Epic Poetry And Beowulf Pg

Epic Poetry and Beowulf Pg
Epic poems have a unique set of characteristics that distinguish them from just an ordinary poem.
An epic poem must contain a hero that is male, noble, and of importance to society who gives long
formal speeches and travels over a vast setting. In the epic poem, Beowulf, the reader can see
distinct Anglo–Saxon political, economic, and religious values in the actions of the characters and
the things happening around them. Wealth in the Anglo–Saxon society, as seen in Beowulf, was used
as a means of reparations, rewards, and political standings. One can also tell that the Anglo–Saxons
where in a state of limbo between Christian and Pagan beliefs because of the ideas expressed by the
hero and his colleagues in Beowulf. The political standings ... Show more content on
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Paganism can also be found during the poem when the narrator discusses fate, the nonexistence of
an afterlife, and the concept of fate. Before entering the dragons tower Beowulf tells his followers
that he will fight until "fate decides which of us [he or the dragon] wins" (Beowulf pg. 53). Fate is
only a belief in Pagan religion; Christians don't believe in a predetermined destiny. When Beowulf is
fighting the dragon and he begins to sense defeat he reflects on "a journey into darkness that all men
must make, as death ends their few brief hours on earth." (Beowulf pg.54). This "journey into
darkness" alerts the reader that Beowulf believes that his only life is here on earth and will venture
on to darkness with no afterlife. Christians believe that there is a life after death in heaven as
opposed to Pagans who believe in death as an end of existence.
Scattered in the poem the reader can find literary devices including stock epithets, kennings,
alliteration, allusions, hyperbole, and imagery. Stock epithets are adjectives that point out a special
trait of a character. One example of a stock epithet can be found in line 324 of Beowulf when
Grendel is described as being a "sin–stained demon" (Beowulf pg. 42). A kenning is a poetic
synonym found in Germanic poems as seen when Beowulf is called the "noble protector of all
seamen" (Beowulf pg.50). Alliteration is the repetition of
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Anglo-Saxon Poems : The Wanderer And The Seafarer
The Anglo–Saxon poems "The Wanderer" and "The Seafarer" share many of the same elements that
make them similar. The Wanderer and the Seafarer, the protagonists, are both exiled from their
society. During the separation of the protagonists from their comitatus and their exile from their
society, they experience a series of physical adversities.These hardships provoke spiritual and
emotional needs in the minds of the Seafarer and the Wanderer. At the end of both poems there is an
addendum by the Christian monks in an attempt to influence the Anglo–Saxons at the time. One of
the similarities between the Wanderer and the Seafarer is the separation of the protagonists from
their comitatus and exile from their society. The Wanderer is separated from his comitatus because
he escapes from a war and leaves them. During this time all the members of his comitatus die
leaving him to be the only survivor of his comitatus. The Wanderer is also an exile because the
members of the society do not accept him when they realize what he did to his comitatus. At the
very beginning of "The Wanderer", the narrator states that he is "sailing endlessly and aimlessly in
exile" and further into the poem he says that he is "alone, an exile in every land". The Seafarer
separates himself from his comitatus for atonement of his sins and he is an exile because while he
goes "back and forth...in a hundred ships, in a hundred ports" that he becomes Christian so he goes
on '"the paths of exile stretch

How Does Beowulf Contribute To Our Understanding Of Anglo...
The primary objective of historians is to determine the culture of civilizations in the past. Historians
use literature, artifacts, and folktales to grasp an understanding of a specific culture. The epic poem,
Beowulf is the first piece of literature known to the English language. Unlike the hundreds of other
English literature, Beowulf gives readers an insight into the culture of Anglo–Saxons in southern
Sweden between the time period of 449–1066 AD. Beowulf contributes to the understanding of the
Anglo–Saxon culture by including information about power, religion, and reward. Throughout the
poem, Beowulf is constantly proving this heroicness by crucifying the fiends that are terrorizing
Geatland. After defeating Grendel, Beowulf is rewarded with "a gold standard as a victory gift,"
(69). This simple reward provides acumen for the use of gold within this time period; the Anglo–
Saxons did not use gold as a mean of currency but rather as an identifier for a social class. This
quote implies that instead of paying for food with gold, the Anglo–Saxons bartered. Another use of
gold within the epic poem, is Beowulf's barrow that is constructed and filled with treasure after he
dies. This further demonstrates how treasure was not viewed as currency during the Anglo–Saxon
time period. From the beginning of civilization, women were not considered powerful, ... Show
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This suggests that many of the references to God were not in the original story. Beowulf lacks
certain pagan beliefs such as believing in more than one God. The religion aspect of the poem is not
true to the culture of the Anglo–Saxons. The epic poem includes the biblical story of Cain and Abel
to describe Grendel's mother (89). This description would have not been included in the oral poem
because it directly identifies with Christian beliefs. The lack of pagan beliefs and conflict of interest
weakens the authenticity of the

Importance Of Anglo-Saxon Loyalty In Beowulf
The Anglo Saxons were an interesting people that were loyal to their lord. Each group had a leader
that commanded and directed the warriors. Loyalty was an important part of the Anglo Saxons
culture. In Beowulf, the Anglo Saxons were expected to remain loyal to their leader as he was
responsible for protecting them in battle. The leaders of the Anglo Saxons were admired for their
courage and determination as they guided the group of warriors in their endeavors. In "The Wife's
Lament", the wife remains loyal to her lord even though she is treated harshly by him. She chased
after him when he left, and continued to love him after he ostracized her. As evident in Beowulf and
"The Wife's Lament", the Anglo Saxons greatly relied on a noble leader to protect them from danger
and direct them towards success; as a result, the followers were loyal to their lord by showing
reverence and admiration as well as honouring their legacy, even if the lord neglected to fulfill his
duties. Throughout their journey and various battles, Beowulf and Wiglaf remained loyal to their
lords. While in Denmark, Beowulf remains loyal to his king, Higlac, and the other warriors remain
loyal to Beowulf. During his formal boast, Beowulf told his men that "my hands shall fight for me"
as "My lord Higlac, might think less of me" (246–270) if he fought with weapons. Beowulf wanted
to impress his lord and not disappoint him in battle. He feared that he would bring shame to his lord
if he fought with weapons or

