The body gaped/at the stroke dealt to it after death:/Beowulf cut the corpse’s head off. [Heaney 1588-1590]).

While it is obvious that all three of the monsters Beowulf and his kin encounter (Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon) are supernatural beings, Beowulf himself often displays characteristics that make himself seem supernatural. He has an ability, for example, to last for long periods of time under water. This is evidenced during his battle with Grendel’s mother, where he remains in the swamp from line 1493 to line 1590. During the same lines, Beowulf has too much hope in his success, something that concerns the narrator, who later tells about how Beowulf’s confidence in his sword nearly kills him. A very important point is made, however, in the ultimate demise of all four aforementioned characters: their supernatural abilities do not make them invincible. Beowulf, in fact, is very much human.

A very important part of the telling of the story is the lines of royalty. Beowulf himself is the nephew of a King. However, Beowulf is often described as alluded to as being of a higher rank than his superiors. Even though he bows down immediately to both kings he encounters, he is held almost at a higher regard than the men that supposedly rule him. This presents a warped picture of the Anglo-Saxon culture. That being said, there is a very firm line between the elite and the rest of society within the confines of the story.
The less heroic characters, including Kings Hrothgar and Hygelac, are demonstrated as possessing characteristics that make them distinctly human, successfully grounding what would otherwise be a very artificial story. Hrothgar also represents the fact that life itself is fragile. Through them, the narrator proves that the universal themes presented throughout the poem retain their importance to culture instead of being washed out by the supernatural parts of the story. The narrator is obviously concerned that the true meaning of the tale will be lost if no one is around to protect it. Where Beowulf is quick to jump into a fight, some of the others are more cautious and careful, demonstrating a human fear of the things that could kill them all. The importance of the fights throughout the story begins to paint a false picture of the Anglo-Saxons as warring people. Hrothgar, to continue the aforementioned example, cares mainly about the lives of the people he rules, running directly for the more courageous Beowulf when Grendel’s mother returns to claim revenge, instead of risking his life and the lives of his terrorized subjects. Hygelac, however, worries for Beowulf, who can forsee that the latter’s pride will eventually cause his demise.

Even the monster Grendel himself displays qualities of humanity that concern the narrator. King Hrothgar and his men have multiple rambunctious feasts full of joy, music, laughter, and alcohol; all of which upset Grendel. This leads the reader to believe that Grendel is simply a statement on Anglo-Saxon culture and how a lifestyle like that does not lead to a very good life. Grendel’s annoyance of the noise is what causes him to attack Heorot to begin with. Also, Grendel and his kin are “condemned as outcasts” (Heaney 107) by “the Creator” early on, leading the reader to believe he is acting almost out of jealousy in his lonely life.

Beowulf’s ultimate desire is to be remembered boldly after death, something he recounts in a speech previous to his underwater battle with Grendel’s mother (Heaney 1473-1491), specifically in saying, “With Hrunting I shall gain glory…” (Heaney 1491). Beowulf’s fights and courage help him ultimately achieve this seemingly unrealistic goal.

-EH

Sabrina Batista

8/14/2012 12:37:31 am

The epic poem Beowulf took place during the Anglo-Saxon era. The people of that time period worshiped many gods and were led by kings or lords. They gained their respect by becoming warriors or by their craftsmanship and their kings were commended on their success in war. Anglo-Saxons were born and raised to fight; they lived for avenging the death of a family member or friend. Consequently, many blood feuds occurred; to end the feuds a price was paid or a marriage was arranged. An example of this is shown when Beowulf foresees Freawaru’s marriage with a Heathobard in hopes to settle the feud with the Danes. Loyalty was a big part of the Anglo-Saxon lifestyle. The Geats were loyal to the Danes because of the alliance between Hrothgar and Beowulf’s uncle. That is the reason Beowulf sets out to answer the pleas of the king. Moreover, the different communities were often involved in wars which led to unification of the people and friendships. The monster attacks unifies the Danes and it strengthens friendships by fighting together in order to protect each other. In that era it was shameful to return from a battle alone; this is shown when the “battle-dodgers” are described returning “ashamed and came behind shields.” These men do not have the courage to fight aside Beowulf which is shameful because bravery was very important. Beowulf shows bravery by going against Grendel with his bare hands and by confronting the dragon with only a few men. Boasting at battles often occurred and showed their courage and bravery. Also, Anglo-Saxons were known for their generosity. Throughout the poem war attires and swords are constantly being passed down; an example of this is when Hrothgar gives great treasures to Beowulf for his actions. The narrator depicts the Anglo-Saxon culture in the actions of the characters. Meanwhile, human concerns such as fear and death are also depicted. Characters that represent fear are Grendel, his mother, and the dragon. They are all in common because they desire revenge. Grendel is a descendent from Cain’s clan, his mother is out to avenge the death of her son, and the dragon is out for revenge for the theft of the secret treasures. Hrothgar is also concerned throughout the poem. He hopes to keep his people safe and unharmed by the monster but he fears death and the chaos that is occurring. Another example is the “battle-dodgers;” they march to the dragon with intentions of protecting the people but “when he needed them most, they had made off” because of their fear of death. The narrator is very successful in making the reader envision what is occurring by reaching out to all senses. When describing the monsters, “savage talons,” “shadow-stalker, stealthy and swift,” “God-cursed brute,” are all examples of phases added to enhance fear. The narrator also depicts concerns and feeling of the characters. Hrothgar in particular shows his concerns when he responds to Grendel’s mother’s attack by saying,”Rest? What is rest? Sorrow has returned. Alas for the Danes!” Phrases that describe the setting such as when the “wind blows up and stormy weather makes clouds scud and the skies weep” provide a mood and depicts the setting of the event occurring. All in all, the narrator and characters throughout Beowulf demonstrate the Anglo-Saxon culture and the struggle of that era.

Andrew MacNeille

8/14/2012 01:36:56 am

During the era that Beowulf was written the Anglo-Saxon people were on the fringe of civilization. Language, large standing structures, and most importantly a structure of ethics were being developed. These people, along with characters in Beowulf, based their lifestyle on a number of characteristics; they are honor, generosity and courage. However, in order for these people to become civilized all of these characteristics must be fulfilled. The story of Beowulf is an example of these, ‘almost civilized’ people and the aspects of their character and lifestyle that facilitates the development of a functioning civilization.
Two areas of contrast in the human character that are exemplified throughout Beowulf are good vs. evil and honor vs. dishonor. Certain characters are developed in the story to show these situations. Good vs. Evil is seen in Beowulf and Grendel. Beowulf, being a heroic hero and the embodiment of good, is in stark contrast with the villain and the embodiment of pure evil that is seen in Grendel. For instance, it is not if Beowulf will defeat Grendel it is in which way he will defeat him. Beowulf states, “So it won’t be a cutting edge I’ll wield to mow him down, easily as I might. He has no idea of the arts of war.” The honor and the way Beowulf fights becomes the ethical rule of law in Anglo-Saxon lifestyle. Grendel, on the other hand, represents everything the Anglo-Saxon people want to avoid. Instead of being killed honorably by Beowulf, after being defeated, he flees from the battle to die a dishonorable death alone. The narrator states, “the ignominious marks of his flight where he’d skulked away, exhausted in spirit and beaten in battle.” In the Anglo-Saxon culture to be heroic and good your character must be honorable and if you are dishonorable then you are an evil villain.

Another aspect of a developing civilization is a feudal system of distributing land in exchange for military duty. In the poem Beowulf, Beowulf is granted land in return for his services for slaying Grendel. This mirrors the development of feudalism in Anglo-Saxon society.

Also, the absence of females and children in the story shows the reader that in Anglo-Saxon culture family life was not glorified, rather the martial practices of war were. One of the few women in the story was the queen of the Danes, Wealhtheow, who had a minor role. On the other hand the entire epic poem was a tribute to the glorious Beowulf and to his great honor, power and military success.
Beowulf is an epic poem that shows the transition of a savage Viking tribal society into a functioning feudal society. The story mainly details the changes in thinking that allows for this to happen. Beowulf is a figurehead for the Anglo-Saxon people to attempt to emulate. His actions and his key character traits, courage, generosity and strength, are what the Anglo-Saxon people thought were necessary for a good life and better yet, a functioning civilization.

