Arredondo 1

Giselle Arredondo

Ms. Figueroa

Senior English 1

7 December, 2018

Anglo-Saxon values in Beowulf

"Great heroes need great sorrows and burdens, or half of their greatness goes unnoticed. It is all

part of the fairy tale,"(Peter S. Beagle). The Anglo-Saxons were a Germanic tribe that occupied the region

which is now Schleswig Holstein, Germany. They believed in the same God as the Vikings. Anglo-Saxon

culture values are the principles that influence and shape the everyday life of a citizen. Beowulf tells the

story of a young Getish warrior who comes to the aid of Hrothgar, the king of Danes, whose kingdom is

being terrorized by a monster named Grendel. Beowulf uses all of his values to kill Grendel in Hrothgar's

mead hall, named Heorot, and then to murder Grendel's vengeful mother without compassion.

Beowulf triumph killing the dragon, but pass away during the fight. To begin, the epic poem of

Beowulf it is embodied by bravery, loyalty and its heroic spirit in several degrees and instances. The first

value exemplified in Beowulf is bravery. Beowulf is recognize for his powerful strength, but also displays

a different courage in many circumstances. First, he realized the dangerous journey by sea to Heorot, then

he proposes to fight Grendel, and finally struggle with and slay the creature without use a weapon. The

first example of Beowulf’s bravery occurs when Beowulf says, "I've never known fear, as a youth I

fought in endless battles. I am old now, but I will fight again, seek fame still, if the dragon hiding in his

tower dares to face me", (Beowulf, 607-611). This quote is an instance that Beowulf knew that the fight

with Grendel could be dangerous but he did not care and he decided to give his life for his people.

In all, Beowulf does, he venerates honor, is humble, comes to serve, and expects success if God

wills it, not by his own strength his service is greater than he is, or what he accomplishes different from

some of "today's heroes. Another example occurs when Wiglaf says, "I remember how we sat in the
 Arredondo 2

mead-hall, drinking and boasting of how brave we'd be when Beowulf needed us, he who gave us these

swords and armor: all of us when the time came, kindness for kindness", (Wiglaf 708-712). In this cite ,

it adduce that even when everyone ran for their life, none of his comrades came to him, helped him, his

supposed brave and noble followers, escape deep between the landscape. Beowulf declares that, if our

fate has not been decided yet, we can succeed through courageous behavior. Those quotes make reference

that Beowulf is a hero because of his outstanding fighting skills and his great strength. Furthermore, in

Beowulf we see the value of loyalty to leaders many times, and towards his community.

Beowulf was loyalty to all of his kin, kingdom, king, country and his subjects. For example,

when Beowulf told his followers, "and only one of them remained, stood there, miserable, remembering,

as a good man must, what kinship should mean. His name was Wiglaf", (Beowulf, 694-697). It explains

that Beowulf only wanted to serve and protect in his life, nothing more. It shows loyalty by using strength

for God and serving the people. It can be notice the loyalty when Hrothgar welcomes Beowulf saying,

"Beowulf, you've come to us in friendship, and because of the reception your father found at

court."(Hrothgar 191-192). This cite detail the Anglo-Saxon value because of Hrothgar's intervention,

there was peace between the Geats and Danes, thus guaranteeing the loyalty of Beowulf’s family.

It is important to know that Beowulf was loyal to his family honor, his homeland, his king, and

his men, making loyalty a powerful motivating force for this man who puts others' needs before his own.

The third and last value exemplified in Beowulf is heroism. In this epic poem, the Anglo-Saxon hero is

characterized by the actions of Beowulf. His courage and strength are unique and he is more humble that

almost every of the corrupt warriors around him, as an example of the value of heroism, Beowulf said

farewell to his followers, "I'd use not sword, no weapon, if this beast could be killed without it, crushed to

death like Grendel, gripped in my hands and torn limb from limb", (Beowulf, 613-616). This quote

demonstrates that Beowulf notes that if Grendel fights without a sword, he will do the same; God will

decide who should win. It teach us that Beowulf fights honorably using his hands; his fate is as God

decrees it.
 Arredondo 3

In addition, before the fight Beowulf says, "I've never known fear, as a youth I fought in endless

battles. I am old now, but I will fight again, seek fame still, if the dragon hiding in his tower dares to face

me", (Beowulf, 607-611). Beowulf was a hero not just because of his concern for other people, but also

for his mental and physical strength. In all, Beowulf does, he venerates honor, is humble, comes to serve,

and expects success if God wills it, not by his own strength his service is greater than he is, or what he

accomplishes different from some of "today's heroes" To conclude, the epic poem of Beowulf relates the

story of a fighting man that transmits a message full of teachings and values as bravery, loyalty, and

heroic spirit. We have to be brave because who does not risk, don’t know what could happen.
 Arredondo 4

Work Cited Page

Ashely Kannan. DEStech Transactions on Social Science, Education and Human Science.

“Compare and Contrast the Queen of Late Anglo-Saxon England and Early Norman

England.” June 28, 2018

Companion to Anglo - Saxon Literature. A Companion to Anglo - Saxon Literature. 2001.

“Values and Beliefs of Anglo-Saxon Society-4” History Studies International Journal of

History.” Krupa S. “Values During The Middle Ages”FebrArticle Title Figure 2f from:

Irimia R, Gottschling M (2016) Taxonomic revision of Rochefortia Sw. (Ehretiaceae,

Boraginales). Biodiversity Data Journal 4: e7720. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.4.e7720uary

3, 2010.

Doug Stuva. “In what ways do you think Beowulf reveals the values of the Anglo-Saxon society?”

Strategic Design Research Journal. July 30, 2018.