Compare And Contrast Beowulf And Anglo Saxon Literature
The Anglo Saxon literatures were written very similar that they all shared common themes. One of
them was the character qualities which the writers of Anglo Saxon Literatures each liked to
incorporate similarly in their work. The story would have fictional characters appear in the story,
and the characters showed their qualities through description, dialogue and action. Sometimes the
story does not have fictional characters; instead the writer appeared as the character of the story and
developed his qualities through their expression of feelings and desires. The Anglo Saxon literatures
such as "Caedmon's Hymn", "The Dream of the Rood", Beowulf, "Judith", "The Wanderer" and
"The Wife's Lament" will be compared to show how writers had similar ideas relating to character
qualities. The first character quality the Anglo Saxon characters show was their faith toward
Christianity. Since religion was one of the most important identity during the Anglo Saxon era, most
of the writers exposed their writing to religion so that there was a common interest between the
writing and the readers. In "Caedmon's Hymn", Caedmon wrote his song that he sang while he was
sleeping. His entire poem was about him praising God; in line 1–5 of "Caedmon's Hymn" he praised
God of his creations, in line 6–17 Caedmon listed His creation of mankind, heaven, earth and
protectors of mankind, and in the last line he closed his poem by praising His name. In "The Dream
of the Rood" the man who was portrait as a

History Of Ancient Poetry Ghosh ( 1 )
History of the ancient poetry GHOSH (1)
The period of time of concerning 500–100AD in British history was characterized by foreign
invasions and internal struggles. This resulted within the admixture of many races, tongues and
cultures. Once the Romans departed from British Isles in 407 AD fighting continuing between the
Picts and therefore the Scots who had lost their common enemy. The fifth century additionally saw
conquests and therefore the gradual occupation by Germanic tribes – Angles, Jutes and Saxons –
who had rapt north to Scandinavia and from there to Great Britain aside from creating conquests,
these tribes most popular agricultural life, had sturdy family and social group ties, and were terribly
loyal to their king or chief. The legendary King Arthur defeated the Saxons in 490 AD and for a few
decades halted their advance. At the top of the sixth century, the Anglo–Saxons accepted
Christianity once Pope Gregory sent Saint St. Augustine to Great Britain in 597 AD. (The Romans
had introduced Christianity to the Celts centuries earlier.) This gave rise to some spiritual writings.
At the top of the eighth century the Vikings (also called Norsemen or Danes) invaded the country,
simply overcame the native inhabitants, and looted their estates. it absolutely was not till the reign of
King the good (871 –900) that their advance was stopped.
With their acceptance of Christianity, the Danes part merging in with the native individuals.

Loyalty In Beowulf
Literature in a certain time period can reflect the ideals and values of the people who existed during
the time period. values such as loyalty, heroism, and paganism conflicted with Christianity. Many of
these deals from the Anglo Saxon period can easily be compared to the situations in the epic poem
Beowulf
Uniquely, loyalty is a highly valued ideal in the Anglo Saxon period. In Beowulf, loyalty is shown in
the kingdom that Beowulf helps. Along with the fact that the village would celebrate often. This
vividly paints a picture of how even though the Anglo Saxons are barbaric they value the family
unit, tribal loyalty, and the kingdom as a whole.In the poem Beowulf it states " all of Beowulf's band
had jumped from their beds, ancestral swords raised and read and determined"(Burton Raffel 31).
This expresses that a large band of people were loyal to Beowulf when they rushed over to join the
cause. This contributes that love and loyalty in the kingdom. Notable this reflects how loyalty was
valued to the Anglo Saxons.
Comparatively, heroism is another valued ideal in the Anglo Saxon period. Heroism can be shown in
Beowulf because of the themes of courage and skill in ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Many of the pagan ideas stayed and both are depicted in the poem. Omens are something pagan that
the poem mentions. The omens were good and they urged the adventure on. So Beowulf chose the
mightiest men he could find. Omens are general something more associated with a pagan religion.
This is one aspect of the poem where the values of paganism shine through. On the other hand,
Christianity is also themed in the poem. For example the quote The almighty making the earth and
shaping these beautiful plains marked off by oceans. Then proudly setting the sun and the moon.
The almighty refers to god in the Christian religion. The rest of the quote describes slightly a
creation story also part of

Beowulf : An Anglo Saxon Hero
Beowulf: An Anglo–Saxon Hero The Anglo–Saxons' cultures and traditions are rooted in their
beliefs of the perfect hero. Their ideal hero has many key characteristics influenced by their culture
including courage, strength, bravery, thick skin, loyalty, humbleness, and the ability to create strong
trustworthy friendships. Beowulf is an epic poem that exhibits the ideal Anglo–Saxon hero. The
Anglo–Saxon traditions illustrated in Beowulf accurately represent the Anglo–Saxon traditions of
the time period. This is accomplished through the distinct correlation of heroic characteristics
between Beowulf and the culture's traditional depiction of an Anglo–Saxon hero. Anglo–Saxons
believed that, "to be a hero was to be a warrior" (Garcia). They ... Show more content on
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Humbleness was also key for an Anglo–Saxon hero as it proved respectability and honor towards
the hero. Anglo–Saxons wanted their hero to prove their strength and courage, however, they did not
want the hero to become a dictator of any kind. Strong friendships were known as the most trustable
alliances an Anglo–Saxon hero could form for battles (Trekker2392). It was key for an Anglo–Saxon
hero to have the ability to create strong friendships around him. Beowulf perfectly identifies to all
five of these main characteristics throughout the epic poem. Courage, bravery, and strength are three
heroic Anglo–Saxon characteristics that tie together perfectly. Without courage, you will not have
strength and bravery. Without strength and bravery, you will not have the courage to face your
challenges. Anglo–Saxons believed three of these characteristics were perfectly interwoven in the
ideal Anglo–Saxon hero (Garcia). Beowulf identifies to three of these Anglo–Saxon characteristics
flawlessly as he fights the monstrous Grendel. Courage means fighting even if it means death; it
means challenging your fate and being brave no matter the circumstance (Cascio). Beowulf shows
special strength and bravery when he has the courage to renounce his use of weapons and protection
when battling Grendel. "No weapons, therefore, for either this night: unarmed he [Grendel] shall
face me if face