AM

John Waldron

8/14/2012 02:24:34 am

John Waldron
Ms. Hanley
AP English III
14 August 2012
A True Warrior
The epic poem Beowulf, which was written by an unknown author, is a tale of a great Geatish warrior who battles and defeats two blood-thirsty monsters, becomes a great ruler of Geat, and dies in an epic confrontation with a dragon. Beowulf was first written in the Anglo-Saxon language, which is also known as Old English. Through out the epic poem, a very clear theme concerning good versus evil is evident, and Beowulf is the epitome of a good-intentioned warrior. In order to be considered an Anglo-Saxon hero, one must have certain key characteristics, and Beowulf truly possesses the necessary traits.
Judging by both the characters and the narrator, an Anglo-Saxon hero must have certain distinctive qualities. These qualities include strength, courage, and intelligence. As depicted in Beowulf, an Anglo-Saxon hero must be willing to fight to the death for himself and for the wellbeing of his people. Through out the poem, the narrator seems to support Beowulf, but he also has a fairly foreboding tone about certain situations. The last person that Beowulf is concerned for is himself, and this courage is what truly affirms his title as an Anglo-Saxon hero.
In order to express theses concerns, the author created characters such as the group of warriors that flee from the dragon. These warriors foreshadow an unfortunate occurrence. King Hrothgar fears losing more of the people in his realm to Grendel, so he therefore willingly accepts the help from Beowulf. The narrator’s concerns are fully represented through characters who posses the same concerns.
The author provides details in order to assist the reader’s ability to understand what each character wants to achieve. It is made very clear that King Hrothgar desperately wants to achieve peace in his kingdom. Hrothgar says, in regards to those who have tried to defeat Grendel, “And so they died, faithful retainers, and my following dwindled.” This shows that Hrothgar is anxious to defeat Grendel. In order to do so, he entrusts Beowulf with the task of defeating the demon that has been terrorizing the king’s people. King Hrothgar is ultimately successful in achieving what he wants. Beowulf’s main goal is to defeat the wretched Grendel. Beowulf does so, and is therefore successful in reaching his goal.
Beowulf is truly the embodiment of an Anglo-Saxon hero. He possesses all of the necessary characteristics for being highly regarded in Anglo-Saxon culture. Beowulf’s unknown author epitomized what it means to be a hero. Anglo-Saxon culture has high regards for those who do good deeds while staying humble and kind. The narrator’s trepidation adds to the suspense and overall feeling of the epic poem. The hopes and fears of the characters add to the main story as well. All in all, Beowulf is an epic poem concerning a highly regarded, brave, and selfless warrior who eventually dies with one final courageous act.

Max Natanagara

8/14/2012 03:24:13 am

MN-
The epic poem “Beowulf” tells two stories. The first is the semi-mythic tale of a Scandinavian hero who clashes with supernatural beasts and achieves glory in battle. While it is an entertaining read, one would be hard-pressed to call it good history. The second story is infinitely subtler, as it is unintentionally hidden within the writing of the poem itself. It is this tale that gives the reader insight into not only the life of the Anglo-Saxon narrator, but also into the culture of the Middle Age-era Anglo Saxon people. Of the two, the latter is the one that should be seriously analyzed. By reading the same words with a more objective mindset, the reader is essentially opening a history book giving him a glimpse into that time period. By looking into Beowulf’s epic hero status, the principles displayed within the poem, and the integration of anachronistic beliefs, the people of today can come to understand the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture and lifestyle.
It is generally accepted that the Nordic Beowulf is a so-called “epic hero.” The question, however, should not be, “What makes him an epic hero?” Rather, it should be, “Why did the poet make him an epic hero?” A society’s literature reveals a great deal about the society itself. As men like Beowulf never really existed (at least not to his degree), it is very possible that in creating Beowulf, the poet was crafting an idealistic hero to serve as a sort of inspiration for the people of the time. That is certainly a plausible explanation.
“Beowulf” is not a cold, narrative poem. It bubbles with emotion and the warmth of humanity. The tale uses its many characters to embody the values of Anglo-Saxon society. For example, pride is a central theme in “Beowulf.” After the eponymous hero has vanquished Grendel, he relates to King Hrothgar, “If you could have seen the monster himself where he lay beaten, I would have been better pleased.” Evidently, rescuing Heorot and emerging unharmed is not a victory glorious enough for noble Beowulf! Honor is also important to both Beowulf and the narrator, more so even than logic and reason, as illustrated in the lines following King Hygelac’s fall. While even Heardred’s mother “had no belief in her son’s ability” to rule at such a tumultuous time, Beowulf refuses to rise to lordship over the “rightful” king. This adherence to tradition inadvertently leads to Heardred’s death, which would not have occurred had he not been in his kingly position. Fittingly, near the end of the epic poem, Wiglaf personifies the significance of loyalty to the Anglo-Saxon culture. When Beowulf’s handpicked band of warriors deserts him during his final battle with the dragon, the brave Wiglaf rebukes the thanes, declaring, “I would rather my body were robed in the same burning blaze as my gold-giver’s body.” Even when confronted with mortal danger, loyalty held precedence, at least to the Anglo-Saxons.
The religious overtones of “Beowulf” cannot be ignored. Christianity influenced the poet heavily, and although it has no place within the pagan Scandinavian setting, there are elements of it on nearly every page. At times, lines in “Beowulf” read like passages directly from the Bible. For instance, the epic poem tells of Heorot’s harpist, who sings “of man’s beginnings, how the Almighty had made the earth a gleaming plain girdled with waters; in His splendour He set the sun…” This example carries on for another four lines. The inclusion of Christianity hardly ruins the story; to the contrary, the reader is granted a much better understanding of the Anglo-Saxon people, even if it comes at the cost of realism (which the story has little of in the first place).
Reading “Beowulf” is a journey into other worlds, the Scandinavian one described in the writing and the Anglo-Saxon one inferred through the writing. Although it is believed that a single individual wrote the epic poem, the entire Middle Age-era Anglo-Saxon people contributed to it through their ideals and society, which display themselves all throughout the poem’s 3,182 lines. Through the near-deification of Beowulf, the characters’ clearly defined principles, and the incorporation of the poet’s faith, the reader is able to understand the culture of the Anglo-Saxon people more clearly.

(NOTE: I put the title of the epic poem ("Beowulf") in quotations only because italics do not register on this website and I needed some way to distinguish the name of the poem from the title character. While not necessarily grammatically perfect, I deemed it better than the alternate option.)

Jordan Black

8/14/2012 03:25:55 am

Whether it is a Chinese Zen warrior or Buddhist’s Siddhartha; every culture has a distinct picture of an ideal hero. The Anglo-Saxons are no different in having their own individual heroic image. In the epic poem Beowulf , the protagonist Beowulf exemplifies the traits of a perfect Anglo-Saxon Hero. Through Beowulf and several supporting characters, the author creates a masterful literary representation of Anglo-Saxon culture and lifestyle.
In Anglo-Saxon culture and literature, to be a hero was to be a warrior. The hero was represented as strong, intelligent, courageous, and willing to fight to the death for the glory of their people. While expressing all these characteristics, an Anglo-Saxon hero had to remain humble and kind. Beowulf clearly demonstrates these heroic traits as the quintessential hero in the epic poem, Beowulf. His strength and courage are unparalleled, and he is much more humble and honorable than many of the corrupt warriors around him. Beowulf’s actions also support his identification as a hero. When speaking to the Danes in the mead-hall, Beowulf expresses great courage and the willingness to die, the proper attitude of an Anglo-Saxon warrior.
The author also provides a critique of human behavior during the time period through several characters. The first human trait critiqued is the desire for vengeance. In the epic poem, Grendel’s mother terrorizes Heorot and attempts to kill Beowulf in an attempt to avenge Grendel’s death. Beowulf also addresses the old adage “Actions speak louder than words.” Beowulf is humble, as opposed to Unferth who is unwilling to fight Grendel proving himself inferior to Beowulf. The final human issue critiqued by Beowulf is good always conquers evil. Beowulf, representing good, slays the three monsters that represent evil.
The final part of Anglo-Saxon culture expressed by Beowulf is each individual’s wants and desires. Beowulf, being an unselfish and honorable man, wanted to glorify and give treasure to his people while giving thanks to god. King Heremond wants great power and will stop at nothing to to obtain it. The author represents this well with a vast contrast between the two characters. Beowulf is clearly represented as an admirable man through both his actions and those around him. A quote that represents this is, "Nor have I seen a mightier man-at-arms on this earth than the one standing here: unless I am mistaken, he is truly noble. This is no mere  hanger-on in a hero's armour." The Danish coast guard states this about Beowulf which shows the imposing first impression Beowulf gives off.
All great literature provides a timeless critique of a culture and Beowulf does not fail to do just that of Anglo Saxon culture. Through character’s actions and statements, the author conveys a clear message about the ideal hero in Anglo-Saxon culture. Beowulf remains an exemplary critique of a human culture and will always be looked at by authors who plan to address cultural shortcomings.