Religion In Beowulf
Beowulf: A Christian Book
Beowulf, a poem written around the 10th to 11th century, is a very detailed poem describing some of
the actions a character by the name of Beowulf does. It takes place in Anglo–Saxon time (British
Library, n.d., p. 1). Throughout the first episode, characters are very boastful and like to roast each
other as well. This poem later gets pretty violent and gruesome. However, many people think
Beowulf is a Christian poem. Others say it isn't. Beowulf is a Christian poem and not a pagan one
for many reasons. These include that God is talked a lot about throughout the whole poem, even that
pagan parts to this book have a different meaning than what is said, and Beowulf is made after Jesus
Christ. First off, throughout ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
For example, throughout the first episode, people are being terrorized by Grendel. Beowulf comes
along and slays the beast to save all the people, acting as a savior to all these needy folks. He barely
knew these Danish people yet he came and saved their lives. The Danes thought of him as their
savior sent to them by God. He came out of nowhere and saved their lives. He put himself in harm's
way to protect the group of people he barely knew. Jesus did that in His life by saving all of us
(Matthew 18). He came and defeated the beast which was death and rose again on the third day.
Though Beowulf didn't die and come back to life, he did do some very Christ–like actions as a man.
He saves lives just as Jesus did. Now, Jesus Christ was long dead by the time this poem was written.
However, if this book was a pagan book, how could the Anglo–Saxons even find ways to compare
Beowulf to Jesus Christ. They wouldn't even know who he is. The author of this book knew who
Jesus was and based his main character after Him. Who could be a better main character than a man
who resembles Jesus Christ? Really nothing can beat that. The author of the poem had a genius
thought when writing it by letting Beowulf be like Jesus. This proves again that Beowulf is a
Christian book and no a pagan

The Anglo-Saxon poems, The Wanderer, The Seafarer, and...
The Anglo–Saxon poems, "The Wanderer," "The Seafarer," and "The Wife's Lament"
The Old English, or Anglo–Saxon, era of England lasted from about 450–1066 A.D. The tribes from
Germany that conquered Britain in the fifth century carried with them both the Old English
language and a detailed poetic tradition. The tradition included alliteration, stressed and unstressed
syllables, but more importantly, the poetry was usually mournful, reflecting on suffering and
loss.1These sorrowful poems from the Anglo Saxon time period are mimetic to the Anglo–Saxons
themselves; they reflect the often burdened and miserable lives and times of the people who created
them. The Anglo–Saxon poems, "The Wanderer," "The Seafarer," and "The Wife's Lament," ...
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The comitatus "stressed the loyalty of a thane to his chieftain and treated exile and outlawry as the
most tragic lots that could befall one. This secular sense of loss is keen in The Wanderer."6 Not only
is the loss of a lord evident in "The Wanderer," but in "The Seafarer" and "The Wife's Lament" as
well.
The poem "The Wanderer" speaks of a man who has been exiled from his clan, and is now forced to
roam the land alone. Separation from his fellow kinsmen and lord seems to be the worst fate
imaginable. The man speaks of his great loss, remembering the time when he was happy with his
liege,
When friendships are no more. His fortune is exile,
Not gifts of fine gold; a heart that is frozen,
Earth's wisomeness dead. And he dreams of the hall–men,
The dealing of treasure, the days of his youth,
When his lord bade welcome to wassail and feast.
But gone is that gladness, and never again
Shall come the loved counsel of comrade and king.
(II. 27–34)
The speaker of "The Seafarer" is also an outcast sailing the sea in solitude, and he speaks similarly
of his exile from his lord and kinsmen: "Wretched and anxious, in the paths of exile/ Lacking dear
friends, hung round by icicles." (II. 14–15) He seems to believe that if he has lost his fellow warriors
and lord, or his friends,

Analysis Of The Poem ' The Anglo Saxons '
The Anglo–Saxons believed that when a man was injured or killed wrongfully, he should be
avenged by his kinsmen. One form of atonement for a wrongful death was the wer–gild, which
means "man gold" where the family of the deceased was paid a sum to compensate them. Given that
the Anglo–Saxons believed heavily in honor and leaving a legacy, since they had no afterlife, not
paying the wer–gild was an extremely disrespectful action. This is displayed in Beowolf narrated as
"...long against Hrothgar / Grendel struggled: his grudges he cherished, / murderous malice, many a
winter, / strife unremitting, and peacefully wished he / life–woe to lift from no liegeman at all of the
men of / the Dane–folk, for money to settle, / no counsellor needed count for a moment / on
handsome amends at the hands of the murderer;" (Beowolf), meaning that Grendel was brutally
murdering Hrothgar's men for many winters and would give no money to settle the wer–gild,
bringing dishonor to the lord's name. 3. Green Belt/ Girdle As he tries to be a good, chivalrous
knight, Sir Gawain must flatter the lord's wife while not insulting her or breaking his vows or
promises to the lord. So when the lord's wife appears in his room and gets in his bed in attempt to
sleep with him, he has to flatter her and declare his undying love for her without sinning and
actually having sex with her. After he successfully avoids her temptation, she offers him "a rich ring
of red gold work, / with a sparking stone glittering

Anglo Saxon Culture In Beowulf
Throughout the epic poem of Beowulf by Seamus Heaney, there are many classic aspects of Anglo–
Saxon culture that exemplify the pursuit of glory. The structure of Anglo–Saxon culture bases
heavily on the idea of glory, consisting of glory towards their God, king, kin, and themselves. There
are several examples that show this, most notably including phrases from Beowulf and the journey
of the epic hero. The glory for God and the king are closely related in the book, "The Almighty
Judge of good deeds and bad/ the Lord God, Head of the Heavens/ and High King of the World"
(Heaney 180–188). God plays a big role in Beowulf's journey, giving his thanks for the several
victories he has achieved from his God given strength. Similarly, Beowulf's loyalty to his king
Hrothgar is valued somewhat equal to God, with Hrothgar gifting him weapons, armor, and eight
horses fitted with gold bridles after defeating Grendel (915–1152). ... Show more content on
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In Beowulf's final battle as the king of Geatland is against a fiery dragon, in where he brings along
eleven men to fight beside him. When the fight turns against their favor, all but the most loyal
Wiglaf has ran away from cowardice. After the perilous fight with the dragon, Beowulf had passed
and Wiglaf became the new king of Geatland for his bravery. "Before long/the battle–dodgers
abandoned the wood,/the ones who had let down their lord earlier,/the tail–turners, ten of them
together./When he needed them most, they had made off./Now they were ashamed and came behind
shields,/in their battle–outfits, to where the old man lay" (2845–2851). Even after the death of
Beowulf and the dragon, king Wiglaf banished the ten warriors for their cowardice resulting in
Beowulf's demise