Noah Chomsky

8/14/2012 03:26:40 am

N.C.

The epic poem Beowulf includes many themes and ideas about the Anglo-Saxon culture and lifestyle. It cleverly describes the Anglo-Saxon people’s standard of living through the many intense battles that occurred throughout the story. The Anglo-Saxon people have a patriarchal society where there is a dominant king who rules the land as he wishes. For example, Hrothgar presides over the Danes and Hygelac manages the Geat nation. Characters such as Beowulf, King Hrothgar, and Grendel help explain the ideals of the Anglo-Saxon society. The Anglo-Saxon culture can easily be interpreted through the characteristics of the main characters in the poem and the events that occur around them.
The Anglo-Saxon culture focuses on heroic qualities in a person. When successful in battle, warriors are decorated by their own king and by the king of the nation they facilitated. Warriors are often conferred golden rings to be worn on their arms and legs. The heroic warriors are bequeathed land, gold, treasure, and more. Expressed in the poem is the story of Beowulf’s epic battle against the twisted monster, Grendel. Beowulf’s battle with Grendel conveys how a warrior should act in the face of danger and the rewards he will receive. For example, in the Danish land a monster known as Grendel arises and wreaks havoc on the people. Grendel is irritated at the Danes, especially the people who are in the great mead hall known as Heorot Hall. The noise that the visitors of this great hall make exasperates Grendel. The people enjoying themselves in Heorot Hall are making this vile creature jealous at the fact that he is miserable and cannot be happy. He wants to ruin the livelihood of the Dane people and does not fear anything. He feels his supernatural powers will render him invincible and nobody will have the ability to stop him. Beowulf travels a great distance in order to defeat this fiend and gain honor. After Beowulf’s successes in the Danes’ land he is granted four bay steeds, eight horses belonging to Hrothgar, armor, an embroidered banner, jewelry, gold, and more. It is considered a great honor to receive these endowments. Beowulf’s heroic characteristics such as his courage, honor, superhuman strength, and excessive pride all aid him in his battles.
Beowulf’s successes illustrate that he is a very powerful warrior. After Beowulf defeats Grendel’s mother, King Hrothgar declares that Beowulf would be the greatest king for the Geat people. Hrothgar states, “… I firmly believe the seafaring Geats won’t find a man worthier of acclaim as their king and defender than you”. An Anglo-Saxon king had to be wise, powerful, and responsible. After the defeat of Grendel’s mother, King Hrothgar explains the fragility of life and the dangers of too much power to Beowulf. Hrothgar contrasts Beowulf to King Heremond, who was a twisted ruler who brought death to his own people. Heremond took advantage of his power and decided to shed his own people’s blood. Hrothgar explains the dangers of too much power, “He indulges his desires; illness and old age mean nothing to him; his mind is untroubled by envy malice… He covets and resents… he ignores the shape of things to come.” After warning Beowulf about too much power Hrothgar informs Beowulf about the fragility of life. Hrothgar proclaims, “Do not give way to pride. For a brief while your strength is in bloom but it fades quickly; and soon there will follow illness or the sword to lay you low.” From Hrothgar’s experience he reminds Beowulf that no life is immune to danger. When Beowulf becomes king of the Geats, he protects his people for fifty years. Beowulf felt that no enemy can threaten his kingdom, but then the dragon began decimating villages. Beowulf did not take heed and forgot Hrothgar’s words. He engaged the dragon alone and his pride and strength could not stop the inevitable demise that was to occur to Beowulf.
The Anglo-Saxon warriors all want to be remembered and have eternal glory and reverence. Beowulf earns his glory by protecting his people and the Danes. His story will be passed down for generations to come and will always be remembered in the hearts of the people. Through the use of character traits and descriptive narration by the narrator the Anglo-Saxon culture and lifestyle is clearly revealed.

Haa-Young Lee

8/14/2012 03:59:18 am

Throughout the ages, heroes have been regarded in countless nations across the globe as valiant, dauntless individuals. While the human population holds a wide array of differing cultures and customs, the qualities seen in these heroes remain consistent. A hero must be courageous, witty, and perpetually loyal to his country. In the novel Beowulf by Seamus Heaney, the hero Beowulf remarkably represents these crucial qualities in the face of mortal terror. The narrator describes Beowulf as: “high-born and powerful (198)” and “The man whose name was known for courage (340).” Beowulf himself even boasts of his heroic feats: “I battled and bound five beasts, raided a troll-nest and in the night sea slaughtered sea-brutes. I have suffered extremes and avenged the Geats (420-423).” Beowulf’s valiant actions are undeniably great; however, his brimming success strikes jealousy within a man named Unferth. Unferth symbolizes the covetous and callous nature of humans: “It was sheer vanity made you venture out on the main deep (509-510).” Even the hideous demon Grendel fears Beowulf’s immense strength and unwavering determination to defeat Grendel. While Beowulf represents the brave hero of the novel, Grendel embodies dread and apprehension. Grendel terrorizes the mead hall and gruesomely murders innumerable soldiers: “Grendel was the name of a grim demon haunting the marshes, marauding round the heath and desolate fens (102-104).” Out of sheer frustration and anger at the world, Grendel unleashes his fury on the innocent people of Heorot and aims to terrorize them. The people of Heorot deeply fear Grendel, and live in constant horror of him. King Hrothgar is eternally grateful for Beowulf’s heroic deed of murdering Grendel, and exemplifies the gratitude and compassion of the Anglo-Saxon people: “his fondness for the man Beowulf was so deep-founded, it warmed his heart and wound the heartstrings tight in his breast (1878-1880).” Nonetheless, after the triumphant defeat of Grendel, his distressed mother sets out to ravenously avenge her son. Grendel’s mother embodies qualities of avengement and continuous terror, and the enduring bond between a mother and her child: “an avenger lurked and was still alive, grimly biding time. Grendel’s mother, monstrous hell-bride, brooded on her wrongs (1257-1259).” Beowulf, however, is able to once again conquer the fears of the Heorot people and murder Grendel’s enraged mother. The characters in the novel Beowulf each exemplify the different aspects of humans and their emotions; it also greatly succeeds in telling the epic tale of the renowned hero Beowulf.

Alex Arnold

8/14/2012 04:02:49 am

The epic poem “Beowulf” depicts the view of the Anglo-Saxon culture and lifestyle. In Anglo-Saxon culture and literature, to be a hero was to be a warrior. A hero has to be strong, cunning, and courageous. Warriors have to be willing to face anyone or anything at any odds, fighting to the death for their legacy, country, and people. The Anglo-Saxon hero does all of these things and is still humble and kind. In literature, Beowulf is the perfect example of an Anglo-Saxon hero who abides by the culture and lifestyle. The culture of the Anglo-Saxons is portrayed through characters and specific scenes in “Beowulf.” Beowulf, the protagonist, and Grendle, the antagonist, are main characters in “Beowulf” that are used to portray the Anglo-Saxon culture and lifestyle.
Through the characters’ actions and characteristics, an understanding of the Anglo-Saxon culture is derived. There is no doubt Beowulf is an epic hero. Beowulf’s strength and courage are unsurpassed; he is also more humble and honorable than other warriors. Beowulf is described as a warrior with the strength of “thirty men” in one of his arms. When Beowulf approaches the land of the Danes, the coastguard describes Beowulf as never seeing, “a mightier warrior on earth than is one of you, a man in battle-dress.” When Beowulf actually reaches the land of the Danes, he helps King Hrothgar defeat Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. Beowulf displays a vast amount of leadership, rallying his men to defeat Grendel. The narrator raises human concerns such as terror, death, and devastation. The narrator, in describing Grendel’s mother as a “monstrous hell-bride, brooded on her wrongs,” has created a character that embodies these human concerns.
Many different characters in “Beowulf” possess hope, desire, and fear. By understanding these characteristics, the Anglo-Saxon culture can be better comprehended. A key component of Anglo-Saxon culture is pride. Beowulf hopes to defeat his enemies and restore peace in the land of the Danes. He fears losing the battles to the antagonists, for if this happens, Beowulf’s legacy is tarnished and the land will not be safe. Beowulf desires to earn respect from everyone around him, including the lethal creatures, and to attain the maximum amount of gold and treasure. Grendle shows his unparalleled courage by “... shall fulfill that purpose, or meet my death here...” Beowulf would rather die than to be embarrassed by not fulfilling a righteous task. Grendle hopes to destroy King Hrothgar, his meadhall, his people, and his legacy. The monster yearns to stop the bells from ringing in Herot. Grendle fears the dragon and Beowulf, possibly the only living creatures that could defeat him. In the brutal fight between Beowulf and Grendle, the first sighting of fear in Grendle is displayed. Grendle, in panic, “quailed and recoiled, but he could not escape. He was desperate to flee to his den…” This portrays Grendle’s fear towards Beowulf.
The Anglo-Saxon culture consists of bravery, amity devotion and generosity. Since the Anglo-Saxon people lived in packed communities that often had to fend off invaders, friendship and loyalty were vital to survival. This is portrayed throughout the epic poem “Beowulf” with the uniting of Beowulf and King Hrothgar. Beowulf is summoned upon to aid Hrothgar’s people, thus providing an example of faithfulness, bravery, and friendship. The Anglo-Saxon way of life deeply consists of revenge. Kinship is a vital component within the community; when one member of the clan is killed, it is up to the surviving kin to inflict revenge. Beowulf does this when killing Grendle, restoring balance to the kinship of the Hrothgar’s Anglo- Saxons. “Beowulf” actively imitates the Anglo-Saxon culture and lifestyle.

Alex Arnold is a soon to be 17 year old. I play soccer and tennis for Ocean. I enjoy reading classic literature and take pleasure in listening to classic rock.

Kayla Ventola

8/14/2012 04:04:45 am

The epic poem, Beowulf, takes places in the time of the Anglo-Saxon era. This era occurred between 449-1066 AD. Respected kings led the Anglo-Saxons. Others who were also highly respected in this culture were warriors. Warriors were said to be strong, brave, and loyal to on another and their country. However, an uncommon trait that the epic hero/ warrior in this poem had was modesty. Despite all of Beowulf’s boasts about himself, he was a very humble warrior. When Beowulf returns with all of his hard- earned gifts he does not hesitate to share the reassure with Hygelac.
The foremost concern that generally all humans have is the fear of death. Not many people accept the fact that death may be near like the way Beowulf does before every battle he enters. Characters in the story that represent this concern are the “warriors” at the end of the epic poem. These characters run from the dragon fearing their demise.
In this story, even the gruesome monsters have hopes, desires, and fears. Grendel, envious of the cheers and laughter that arises from Heorot, desires to cause chaos and distress to those who occupy those halls. Once Heorot is free from the threat of Grendel, his mother then makes an appearance. The narrator describes the situation as, “But how his mother had sallied forth on a savage journey, grief- racked and ravenous, desperate for revenge.” This quote displays a common theme in the Anglo-Saxon lifestyle, vengeance. Another monster that seeks vengeance is the dragon. The “hoard-guard” is relentless on the Geats because of the fact some of the treasure he kept under surveillance was stolen from him. It is apparent that no matter what the circumstances consist of, one will always avenge whatever or whomever did them wrong.
There are two characters in this poem that stick out as heroes. One is obviously Beowulf; who put his life on the line constantly in order to achieve safety for all of his people. But the other hero that is not as apparent is Wiglaf. When Wiglaf addresses his fellow warriors he states, “Let us go to him, help our leader through the hot flame and dread fire. As God is my witness, I would rather my body were robed in the same burning blaze as my gold- giver’s body than go back home bearing arm.” This man stays and fights by Beowulf’s side as the other men flee to safety. This shows the ultimate courage and loyalty. Thus, Wiglaf is also a hero.

Mona Patel

8/14/2012 04:40:03 am

Beowulf, an epic poem by Seamus Heaney, describes the adventures of one Geatish warrior as he makes his mark in history. Beowolf, the protagonist of this poem, battles Grendel the terrorizing monster, Grendel’s revengeful mother, and meets his fate against the aging, yet wise dragon. During this sixth century era, the Geats live in tribal groups with a high class of warriors. Here, they made a king as their utmost leader and protector, in this case, Hrothgar. Because of Beowolf’s previous duty to King Hrothgar, Beowolf travels by sea to begin his monster killer reputation.
Epic heroic characteristics are what society proclaim are the most admired qualities in any superhuman. Beowolf’s tribesmen, for example, had to swear fealty to the leader and follow him unquestioningly throughout the journeys. As a reward for their undying loyalty, the tribesmen could reap rewards like gold or land though their leaders if they succeeded. In this case, the soldiers’ leader is Beowolf, who also exhibits loyalty to Hrothgar for saving Beowolf’s father many years ago. Epic heroes not only have to be fearless, but brave as well. Near the end of the poem, one of Beowolf’s tribesmen, Wiglaf, came to aid of Beowolf against the dragon while everyone else fled. Wiglaf, scared to death, put that aside his fear and went to help his leader in his time of despair. This is the kind of loyalty Anglo-Saxons proclaim as noteworthy.
As we know from our Greek mythology, every epic hero or character has a flaw, or human characteristics. For example, Beowolf is an excessive drinker and he is prone to boast about himself, often. Near the beginning of the poem, for example, he touts himself as the strongest man on Earth and as the greatest warrior ever seen. Although Grendel’s mother is not an epic hero, she raises a big human flaw, revenge. Revenge is served as a dish best cold, according to the old saying, but in this case, revenge gets the best of Grendel’s mother and she ends up going after Beowolf for killing her only son.
Hopes and dreams are what keep all of us going when times get rough. For instance, Beowolf’s tribesmen had the hope of returning home to their families and friends in one piece. Just like anyone else, these loyal soldiers had fears as well; whether they were going home after a long and excruciating battle was the unknown. Beowolf on the other hand, had the hopes of defeating each antagonist with his bare hands, but overtime as he aged, his physical stamina dwindled. Beowolf succeeded in killing Grendel, but when it came to Grendel’s mother, he needed the help of the Unferth’s magic Hrunting sword. When it came to slaying the dragon, he not only retaliates in fear, he needed the help of others. So even though Beowolf did not kill every beast with his hands, he did so with his inner courage. Every time Beowolf went into battle however, he had the fear of losing, which in turn, kept him fighting even more.
The idea of a hero battling the superhuman and demonic villain is hardly passé, or there would no longer be comic book heroes. Even more relevant is the third part of Beowulf, where, as an old man, he is obliged by his reputation as a tough guy and a monster killer to kill the menacing dragon near the end of this poem. Here we see the hero has to prove himself again and again until age begins to wear away his once invulnerable strength. The world is full of people who, on some scale, want to prove they are the toughest of the tough. But the problem with proving that is that there is always someone new who wants to take on the Champ. In this case, there are always villains ready to battle and take down the reigning champ Beowolf. It was true of Beowolf and it is true now.