Women In Beowulf
In the essay you will be introduced to the women of Beowulf, and the roles they played in this era.
First, one may want to know who Beowulf is. Beowulf is an Old English poem by an anonymous
Anglo–Saxon poet. The poem is made up of three thousand lines that tells the story of 3 different
battles. The period started in 410 and ended in 1066.
Anglo– Saxons lived in the Migration period. That's when moved from one place to another due to
the war at the time which caused them to move. It came to an end with Edward had died and gave
the kingdom to William of Normandy. Harold was crowned to take over but failed after he tried to
defend his crown. William and his army came and took the crown from him. After Harold was
defeated a new era had come and took over. The settlers bought small kingdoms and sub–kingdoms.
Anglo–Saxons describes the rise and ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It was an epic story hero full of brave heroes and Anglo– Saxons had brave heroes. The story had
courage, strength, and loyalty warriors in here and this was an Anglo– Saxon honor base. A warrior
had to face all obstacles and fight for glory. "I have never seen a mightier warrior on earth than is
one of you, a man in battle–dress" (Beowulf, 7). In this quote someone is telling him how strong of
brave he is to the culture. In an argument with Unferth, Beowulf says, "Fate often saves an
undammed man when his courage is good" (Beowulf, 12). That mean that the Anglo–Saxon culture
was important to many people. Also, women had to take care of the household and watch the kids
while the men went to protect the country in Beowulf. In Anglo–Saxon period the women did the
exact same thing that Beowulf describes. The story also tells how they converted their faith to
Christianity. Basically Beowulf and the Anglo–Saxon time period is telling us that it a strong,
courage person to become a hero. That the culture to them is very important and that they will do
anything to protect

Generosity And Values Of The Epic Of Beowulf
The Anglo–Saxons were a people who lived in England during the fifth century. They strongly
believed in fate and valued traits such as courage, generosity, faithfulness and, most importantly,
strength. This is shown through the many epic poems that were composed and performed by the
Anglo–Saxons during this time period. One of the most well known epics Beowulf, celebrates the
deeds of the legendary and heroic Geat warrior named Beowulf. In Beowulf, physical strength is the
defining factor of a warrior's worth.
One instance of the connection between physical strength and worth illustrated in Beowulf occurs
when Beowulf battles Grendel. When news spreads of a horrific monster terrorizing Denmark,
Beowulf is quick to step up to the challenge ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This concept is reiterated when King Hrothgar tells Beowulf, "'[His] fame is everywhere... / Reaches
to the end of the earth, and [he] hold[s] it in [his] heart wisely, / Patient with [his] strength" upon
discovering Beowulf had actually won the battle (1703–1706). When Hrothgar discovers he and the
Danes had actually misinterpreted the situation and Beowulf was still a warrior of great strength, he
immediately returns to deeming Beowulf as worthy of praise and support, illustrating the clear
connection between a warrior's success and value. The drastic change in the way Hrothgar treats
Beowulf before and after he learns of the true outcome of the battle quite obviously shows how
strength is directly linked to how a warrior is viewed and treated in Anglo–Saxon society.
The final relevant case of strength being used as the defining characteristic of a worthy warrior
arises when a dragon attacks Geatland. As the king of Greatland at the time, Beowulf accepts the
challenge and tells his people "'I've never known fear... / I will fight again, seek fame still, / If the
dragon hiding in his tower dares / To face me.' Then he said farewell to his followers each in turn"
(2511, 2513–2517). The way the people of Geatland remain by his side while he claims to have the
ability to defeat the dragon illustrates how the Geats believe Beowulf is worthy of their support
merely based on his physical strength. However, as soon as Beowulf's confident claims of

Justice In The Wanderer And Beowulf
History has shown that during the Anglo– Saxon time period, the ideals and values of the people
were very important to them. The Anglo– Saxons were a people that inhabited modern day Britain.
They migrated from the western part of the continent of Europe to Britain during the 5th century.
The time period that Anglo– Saxon people inhabited Britain became known as the Anglo– Saxon
period in English history. This period lasted between 500– 1066 AD. During this time period, stories
had not yet begun to be printed into books, so stories were spread by word of mouth, and became
known as epic poems. Later in history, a book was developed called The Exeter, which was a
gathering of anonymous epic poems from the Anglo– Saxon period, and within the ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
During that time period, a king was the most important person to someone and he was regarded
almost as high as a god would be. Because of this high regard for a king, loyalty to that king and
acting on his behalf was extremely important. This is exemplified in "The Wanderer" when the
narrator states "I might find one who in mead–hall might accept my affection, or on me, friendless,
might wish consolation, offer me joy" (Lines 27–29). This quote shows that the narrator in "The
Wanderer" is searching for a king to serve because he has lost his. It is also shown that he finds
support and joy in having a king to look towards for guidance. Likewise, in "Beowulf" his purpose
is to serve a king that is not his own as stated in lines 415– 426, "So every elder and experienced
councilman among my people supported my resolve come here to you, King Hrothgar, because all
knew of my awesome strength. They had seen me boltered in the blood of the enemies when I
battled and bound five beasts, raided a troll–next and in the night–sea slaughtered sea–brutes. I have
suffered extremes and avenged the Geats Now I mean to be a match for Grendel, settle the outcome
in single combat" (Lines 415–426). This quotation exemplifies Beowulf's need to help the king,
Hrothgar, defeat Grendel, because loyalty and seeking justice on behalf of the king was his

Comparing The Book 'The Hero With A Thousand Faces'
The epic poem Beowulf, the book The Hero with a Thousand Faces, and many other literature
works all have references from the Anglo–Saxon period. The Anglo–Saxons had a very interesting
way of interpreting their way of life into great stories. Some of those interpretations are as follows:
true calling vs honor and glory, the symbolization of monsters, and the struggle of life. These
interpretations will show how the Anglo–Saxon period and the epic poem relate together.
Stories and poems from the Anglo–Saxons period have a hero with a true calling. The hero in story
will usually have some kind of a quest they need to complete to fulfill their assumed role. From a
book called The Hero with a Thousand Faces written by Joseph Campbell, there is ... Show more
Honor can also be earned by being a good leader such as a king. There are many poems that display
how a hero or king will receive honor. But can battling against someone or something go too far
when the hero's honor or his a opponent was on the line. In the poem the Iliad from book 22: The
Death of Hector translated by Robert Fagles. In the Iliad there is battle between Achilles and Hector.
The battle started as a result of Hector killing Achilles' dear friend Patroclus.During the battle
Hector knows he is going to die,so he asked Achilles for a dying requested. Hector wanted to die an
honor and knowing that he tried his best protect his friend and family. Achilles applies to Hector's
request to kill him in a honorable battle. But in the end Achilles defeats Hector. According to the
passage while Hector was clinging to his last breath, he said to Achilles, "I beg you, beg you by your
life, your parents don't let the dogs devour me by the Argive ships! Wait, take the princely ransom of
bronze and gold, the gifts my father and noble mother will give you but give my body to friends to
carry home again, so Trojan men and Trojan women can do me honor with fitting rites of fire once I
am dead" (Fagles the Iliad 73). But Achilles did not honor this request, instead he made a mockery
out of Hector's corpse. The passage states, "now he was bent