Jake Yasser

8/14/2012 04:57:15 am

The epic narrative poem Beowulf was written during the Dark Ages, a period of uncertainty and monotony. The poem is written in Anglo-Saxon, also known as Old English. Beowulf contains many characters, and they all portray different heroic qualities. Beowulf, the main character, is a heroic Geatish man. He is the best hero in all of the lands surrounding the Danes. Throughout the poem, Beowulf displays several heroic qualities; he is brave, honorable, and trustworthy. He kills three deadly enemies in his lifetime: Grendel, a terrifying monster attacking the Danes, Grendel’s mother, and a fire-breathing dragon. He states, “I meant to perform to the uttermost what your people wanted or perish in the attempt, in the fiend’s clutches. And I shall fulfil that purpose, prove myself with a proud deed or meet my death here in the mead-hall” (634-638). By killing Grendel and his mother, Beowulf saves the Danes from the destruction of their beloved mead-hall, Heorot. Later in his life, when Beowulf is king of the Geats, he saves his kingdom from the wrath of a fire-breathing dragon. Here, Beowulf showcases his wisdom because he remembers all of his experiences. He says, “Many a skirmish I survived when I was young and many times of war: I remember them well” (2426-2427). Perhaps by using his wisdom, Beowulf is able to defeat his enemies. When Hygelac, king of the Geats, passes on, Beowulf does not rush for the throne and instead supports the legitimate heir—Hygelac’s son. He shows that he has a noble quality to him, and also patience. Beowulf is not the only character displaying honorable traits, however. In addition to Beowulf, Hrothgar, king of the Danes, also displays heroic traits. Firstly, Hrothgar welcomes Beowulf into his country, revealing that the king is willing to accept help in a situation he cannot control. The king also reveals wisdom in his actions. He often cautions Beowulf and warns him of dangers. These characters accurately represent the stereotypical Anglo-Saxon hero.
Throughout the poem, characters are constantly referencing fate. They mistake coincidences as acts of fate by the gods. The characters, however, are just receiving consequences for their actions. Many of the characters are only want to steal and deceit from others. In addition, several characters are jealous of others. Grendel himself is often jealous of the Danes’ closeness and intimacy. While he must endure loneliness, the Danes enjoy the comfort of mead in the Heorot, the cheerful hall. Additionally, Unferth, a foil of Beowulf, is very envious of the stronger, nobler Geat. Unferth, son of a warrior known as Ecglaf, was sick with Beowulf’s arrival: “Beowulf’s coming, his sea-braving, made him sick with envy: he could not brook or abide the fact that anyone else alive under heaven might enoy greaer regard than he did . . . ” (501-505). The narrator questions the honor of many of the characters in this poem. After Beowulf returns to Geatland and is king for fifty years, a dragon begins to terrorize his country. He takes a band of warriors to the monster’s lair to slay the beast. As Beowulf fights the dragon, only one man of his followers is brave enough to help his king fight against the deadly creature. The narrator raises concerns about the devotion and selflessness of humanity because of the cowards in Beowulf’s followers. Characters in the poem also have hopes, fears, and wants. Beowulf comes to the Danes in the first place to slay Grendel because he wants to repay the Danes for the generosity they gave to Beowulf’s father, Ecgtheow, when they sheltered him from danger. Beowulf desires to repay the Danes and to establish cordial relations between them and his home country, Geatland. He hopes to slay Grendel, who has been plaguing the Scyldings, or the Danes, for twelve years. By doing so, he also hopes to repay a debt his father created. When he successfully slays Grendel, cordial relations are established. When Beowulf kills Grendel’s mother, he pays back his loan, without any doubt. Unferth, on the other hand, has fears that stem from his jealousy. He fears that Beowulf will take all the credit for killing Grendel and that he will be forgotten. Unferth has hopes and desires, as well. He wants to defeat Grendel to receive the credit and the treasure promised to the one who can kill the monster. As Beowulf tries to attain what he desires and hopes, he goes through certain actions. For one, he attacks Grendel and his mother, therefore paying back the Scyldings for their help to Ecgtheow. He achieves his hopes also when he receives the treasure reward to his brave tasks. Furthermore, Beowulf also reaches what he desires when he slays the dragon and removes the plaguing dragon from his country. Although both he and the dragon are killed, he saves his country.
Beowulf has characters, events, and actions in it that reflect its cult

Dan Loizos

8/14/2012 04:58:33 am

In every culture, there are unique customs that are followed and lived by. In the epic poem Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, the reader views the Anglo-Saxon culture through the characters’ actions. It is evident that heroic characteristics are a strong part of this lifestyle. Through characters such as Beowulf, we see that the Anglo-Saxon culture believes heroic actions are based on strength, courage, loyalty, and pride.
To be an epic hero means to be a strong warrior, while remaining humble at all times. The reader sees Beowulf’s acts of courage and strength numerous times as he defeats Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the fire-breathing dragon. When Beowulf arrives in the land of the Danes, the guard states, “I have never seen a mightier warrior on earth than is one of you.” This attributes to Beowulf’s great stature and strength. The reader can also view Beowulf’s humility and loyalty, as he remains loyal to his lord, Hygelac. Beowulf states, “These, King Hygelac, I am happy to present to you as gifts. It is still upon your grace that all favour depends. I have few kinsmen who are close, my king, except for your kind self.” We also see heroic traits in other characters such as Wiglaf. He shows great courage as he helps Beowulf in his fight against the fire-breathing dragon. Wiglaf proves to be fearless, being the only other warrior to assist Beowulf. He is willing to die for his lord, which shows his great heroic deeds.
Throughout this epic poem, we see the Anglo-Saxon culture rely on fate and religion. These people believed that fate ultimately decided the outcome of certain situations. This is evident when the narrator states, “fate will unwind as it must.” Anglo-Saxons’ also value religion and had faith in God. They believe that they were blessed with a warrior king by God when the narrator states, “He knew what they had tholed, the long times and troubles they’d come through without a leader; so the Lord of Life, the glorious Almighty, made this man renowned.”
Beowulf is an epic poem that shows many cultural values present in Anglo-Saxon beliefs. Beowulf proves to be a poster child to the Anglo-Saxon way of life. He possesses all that is necessary to be a hero. His loyalty, strength, courage, and pride prove to be what the Anglo-Saxon culture stands for.

DL

Maryum Butt

8/14/2012 05:22:09 am

M.B
In Anglo-Saxon culture and literature, to be a hero one must be a warrior. Heroes have to be strong, intelligent, and courageous. Beowulf’s actions define him as an Anglo-Saxon hero. Time after time, Beowulf displays unparalleled strength and courage as he fights Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon. When Beowulf arrives in the land of the Danes, the coast guard says to Beowulf that he has never “seen a mightier man-at-arms on this earth than the one standing here” (248-249). Strength and physical appearance are very important to an Anglo-Saxon warrior, but courage is just as essential. Beowulf shows immense courage and pride when he proclaims that he will fight Grendel without a sword. Additionally, throughout all his years of being king, Beowulf manages to stay humble and to be an inspiration to all the other warriors.
Humans deal with numerous concerns and hardships. The Anglo-Saxon lifestyle includes concerns about death, loneliness, and pride. During all three of Beowulf’s battles, he risks his life and tries to bring glory to his name and nation. Beowulf’s fight against the dragon leads to mutual downfall. The dragon represents the inevitability of death. No one, not even the greatest warrior, can escape death.
Both the dragon and Beowulf fight to stay alive. Beowulf tries to stab the dragon, but the sword snaps and breaks. The dragon bites Beowulf’s neck and the venom starts to circulate throughout his body. Wiglaf sees Beowulf struggling, so he stabs the dragon in the belly. Finally, Beowulf takes out his knife and kills the dragon with a fatal stab into its flanks. Beowulf and the dragon hope to stay alive, but fate was not on their side.
Moreover, Grendel, the most memorable creature, is an outcast who longs for acceptance. He shows human emotions but is condemned as a monster because of the actions of his ancestor, Cain. Grendel wants love because he grew up in a world of hate, violence, and evil. He sees Heorot as a magnificent place filled with joy, something he can never have. His envy leads to the attacks on Heorot hall. Grendel “waged his lonely war, inflicting constant cruelties on the people” (164-165) for 12 years; but he would not attack the throne because “he was the Lord’s outcast” (169).
Bravery, friendship, and loyalty are very important in the Anglo-Saxon lifestyle. Since they live in tight territories that often have to fend off invaders, friendship and loyalty are crucial to survival. Not only that, but bravery to fight such attackers and generosity to aid their allies in time of need. Most of the characters in Beowulf displayed these characteristics which emphasized that they were true Anglo-Saxon warriors.
-M.B.

Maryam Srouji

8/14/2012 05:53:35 am

The purpose of the epic poem entitled Beowulf is to shed a light on the culture and lifestyle of the Anglo-Saxons of a long time ago. Through the life of the heroic prince Beowulf of the Geats, the monsters he faces, and the people he encounters, the readers are able to get a look at how different—and how alike—the Anglo-Saxons’ lives were compared to life today.

One of the most evident ideals of the Anglo-Saxons was the heroic code. According to Beowulf in lines 1384-1389, “It is always better / to avenge dear ones than to indulge in mourning. / For every one of us, living in this world / means waiting for our end. Let whoever can / win before death. When a warrior is gone, / that will be his best and only bulwark.” As seen through his daring conquests with Grendel and the creature’s mother, as well as the bitter fight with the dragon at the end, Beowulf is determined to fight as valiantly as possible in order to gain fame and honor in his lifetime. As demonstrated by Beowulf’s retainers that flee their lord’s side during the last battle, and as Wiglaf says, “A warrior will sooner / die than live a life of shame.” Back then, it was about honor, fame, and glory. Without those, one was not even worth being recognized.

Another belief the Anglo-Saxons held dear was their Christianity. The narrator references God Almighty, as well as fate, many times throughout the poem. For example, in lines 170-188, the narrator talks of the Danes, who are in constant fear and anxiety of Heorot’s state, turning to heathen gods for help. Like any situation, there is always doubt, as shown by Unferth in the great hall when he questions the strength of Beowulf. However, Beowulf proves him wrong by putting his faith in God, and therefore, winning the battle with Grendel.