Beowulf: Similarities Of An Anglo-Saxon Hero
Beowulf portrays identical similarities of an Anglo–Saxon hero. Beowulf is the first epic poem that
has ever been written. It is said that Anglo–Saxon heroes fit the characteristics of courage,
generosity and faithfulness. Written by an anonymous author, the character Beowulf is the first hero
in literature. This changed literature in many ways. A ton of stories contain heroic characters in
them.
Faithfulness is one of the important traits of an Anglo–Saxon hero. In the beginning of the poem,
Beowulf makes a promise to Higlac, the king of the Geats. He vows that he "would sail across the
sea to Hrothgar". He is seeking permission from Hrothgar to battle Grendel. The fact that Beowulf is
willing enough to sail across the sea to defeat Grendel truly shows how faithful he is to Higlac.
Anglo–Saxon heroes are always extremely courageous. Beowulf shows a tremendous amount of
courage in this poem. He makes the promise to fight Grendel without using any armor. He declares
this by saying "my hands alone shall fight for me". ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Beowulf is linked to generosity in this poem. The fact the Beowulf was kind hearted and caring
enough to die for his people shows an extreme amount of both courage and generosity. It is very
important for a king to have both of these characteristics. These are the heroic traits of an Anglo–
Saxon hero. It makes perfect sense because a king should always be heroic.
There is no doubt that Beowulf is a hero. Beowulf shows the exact same characteristics of an
Anglo–Saxon hero. He was faithful to Higlac by sacrificing to go to his land to battle Grendel. Also,
Beowulf showed courage and generosity many times throughout the poem. Beowulf did everything
that he possibly could do to be a hero. Not many people would be willing to give there life for other
people. That automatically proves the point that Beowulf fits the characteristics of an Anglo–Saxon

Courage In Beowulf
Beowulf Essay
Beowulf, an epic poem, was written by an anonymous author who described the Anglo–Saxon era.
During this era, Anglo–Saxon heroes were classified as courageous, generous and faithful. In the
poem, the character Beowulf is classified as an Anglo–Saxon hero. People of the Anglo–Saxon era
spoke what is now known as Old English. A characteristic of Beowulf is courageous. Courage is the
ability to do something that frightens you. Beowulf wasn't necessarily frightened, but he did do
something that frightened the men of Hrothgar. Beowulf does many things to show his courage to
the people of Hrothgar. One way he shows his courage is when he fights Grendel, the monster who
was killing and eating the men of Hrothgar, without any

Examples Of Diction In Beowulf
Beowulf speaks volumes about the ways of life during the Anglo–Saxon period. It is to England
what Homer's Odyssey and Iliad are to Greece. It is, as some call it, the mother poem of England.
This mother poem has been passed down through oral tradition for numerous years and scholars
believe that an educated Christian monk transcribed the poem, preserving it in written form.
Beowulf has survived for nearly 1,300 years due to how well it conveys the Anglo–Saxon culture
and the unique characteristics of the poem in its imagery, tone, style and diction. This epic poem
depicts picturesque imagery of various kinds. It is acutely gruesome in many instances, such as the
battle with Grendel and the description of hell's captive and his mother. The ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
With much alliteration, imaginative kennings, and caesura. The narrator uses strong alliteration and
does so quite intricately, using single, double and triple alliterations at points throughout the poem;
such as in lines 30–32, "Then, when darkness had dropped, Grendel / Went up to Herot, wondering
what the warriors / Would do in that hall when their drinking was done." (L. 30–32) The narrator
frequently uses kennings in this poem. A kenning in Anglo–Saxon literature is a metaphorical phrase
or compound word that names an event, person, place, or thing indirectly. There are four different
types of kennings that the narrator uses within Beowulf which are prepositional phrase (ex. shepherd
of evil = Grendel, guardian of crime = Grendel), hyphenated compound (ex. sea–road = the ocean,
ring–giver = king), possessive (ex. God's bright beacon = the sun), and open compound (ex. wakeful
sleeper = Beowulf) kennings. A unique quality of the style of Beowulf is caesura, which is seen in
nearly every line within the poem. Caesura is a characteristic of Old English poetry; it is a pause or a
break within a line of poetry and it is usually indicated by the natural rhythm of the language.
Alliteration coincides with caesura; usually the first stressed syllable before the caesura alliterates
with the first stressed syllable after the

Character Analysis Of The Wonder Woman In The Wonder Woman
Anglo saxon literature is one of the many building blocks of what is called literature today. Over a
thousand years ago during the anglo–saxon times, people would commonly write novels or poems
that revolved around heroes and other ubiquitous subjects such as monsters. In the film wonder
woman directed by Patty Jenkins heroic ideals are represented through the main character Diana
Prince. The daughter of Queen Hippolyta is characterized with the typical heroic ideal: strong,
selfless, and loyal. Throughout the film, the audience are presented with all kinds of characterization
that is credible by anglo saxon roots. In modern day, our works of literature, films, and poems
consist of similar ideals that the anglo saxons possessed; however, we also have shifted from some
of the things that were portrayed in their works. Our contemporary ideals also consist of other ideals
such as feminism, love, and intellectual power. Diana first appears in the film as a young girl who
roamed around the paradise of themyscira. Inspired by her mother and aunt, she would stand above
the towering hills and image their fighting techniques. Desperate, to be just like them Diana insisted
to learn the ways of a warrior. Her mother, hippolyta, began to be concerned of Diana's demands and
does not want her only daughter to be gain mighty strength. The queen feared that if Diana gained
strength, she would be found by their enemy, Ares the god of war. Eventually the queen gives in to
her daughters