As for hopes, fears, desires, and other feelings, what was true back then is true today. The people feared the monsters and circumstances they could not control. While they feared the creatures, such as Grendel, they also feared war with other nations, as demonstrated by Wiglaf’s foreshadowing of the Swedes attacking in the future. They desired comfort and gold, as shown in the great, majestic hall of Heorot. They hoped for honor and a good reputation, much like today. Therefore, the epic poem, Beowulf, can be used to examine the culture and lifestyle of the Anglo-Saxons centuries ago.

~M.S.

Dillon Yasser

8/14/2012 05:58:15 am

The epic poem, Beowulf, takes place in a Scandinavian area near the start of the first millennium. The time period and setting have a large religious influence, where people attribute all happenings, good or bad, to an angry or a happy God. The character Beowulf is a prince and future king of Danish land. He is also an epic hero with bravery and pride that looks to a God in moments of desperation. The fearless warrior sails to Heorot in Danish territory to help the Danes overcome a monster by the name of Grendel. This Journey would influence the rest of his religiously controlled life as he finds that nobody’s life is immune to danger, even with the help of his God.
When Beowulf arrives at Heorot there is no doubt in his mind that he can slay Grendel. He knows that he has God on his side so he feels indestructible. Had he not been so religious he may have been hesitant. Although, being so fearless, and having such great power can lead to corruption. After Beowulf defeats Grendel, a tale of Sigemund, a dragon slayer, and of King Heromod is told. Sigemund was noble and powerful, and he used his power to help his people; this relates to the valiant Beowulf. King Heromod is a corrupted King that was powerful and afraid of losing his power. He eliminates threats and in the end, due to his horrible ruling and turning evil, he is in fact overthrown. He is contrasted with Beowulf since Beowulf is able to handle his power.
Beowulf and the rest of the people were not aware that Grendel had a mother. After finding her beloved son mortally wounded she is enraged and kills multiple guards and warriors in their sleep and feasts upon them. Beowulf vows that with the help of the Gods he will send the beast to hell. Later on, in battle, Beowulf’s sword fails him but God presents a sword that he is able to use to kill Grendel’s mother, and he is able to resurface from the battle safely.
Beowulf and his crew trek back across the sea to Geatland. After some time, Beowulf becomes King and reigns for fifty years. He is a great King loved by his people. When a dragon threatens their lives he knows that he must go after this monster. He wants everlasting fame, and he wants to be known to be the best there ever was. It is this battle that ends up being his final battle. The Gods decided his time was over, and in taking the dragon’s life, he also lost his. He went out as the idealistic warrior, the proper way for a man such as him to go out.
Beowulf had been the perfect warrior, led to battle by the God he worshipped. He fit in to the time period greatly and had kept his people out of harm’s way for the most part. The religiously influenced times benefited him, giving him the courage to go into battles that the ordinary man would run away from, and with his courage he was able to succeed in hard times.

Tyler Roman

8/14/2012 06:20:15 am

The epic poem, “Beowulf” gives a great view of the Anglo-Saxon culture and lifestyle due to the various characters that appear in the poem as well as occurrences that happen throughout the poem. The narrator uses characters such as King Hrothgar, Beowulf, Grendel, the Franks, and the Frisians (to name a few) to embody different aspects of the Anglo-Saxon culture and lifestyle. Each of these characters has his own way of “describing” the culture and lives of the Anglo-Saxons, whether it is by the fear, hopes, and desires of the individual characters or the fears and hopes that they instill in other characters found in the poem. However, for the duration of the novel, conflicting religious views of both the narrator and the Anglo-Saxons prove to play a key role in the description of the culture during that time. The Anglo-Saxon culture and lifestyle is a very unique and often difficult culture to understand, but with the help of the epic poem “Beowulf”, it is much easier to understand what it was like to live during the time of the Anglo-Saxons.
Within the Anglo-Saxon culture, there were many warriors who displayed courage and pride in oneself to perform difficult and sometimes almost impossible tasks. Beowulf is the definition of these two characteristics, as shown when he boasts, “When it comes to fighting, I count myself as dangerous any day as Grendel. So it won’t be a cutting edge I’ll wield to mow him down, easily as I might…No weapons, therefore, for either this night: unarmed he shall face me if face me he dares (677-685).” Beowulf is prideful enough in himself to declare that he just as strong, if not stronger, than the “hall-watcher” that is Grendel. He is also courageous enough to face the monster that is responsible for the murder of countless Danes and that no other man wants to face. Also, during the basically barbaric time period of the Anglo-Saxons, people were subject to be attacked, raided, and killed much more often than today with the advancements in technology and civilization itself. The human concerns of death, enslavement, and theft are very prevalent throughout “Beowulf” as shown by the many fights and raids that have occurred overtime between rivaling people and especially at the end of the epic poem when Beowulf dies, a grieving woman “…unburdened herself of her worst fears, a wild litany of nightmare and lament: her nation invaded, enemies on the rampage, bodies in piles, slavery and abasement (3151-3155).” Fear of death and destruction are almost synonymous with the characters Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the fire-breathing dragon, and fear of raids and attacks are synonymous with rivaling nations such as the Franks and the Frisians.
Hopes, desires, and fears ranged from one specific character to the next in “Beowulf”. For instance, King Hrothgar desires for his people to live at peace from Grendel’s attacks, but fears the death of many of his subject as well as feared for the security of his kingdom as most kings did during the Anglo-Saxon time period. A more universal desire within the Anglo-Saxon culture is the desire for never-ending fame and glory, represented in Beowulf’s last words when he says to Wiglaf, “Order my troop to construct a barrow on a headland on the coast, after my pyre is cooled. It will be a reminder among my people—so that in coming times crews under sail will call it Beowulf’s Barrow… (2802-2807).” Regarding the lifestyle of the Anglo-Saxons, Grendel’s desire to end the joy of the people in the mead hall of Heorot as well as end the noise set forth by the people leads into the explanation of their late night activities; Grendel could “…hear the din of the loud banquet every day in the hall, the harp being struck and the clear song of a skilled poet telling with mastery of man’s beginnings, how the Almighty had made the earth… (88-92).” This explanation shows that at the end of the day there was a great feast in the mead-hall with music and story-telling.
Story-telling was also a main part of the Anglo-Saxon lifestyle and many other cultures around the world; that is how Beowulf gained his fame when he told stories of Grendel leaving “…his hand and arm and shoulder to show he had been there (970-971)” and of delivering a blow from a sword to Grendel’s mother that “bit deep into her neck-bone and severed it entirely (1565-1566).” The narrator also seems to be telling this story as if he has heard it many times from various people and is retelling it when he says phrases like “They said that…” and “I have heard that…” throughout the poem. With regard to religion, it is unclear from the novel as to what specific religion the Anglo-Saxons were. It appears to be a cross betw

Tom Cunningham

8/14/2012 06:30:04 am

Tom Cunningham
AP English
Ms. Hanley
12 August 2012

Beowulf and His Culture
In the epic poem Beowulf, the title character Beowulf is portrayed as the masculine ideal in the Anglo-Saxon civilization of that time. Beowulf is seen as the epitome of perfection because of several characteristics prized in that civilization. Characteristics like bravery, unmatched strength and selflessness show that Beowulf is prized as the best of his people. Beowulf’s bravery and selflessness are shown in the poem when he promises to defeat Grendel even if it costs him his life:

“I meant to perform to the uttermost

what your people wanted or perish in the attempt,

in the fiend’s, clutches. (Pg 43)”
This quote shows that Beowulf will fight to the death to save the king and his people from the monster Grendel. He will do anything to achieve his goal, which is to defeat Grendel.
“Beowulf was granted
the glory of winning; Grendel was driven
under the fen-banks, fatally hurt,
to his desolate lair. (Pg 55)”
This excerpt shows that Beowulf defeats Grendel, and achieves the success he promised.