Examples Of Conduct In Beowulf
The Anglo–Saxons Ideals of Conduct in Beowulf
According Maya Angelou, "I think a hero is any person really intent on making on making this a
better place for all people." These words prove true for the hero in the epic poem, Beowulf, who
bravely leaves Geatland to seek glory and protects mankind from evil monsters to make the world a
better place for people. Living in a harsh world that made survival difficult, the Anglo–Saxons relied
on the community to overcome many challenge. Beowulf clearly illustrates the Anglo–Saxons ideals
of conduct.In particular, the story reveals the importance of fame and glory,loyalty and strength.
Fame and Glory emerges as one of the defining traits of the Anglo–Saxons, especially through the
character of Beowulf. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This examples Beowulf's fame and glory because he wants a gigantic tower dedicated to him, which
sailors will first approach when sailing to Denmark. Later in the poem, before the fight, Beowulf
explains,
"... My lord Higlac might think less of me if I let my sword go where my feet were afraid to..." (264)
Which shows that he very cares about people's thoughts of him . From this excerpt of text, it is clear
that Beowulf does not want to carry weapons simply because it will give people something negative
to talk about,towards him. It would have been much easier to use weapons against Grendel, but he
had to make sure that the battle would be remembered for ages.
Loyalty emerges as another one of the defining traits of the Anglo–Saxons, especially through
Beowulf and his army. When Beowulf goes off and fights, his army talks about how they should go
help because of all the things Beowulf did for them
"And boasting of how brave we'd be when Beowulf/ Needed us, he who gave us these swords/ And
armour:all of us swore to repay him,/When the time came,Kindness for

The Absence of Women in Beowulf, The Wife's Lament, and...
The Absence of Women in Beowulf, The Wife's Lament, and the Battle of Maldon
It could be argued that women are indeed present in the minority in surviving Anglo–Saxon poetry,
and that therefore, they are made conspicuous through their absence. The fact they may appear less
frequently in Old English Literature does not necessarily mean that women were any less significant
in society at this time, although this is the conclusion reached by some. It is assumed that women
did, in general, have less important and prominent social roles than men at the time, and the power
that they did possess tended to be dictated to them by males. This essay will discuss and examine
the social roles and position of the women who did appear in Old English ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
This is true of
Beowulf, as although the story of Hildeburh is told, it is not from her point of view. At the centre is
the moving depiction of Hildeburh lamenting her loss as the funeral pyre consumes her brother and
her son. Another funeral pyre, that for Beowulf himself, affords the poet an opportunity to touch
upon in more universal terms but nevertheless powerfully, the theme of the war–related sufferings of
women; an anonymous woman who: "sang a sorrowful song about Beowulf, said again and again
that she sorely feared for herself invasions of armies, many slaughters, terror of troops, humiliation,
and captivity".
The theme of the 'ritual mourner' was a predominant one in Anglo–Saxon times. This could be seen
as a show of power, the woman taking the lead in a situation that would allow her to do so, an
environment in which emotion takes priority over strength and courage. The men present at the
funeral do try to govern the funeral setting and take control of the situation through their creation of
an immense funeral fire. However, it is much easier for the woman to take over when the situation
becomes unfavourable to masculine characteristics.
Where women are present in Old English poetry, they are often looked upon as passive, or 'shadows
in an

Christianity In Beowulf Research Paper
Anglo–Saxon Values Crossed with Christianity in Beowulf The heroic epic poem, Beowulf, is a
reflection of many Anglo–Saxon ideals and concepts, but it also contains many clear references to
Christianity. By 690 A.D., Christianity had spread to Anglo–Saxons throughout Great Britain,
creating an overlapping of pagan and monotheistic beliefs. During the Dark Ages, the pagan religion
of the Anglo–Saxons was marked by their belief in fate and scarred by their bleak, short, and violent
lives. The Christian religion offered a new perspective of hope, that suffering would lead to eternal
life in heaven. Originally written down in 1000 A.D. and passed down by oral tradition, the Anglo–
Saxon epic poem, Beowulf, is an allegory that uses a folk story ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Its combination of Anglo–Saxon values, with symbols representative of the Christian faith, was used
as a device of conversion for many people of Great Britain. Beowulf was seen as a Christ figure
who sacrificed his life to save his people. Grendel was a symbol of the devil; he dragged the body
and souls of his victims back to his liar in the "lake of fire," a symbol for Hell. Beowulf's knights
were pictured as the twelve apostles; the Apostles faithfully followed Jesus, but abandoned him in
His greatest time of need. Beowulf's knights also abandoned their leader, causing his death. The
smallest of Beowulf's knights, Wiglaf, was a symbol for Peter the Apostle. Peter the Apostle was the
only apostle that was willing to fight for Jesus, and Jesus picked him to become the next leader of
the Church. Similarly, Wiglaf succeed Beowulf as King of the Geats because he was the only knight
to stand by Beowulf's side in the face of death. Moreover, the theme of Beowulf is supported by a
contrast of good and evil which is manifest in both Christian and pagan elements. Beowulf, who
represents good, battles Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon, all who represent evil or sin.
Similar to the death of Jesus, Beowulf must die in order to defeat sin, and his death brings him
eternal glory (Wilson

Exodus : A Culturally Blended Anglo Saxon Britain
Brenna Hubschman
Professor Jones
English 4513
24 September 2017
"Exodus" in a Culturally Blended, Anglo Saxon Britain
The Old English poem "Exodus" exemplifies the complex mixture of influencing forces within
Anglo Saxon culture at the time of its writing. As discussed in class, sixth and seventh century (the
time leading up to the creation of "Exodus") Britain were periods of increased Christian missionary
work. It is important to note, however, that while Christian missionaries began to greatly influence
and shape Anglo Saxon Britain, the conversion of its people was not achieved quickly or all at once.
"Cultural blending" is a term discussed in class in regards to the mode of conversion utilized by
Christian missionaries in Anglo ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The poem begins immediately by introducing a major theme within epic poetry: the journey home.
Instead of a physical journey to one's homeland, (though the Israelites to make such a journey in
Exodus) the authors makes reference to the reward of "the heart's homeland" at the end of the travel.
This statement not only exercises an awareness of the Old English poetic tool of alliteration, but also
utilizes twist on the epic literary themes that would have likely been more easily received by an
audience likely familiar with epic storytelling through Greco–Roman influence during the Roman
occupation of Britain, and/or through Germanic heroic writing such as that found in the story
Beowulf, written around the same time as "Exodus." Like the "Exodus", Beowulf "belongs
metrically, stylistically, and thematically to a heroic tradition grounded in Germanic religion and
mythology. It is also part of the broader tradition of heroic poetry (Encyclopedia Britannica)."
Further evidence of the varying influences behind "Exodus" can be seen with the victory of the
Israelites as they are given freedom from their enemies as well as favor by God, and they make their
way toward the promised land of both Heaven and Israel.
"The trumpets of victory
Sang a beautiful song of bright victory,
And the banners were raised. All of the Israelites
Were home free on