Wiglaf, who is one of Beowulf’s prized Thane soldiers, shows other prized characteristics like loyalty and strength by helping Beowulf to slay the greedy dragon; thus preventing Beowulf’s death from being futile. Wiglaf shows his loyalty by being the only one who upholds the oath that he and the other soldiers made:

“I remember that time when mead was flowing,

how we pledged loyalty to our lord in the hall, […]

now the day has come

when this lord we serve needs sound men

to give him their support. Let us go to him. (Pg 179)”
This fragment shows that Wiglaf is loyal to Beowulf. He wants the other soldiers to be as loyal as he is and uphold their oath.
“ […] Your deeds are famous,

so stay resolute, my lord, defend your life now

with the whole of your strength. I shall stand by you. (Pg 179-181)”
This excerpt shows that while Wiglaf does not succeed in getting the other soldiers to uphold their promise, he will still do as he promised and fight with Beowulf even in the most dangerous of times.
Although Beowulf is praised by all as being perfect, he still has imperfect human concerns at several points throughout the story. While fighting with Grendel’s mother Beowulf is afraid that he will be killed, which shows human weakness. During the fight against the dragon, Beowulf begins to fear that his death will be futile.
The villains of the poem are also shown to display emotions. For example the dragon desires to protect his hoard and Grendel’s mother desires to avenge the death of her son. This is shown in the epic poem:
“But now his mother

had sallied forth on a savage journey,

grief racked and ravenous, desperate for revenge. (Pg 89)”
Grendel’s mother tries to achieve this goal by defeating her sons killer, Beowulf, but fails:
“So the Shieldings’ hero, hard- pressed and enraged,

took a firm hold of the hilt and swung

the blade in an arc, a resolute blow

[…] she fell to the floor. (Pg 109)”

While they may have desires and emotions, these characters are used mostly to symbolize Beowulf’s fears. Grendel’s mother is used to show that even Beowulf, the best of the best in the Anglo-Saxon civilization of that time, fear death, whereas the dragon shows that even a king can fear that his death will be in vain.
Each of these characters is an example of certain aspects of the Anglo-Saxon culture at this time. Some represent fear, like Grendel and his mother. Some represent being strong even when you are afraid, like Beowulf. And some, like Wiglaf, represent hope for the future.

Nicolette Merlino

8/14/2012 06:56:43 am

The Anglo-Saxon culture and lifestyle is a prominent theme in the epic poem Beowulf. According to Anglo-Saxon culture, to be considered hero you had to be a warrior. This idea is greatly displayed in the character Beowulf. Being “the mightiest man on earth, highborn and powerful,” Beowulf demonstrates the Anglo-Saxon’s idea of a hero. Throughout the poem, the narrator, along with the characters, displays the ideas and culture of the Anglo-Saxons.
Many characters throughout this poem display epic heroic characteristics. Beowulf, for example, exhibits heroic qualities such as courage, strength, wisdom, leadership, and pride. He courageously volunteered to help the Danes and Hrothgar in their time of distress, by defeating Grendel and his mother. This feat was attempted many times before, but only Beowulf succeeded. In addition, Beowulf ruled the Geats for 50 years and was described as “old and wise,” as he ruled the kingdom well. Throughout the story Beowulf has many boasts, displaying his excessive pride. He makes his last boast shortly before being put to his death by the dragon stating he “shall pursue the fight for the glory of winning.” His bravery and determination made him loved by all. He clearly had characteristics greater then the average human, making him an epic hero. As well as Beowulf, Wiglaf also demonstrates the characteristics of an epic hero. In Beowulf’s time of need Wiglaf was the only one to stay by his side and help him defeat the dragon. This is the prime example of Wiglaf’s courage, strength, and loyalty. The narrator also displays characteristics of an epic hero. His knowledge and fighting is shown greatly throughout the poem. He often talks of war and battles, which were greatly praised in Anglo-Saxon culture. The idea of an epic hero is to have qualities greater then the average and was frequently shown by the thoughts and actions of the characters.
The narrator raises many human concerns throughout the entire poem, such as betrayal, destruction, pride, greed, cowardice, and jealousy. The characters possess characteristics of these concerns because of hopes, desires, and fears. The act of betrayal and cowardice was displayed when all but one of Beowulf’s band withdraw to safety. They fear death and leave their king to fend for himself. This act ultimately leads to Beowulf’s death. Destruction is another theme displayed throughout the entire poem. Grendel destroys all of Heorot and the dragon burns down most of the Geats homes. Grendel hopes to destroy the helpless Danes and grows overconfident. The dragon’s purpose is to protect the treasures. When someone stole a goblet from the underground treasures he hoped to find and kill the person. Instead he destroyed the whole town. Another human concern is greed. Beowulf’s own greed and pride motivate him to fight for treasures and “the glory of winning.” Beowulf was also too proud to accept the fact that he is not as strong as he use to be. He desires the fame and gifts he will receive after defeating the enemy and fears nothing. Lastly, jealousy is displayed when Unferth strikes at Beowulf telling his version of swimming contest that he claims Beowulf lost. It states that Unferth was “sick with envy…he could not brook or abide the fact that anyone else alive under heaven could enjoy greater regard than he did.” Unferth fears that anyone will have greater fame and success then him. All of these human concerns are constantly shown throughout the poem through the actions and thoughts of almost every character.
Each character in the epic poem Beowulf achieves what he or she wants by using characteristics of an Anglo-Saxon. Beowulf wants to be a great warrior and defeat Grendal, Grendal’s mom and the dragon. Hrothgar wants Grendal dead so he can restore peace back to his kingdom. Grendal’s mom wants to avenge her son’s death. The narrator helps readers to envision the characters achieve what they want by using epithets, kennings, extended metaphors and extended similes. These are all poetic devices that help to envision what the characters want. The characters are successful because of their traits and characteristics explained by the narrator. Beowulf successfully achieves his goals by killing all of his enemies and being known as the greatest warrior. He is the “mightiest man on earth” and is described as the best warrior. Hrothgar’s kingdom is restored to peace, after Grendal and his mom are killed. Hrothgar is in distress and persuades Beowulf with gifts in order to save the Danes. He is a smart and great leader. He tells Beowulf he will “compensate him for settling the fued…with lavish wealth and coffers of coiled gold,” in order to get him to fight. Lastly, Grendal’s mom avenges her son by killing Aeschere, one of King Hrothgar’s cousellors. It is said that

Nicolette Merlino

8/19/2012 01:46:05 am

Part of the last paragraph got cut off:

. It is said that his mother “sallied forth on a savage journey…desperate for revenge.” These characters strived to succeed and did successfully.
The Anglo-Saxon theme is displayed in the poem Beowulf through the thoughts and actions of the characters and narrator. There are examples of epic heroes that represent the good in the poem and human concerns that represent the evil. Both sides however, successfully display Anglo-Saxon culture and lifestyle.

Tyler Harlow

8/14/2012 06:59:36 am

Seamus Heaney's translation of Beowulf paints a vivid picture of a patriarchal Anglo Saxon culture. Values such as loyalty, friendship, bravery, generosity, and leadership that are so key to Anglo Saxon life and government are clearly mirrored through characters and their actions. The epic poem starts off with a description of Shield Sheafson and his rise to glory as a “scourge of many tribes;” followed by a short autobiography about his son Beow. Beow was a friendly prince, “known through the north” and described as “prudent,” he achieved his desires of fame and fathered four children. When Shield passed he left Beow to the throne and was sent out to sea on a boat decked with unimaginable wealth, yet another example of Anglo Saxon tradition. We then learn of Hrothgar son of Beow and Heorot, Hrothgar’s throne room and mead hall, meant to be a “wonder of the world forever.” (70) When Grendel, the “fiend out of hell” from Cain’s clan begins terrorizing this great hall, word travels to Hygelec of Geatland, and to his thane Beowulf.
Upon hearing of the threat of Grendel Beowulf acts quickly, gathers fourteen warriors, and bravely begins his epic journey to the land of the Danes. With a desire to free his brethren across the “whale road,” Beowulf, thane of Hygelec, the mightiest man on earth, the high born, he who beat Breca in a swimming match demonstrating his strength, defeated Grendel with his bare hands. Added assonance and consonance indicate a fast paced epic triumph for Beowulf. Beowulf again proves his loyalty by taking down Grendel’s mother when she comes to avenge her fallen son, yet another anglo saxon trait.
What may be overlooked Is Beowulf’s extremely honorable gesture of promoting Hygalec’s son, the rightful heir, instead of himself. He had immense amounts of wealth given to him as parting gift from the Danes, he had the leadership, and the battle skills, but the selflessness displayed when he promoted the rightful heir Hygd shows that Beowulf is ready to be a true Anglo Saxon king, true to the beliefs of the culture. He rules for fifty years only to die a valiant death protecting his people from a dragon, discovering more treasure in the process. Beowulf is truly a living example of the Anglo Saxon culture.