Christ Crucifixion
The "Dream of The Rood" is considered one of the finest of religious poems written during the
Anglo–Saxon period (Book). The poem begins with the narrator, whom the reader later discovers is
the rood, stating that he or she is going to talk about a dream. In said dream, the most beautiful tree
is spotted glistening with gold and gems; the tree then begins to bleed from the right side. The
entirety of the poem is describing, from the rood's point of view, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The
poem has many aspects of Anglo–Saxon literature, and differs in several ways from the actual bible
telling of the crucifixion; in "The Dream of The Rood," Jesus is depicted as more of an anglo–saxon
like warrior, the cross endures more pain than Jesus himself, and
Before the belief of the afterlife in Heaven, derived heavily from Christianity, men believed that
they would be remembered for generations to come solely by the heroic and chivalrous acts they had
done in their lifetime. The typical Anglo–Saxon hero was a warrior; he was strong, intelligent,
courageous and willing to fight to death for the love of their lords or kings (Kundu). The poet of
"The Dream of The Rood", depicts Jesus as a warrior; he feels no pain or humiliation during the
crucifixion, and the poet downplays many aspects of the biblical crucifixion in order to ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He or she referred to Christ only as "the young hero" and "the warrior." This creates an entirely
different perception of the crucifixion; this diction, or word choice, creates a vivid image of Christ
that parallels that of Beowulf. Beowulf, an admired mythical hero, was the ideal example of an
Anglo Saxon hero, he goes into nearly every fight stating that he is eager to plunge into battle. In
"The Dream of The Rood," Christ is illustrated as having strength, vigor, and courage just like

Motivation In Beowulf Essay
Beowulf's Motives
(A Discussion on Beowulf's Motivation to Kill the Three Monsters)
The "story" of Beowulf, as many call it was originally an epic poem. This poem is known
worldwide and with reason. Being presented for the first time, sometime before 1000 BC. Its also
known as the most important Greek poem ever. Alongside the well known Iliad. Both are known as
epic poems which are passed down orally but are considered long narratives. Beowulf is the earliest
of any epic poem of that time period. Beowulf being the main character, travels from his home land
to a foreign country, where they have been ravaged by a monster named grendel. Which leads to
another monster which is Grendel's mother. The poem ends with Beowulf killing his last monster, a
dragon. But the reader is met with the question why did he do all of this? Beowulf's motivations in
the epic poem Beowulf are presented as his duty to do so, for the fame and glory, and to sacrifice
himself for the betterment of others.
In the epic poem Beowulf, Beowulf's first motivation, that the reader is presented, is his anglo saxon
sense of duty. The anglo saxon code is a very large factor in this epic poem as it is what Beowulf
lives his life after. But Beowulf's sense of duty calls him to ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Beowulf has now become king and has been so for more than 50 years. When a new threat come to
face him. A dragon has awoken after a thousand years to find his treasure has been scavenged while
he was asleep. The dragon begins to ravage villages. Beowulf sense of duty is triggered and his
springs to action. He gathers a few men but they soon run away from the dragon leaving Beowulf to
fent for himself. He soon dies from a neck wound from the dragon. He sacrifices himself for others.
Another point of the anglo saxon code that every man lived by. He does so to be remembered by
what he did while he was

Beowulf, An Anglo Saxon Epic Poem
Beowulf, an Anglo–Saxon epic poem, contains several rhetorical strategies. The poem follows the
life of a noble warrior named Beowulf while he quests to live up to his father's name. In the poem,
Beowulf overcame many obstacles primarily those of which involved battling supernatural
creatures. Epic poems were generally written during the Anglo–Saxon era. They are commonly
written in an elevated style in order to glorify the deeds of a legendary hero or god. Literary works
during the Anglo–Saxon era usually focussed around a quintessential war hero of strength and noble
standing while often times referring to the Bible and Christianity. These traits of Anglo–Saxon
writing can undoubtedly be found within Beowulf. Throughout the poem, the author expresses epic
poem traits through the use of rhetorical strategies. The author used literary devices such as imagery,
allusion, metaphors, and tone to express the epic traits of a legendary hero with significance, a vast
setting, and supernatural beings.
Beowulf, the fearless warrior of Geatland, established his role in the novel as the stereotypical
Anglo–Saxon main character. Throughout the poem, Beowulf was unconditionally praised by the
people for his valor and strength. He commonly boasted about his fearless characteristics, "'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,'" (677–680). In this quote, the author uses the

Anglo-Saxon Poems The Seafarer And The Wife's Lament
Anglo Saxon poems revolved around the threat of exile. The writings reflected the fear that many
faced when exile threatened them. "The Seafarer," "The Wanderer," and "The Wife's Lament," each
have a source of Anglo–Saxon anxiety of exile. This shows up in their writings and their emotions.
Anglo Saxon concepts of exile include the loss of a remembered home, it could be forced upon or
chosen, and it can be used as a punishment; because Anglo Saxons believe in kinsmanship. Along
with the belief of kinsmanship came the belief that one should be physically and mentally strong.
Anglo Saxons feared to be exiled and this was shown within many Anglo Saxon poems. This was
seen as a punishment. After exile a Anglo Saxon would feel lonely and lost. ... Show more content
He is forced into exile which is another thing that many Anglo Saxons would fear. He remembers
the loss of his loved ones and his old village. He feels lost and wishes he could go back home. He
knows that he has no one to talk to. At the end of this poem the Wanderer talks about how sad he is
and how thinks about the slaughter of his loved ones everyday. He is upset that he knows he has to
keep his thoughts to himself because of the death of his loved one. This reflects the Anglo Saxon
fear of exile because it shows how they would feel if they became exiled for any