Emily Polonia

8/14/2012 07:00:36 am

Beowulf is an epic poem written sometime in the 8th century. It tells about a Scandinavian hero, Beowulf, who goes to help Heroet from the terrible monster Grendel. Through this epic poem the one is able to learn a lot from the Anglo-Saxon culture and lifestyle. One learns about what it meant in that time to be an epic hero and about how important honor and loyalty were to them. By reading Beowulf the reader can learn about the religion, warfare, and honor codes that existed in the Scandinavian culture.
The author makes it evident that religion was a big pillar in the life of the Anglo-Saxons. At that time the reader can see that Christianity was becoming a big influence in the life of the Danes. However it is still shown that there are still some pagan traces in the culture. The author writes many lines mentioning God, but he also writes about how the people stilled worshipped other gods. “so the Lord of Life the glorious Almighty, made this man renowed.” (15-17) In this quote one can see that the author is referring to the Christian God. “and out of the curse of his exile there sprang ogres and elves and evil phantoms and the giants too who strove with God time and again until He gave them their reward.” (111-114). The author here is talking about the curse God put on Cain for killing his brother Abel, but the author shows the pagan side of the religion by talking about ogres and mystical creatures; showing the reader that the religion of that time was a mix of Christianity and Polytheism.
Beowulf depicts a very bloody and malicious culture constantly going to war. The poem talks about how kings would constantly start wars to gain something, whether its land or fame. The author shows us that the soldiers, or thanes as they are called, have the second highest rankings in a country to the king. In fact the king’s job was to reward his thanes by giving them riches and or power over lands. War was a very dominant part in the life of the early Anglo-Saxons. “Next the king ordered eight horses with gold bridles to be brought through the yard and into the hall.” (1034-1036). The king Hrothagar rewards Beowulf and his troops with many gifts at a party celebrating their victory over Grendel. Beowulf receives many gifts for his accomplishments in war showing that this was custom back then.
The Danes had a very interesting honor code that everyone had to follow. If someone was killed, example, that person’s life had to be paid with the life of the killer or with gifts and money. They encouraged revenge where in today’s world one learns that revenge is not the answer to anything. Also the Danes were very big on honor, loyalty and courage. Beowulf was very frightened about going to fight Grendel, but he knew he had to do it in loyalty to the king of Heorot. Beowulf even decides to fight without weapons to uphold his honor. Soldiers would rather die trying to achieve their goal then come back a coward and a failure. “No need then to lament for long or lay out my body: if the battle takes me, send back this breast-webbing that Weland fashioned and Hrethel gave me, to Lord Hygelac.” (450-454). Here the great hero tells Hrothagar to not be saddened if he dies in battle, showing how honorable soldiers were back then. Even when Beowulf knew that he was going to die slaying the dragon years after Grendel, he still went on to fight in honor of his people. The Anglo-Saxons were a people built on honor, obedience, and loyalty.
From reading Beowulf, the reader notices how life was back then with religion, war, and respect. The epic poem is a great piece of literature showing the people of today how different it was back then. It showed the early phases of Christianity. It also allowed the reader to see how barbaric the world still was in that time, but in the same way how civilized it was with how much honor and loyalty was upheld. Beowulf shows how much of an interesting civilization the people of that era were.

Robyn Intveld

8/14/2012 07:00:43 am

The narrator of the epic poem Beowulf provides readers with insights into the culture,
and lifestyle of the Anglo-Saxon people. A more in depth understanding of the culture is displayed through the author’s creation of the character Beowulf. Beowulf is an epic hero and he is important to the Danes and the Geats dynasties as demonstrated by his defeat of Grendel.
Beowulf has many characteristics of a classic epic hero; the most prominent of these being his display of great courage and strength. An example of Beowulf’s courageousness is his decision to sail to Denmark in order to defeat Grendel. Beowulf’s strength is another heroic characteristic. This trait is displayed by Beowulf’s ability to tear off Grendel’s arm during their battle. Other characteristics include Beowulf’s pride, effective leadership, and his many accomplishments throughout the epic poem. The narrator includes numerous fights in the poem, this is because the Anglo-Saxon people believe that fighting is a vital and honorable part of everyday life. Too much fighting is a concern that the narrator portrays through Hrothgar. King Hrothgar fears that Grendel will terrorize his kingdom and that it will fall apart. Fighting corrupts the fragility of life and brings on fear throughout the Anglo-Saxon people. Each dynasty wants to stay in control; this is why they have an epic hero to fight off any one perceived as an enemy or in some way a possible threat to the downfall of the dynasty. To represent he importance of this concern, the author has created many interesting characters. Beowulf is the epic hero who protects the dynasties from any enemy that comes along. Enemies that Beowulf must face include Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. These enemies cause death and destruction among the people. Another example of Beowulf’s courageousness and strength are shown while he is fighting Grendel’s mother. Beowulf follows Grendel’s mother to her underwater lair and discovers an ancient weapon which helps him to defeat his enemy. Another important aspect of the Anglo-Saxon culture is their kings, for example Hrothgar and Hygelac. It is the kings’ responsibility to show great strength and generosity to his warriors. These behaviors help in maintaining peace within the dynasty, as well as keeping the warriors loyal to their king.
While King Hrothgar is representative of the fragility of life, his fear of Grendel is also important to the story of Beowulf. King Hrothgar uses Beowulf as a protector for his people and his kingdom. While the King uses Beowulf as a brave warrior, Beowulf fulfills his own desire of defeating Grendel as well as destroying Hrothgar’s fear. Finally, Grendel’s desires are to kill people because of his hatred for joy. He wants to cause destruction to the Danes because of the noise that they make when they are enjoying themselves. Grendel does not have a fear until his final battle with Beowulf. As Grendel is ready to attack Beowulf while he is in bed, “the captain of evil discovered himself in a handgrip harder than anything he had ever encountered in any man on the face of the earth. Every bone in his body quailed and recoiled, but he could not escape. He was desperate to flee to his den and hide…” Details that represent what the characters want to achieve are clear. An example is Beowulf’s determination to defeat Grendel; Beowulf sails to Denmark, announces a formal boast, and later defeats Grendel’s mother as well. Beowulf is a wise leader and knows how to protect his men and successfully complete his task.
Beowulf is the ideal image of an epic hero. Readers understand the Anglo-Saxon culture and lifestyle through the actions and the decisions made throughout this epic poem. The descriptions of the battles that Beowulf face are another important factor when learning about the Anglo- Saxon culture. Once any reader finishes the epic poem Beowulf, they will have a clear understanding of the culture and lifestyle of the Anglo-Saxon people.

Shayet

8/14/2012 11:55:20 am

Here is the text that was cut off. Also, I had said that the reason I used quotation marks around the titles was because these comments don't allow for italicized text, but that was cut off as well.

that and go/unwillingly to inhabit another home/in a place beyond; so every man must yield/the leasehold of his days.” (175) Mortality is symbolized by Grendel, as well. The Danes who die by his hand are an ever-present reminder in the story of how quickly a life can be snuffed out. Yet despite being surrounded by so much death, the surviving Danes have a desire to keep on living. It is the basis of human nature and something that will never change, despite the many years between the Danes and present-day mankind.
While "Beowulf" may seem far-fetched at first glance, it is a story that contains many topics that are still relevant today. Concepts of glory, death, strength, and fate are always current in human society, as proven by this epic poem. It does not just give the reader insight on the Anglo-Saxon era, but current times, as well. Perhaps this is why "Beowulf" has lasted for so long.

SH

Justin Silverberg 2

8/15/2012 01:43:47 am

Part of my response was cut off so this is the rest

he saw the footprints of the prowler who had stolen too close to his dreaming head.” This scene starts the conflict that will soon occur between the dragon and Beowulf along with Wiglaf. The dragon soon takes his anger to the Geats’ civililization. The dragon is described to be “belching out flames and burning bright homesteads.” In between this moment and the fight between the dragon and Beowulf, Beowulf inherits the throne from Hygelac. Finally, Beowulf encounters the Dragon and the scene is described as, “…a gushing stream that’s burst from the barrow, blazing and wafting a deadly heat.” This is incredible imagery as the reader can just picture the dragon blowing a deadly burst of fire at Beowulf. These are the last moments for both Beowulf and the dragon as Wiglaf is there to avenge the death of Beowulf.
Beowulf’s impressive journey of saving both the Danes and Geats is truly remarkable, but too much hubris along with an old body leads to Beowulf being slain by the dragon. Beowulf is a true hero due to his voyage to a foreign land to save people he has no emotional attachment to, and his loyalty to his local men and land. Some people may say it was selfish to fight the dragon, but Beowulf knew he would leave the Geats in good hands if he did die. His courage, bravery, and loyalty are truly remarkable traits that Beowulf possesses. Unfortunately, like any other epic hero, Beowulf dies from too much hubris in a very honorable way; attempting to save his land from a vicious dragon.

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