Beowulf As An Epic
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word epic? Something epic could
be associated with an event or action of something heroic or impressive. This is similar to what an
epic poem is. Beowulf is an epic poem, a long narrative poem that is usually about the deeds of a
heroic figure. Occasionally stories that are passed down orally through different generations are
transformed into epic poems. The people who heard the story of Beowulf experienced it not be text,
but by hearing it from scops. Scops were poets who entertained people by memorizing and telling
stories like Beowulf. These poets memorized 3,200 lines of the poem. Beowulf is on of the first
works of English literature. It might have been recorded in writing in Old English around 700 A.D.
by an Anglo–Saxon poet. Since Beowulf originated ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Weapons were only wielded by men. The most common weapon carried by Anglo–Saxons are
knives, although knives were typically used more as utensils or tools instead of weapons. A weapon
that is easily accessible as they were, in many instances, used for cutting down trees, are axes. Axes
could be brought into a battle for close quarters combat (Anglo–Saxon Discovery). Spears held
during the activity of hunting were also deployed in battles. Anglo–Saxons laws suggest that these
spears, often more than two meters long, should be owned and available to all male citizens (Anglo–
Saxon Discovery). Swords were also evident amongst Anglo–Saxons, however swords are more
expensive and required more work to construct, therefore swords were seldom found. Protection
such as chain mail and helmets were only possessed by rich and high–ranked warriors. Weapons are
armed by Anglo–Saxon men primarily to boast his ranking within society as much as it is used for
battle (Anglo–Saxon Discovery). An Anglo–Saxon who wore a helmet, chain mail and wielded a
sword can be considered as a powerful and respected

Trace the Development of English Lit During Any One...
Trace the development of English lit during any one period...As part of your discussion highlight
how significant events in the influence the writing...Additionally show how characteristics of the
genre the writer uses reflects the period in which it was written. James Arthur Baldwin once stated
that: "know from whence you came. If you know whence you came, there are absolutely no
limitations to where you can go." This quotation may apply to the span of the Anglo–Saxon period
because of the coherent linkage to the origination of the English dialect and the modernization of
English Literature. Over the years English literature has evolved greatly. There have been diverse
changes to the structure and development of English language since the ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Anglo–Saxon society was decidedly patriarchal, but women were in some ways better off than they
would be in later times. "A woman could own property in her own right. She could and did rule a
kingdom if her husband died. She could not be married without her consent and any personal goods,
including lands that she brought into a marriage remained her own property. If she were injured or
abused in her marriage her relatives were expected to look after her interests" (David Ross.) The
women were responsible for grounding of grains, baking of bread, brewing of beer, making of butter
and cheese. During this era it was dangerous to travel; thus, most people would travel only if it was
unavoidable. If possible they would travel by water along the coast or along the river. During the
early Anglo–Saxon period England was a very different place from what it is today. The human
population was very small. They grew their own food and made their own clothes... The lord and kin
had the strongest ties in the Anglo–Saxon society. The ties of loyalty were to the person of a lord.
There was no real concept of patriotism or loyalty to a cause. "Kings could not, except in
exceptional circumstances, make new laws. Their role instead was to uphold and clarify previous
custom. The first act of a conquering king was often to assure his subjects that he would uphold their
ancient privileges, laws, and customs" (David Ross.) One of the most famous kings during the

Beowulf Epic Hero
"History teaches the essential qualities of a typical hero: bravery, courage, wit, though an epic hero
utilizes a trait unorthodox to most of humanity –– a fatal flaw." Beowulf, an epic poem composed by
an unknown Anglo–Saxon, is the first piece of work written in Old English. It tells the story of a
warrior, (of the same name), and his quests to defeat all evil that terrorizes the Scandinavian regions.
The epic poem was told in order to encourage men to help defend their lands.The Anglo–Saxon men
were ones who believed in being heroes for their people. Like Beowulf, tales were told to show how
a warrior should behave. Beowulf illustrates an epic hero by: risking death for the greater good,
performing brave deeds, and by reflecting the ideas ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
"In Anglo–Saxon culture and literature, to be a hero is to be a warrior. A hero had to be strong,
intelligent, and courageous." Beowulf was a very prideful warrior, he loved to let others know of his
victories. Once again with the scene of Beowulf and Unferth, Beowulf states, "... I was the strongest
swimmer of them all." (Heaney, ll. 534) He also included, "When it comes to fighting, I count
myself as dangerous any day as Grendel." (Heaney, ll. 677 – 678) Anglo–Saxon are also widely
significant. This is shown when the narrator states that, "Beowulf was quickly brought to the
chamber: the winner of fights, the arch–winner..." (Heaney, ll.1310 – 1311) This quote emphasizes
what others thought of the warrior Beowulf. Other Anglo–Saxon characteristics include: loyalty,
generosity, courtesy, etc.; all of which exhibited at one point in the

Beowulf And The Anglo Saxon Epic Poem, Beowulf
In the Anglo–Saxon epic poem, Beowulf, a myriad of virtues define the warrior Beowulf. Coming
from his homeland, Geatland, he arrives in the land of the Danes resolute in helping King Hrothgar
defeat an evil monster, Grendel. Beowulf is an impressive, strong warrior who will triumphantly
defeat Grendel; moreover, he will demonstrate how one must seek glory before death, a legacy. A
man's reputation and his lineage is exceedingly important in the patriarchal society Beowulf lives in.
Consequently, through his code of honor, loyalty and pride, he leads in battle and conquers his
enemies, acquires fortunes, gains land and all the treasures imaginable. He will encounter three
battles that will depict his character and his worth. The rich manner with which the poem describes
these events demonstrate Beowulf's prowess. Beowulf is the epitome of what a hero should aspire to
be, a man of honor, loyalty and pride to leave a remarkable legacy. During the fifth and sixth
centuries, the Scandinavian feudal government exercised the honor system of comitatus. Comitatus
consisted of thanes pledging their lives to defend their king, in exchange for the king's rewards.
These rewards consisted of protection, land, treasure and perchance a title. Beowulf follows this
code rigorously and it is what allows him to carry himself with maturity and control when facing
any obstacle. Although many aspire to tangible rewards, Beowulf is greatly concerned about the
prestige a victory will do to his

Man's Duty In The Epic Of Beowulf
In the days of the vikings, many stories were told. They were told in a song like fashion, and were
recited to young warriors and children. The most famous of these was the epic poem "Beowulf". It is
a tale of a young hero named Beowulf, who goes to a distant land to help the weak. He is known for
having the strength of ten men, and chooses to fight the first monster he encounters, Grendel, with
his bare hands. After Grendel was defeated, the mother of Grendel attacks, but he has to go into her
territory to fight. He almost dies, but completely slays both Grendel and his mother. His last monster
finally kills the great hero. This time it was a dragon, terrorizing his kingdom, because one of his
people felt greedy and stole some treasure from ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Everyone enjoys the feeling of being looked up to and being well respected, and the Anglo–Saxon
warriors are much the same. This is shown by how confident Beowulf acts upon his warm greeting
when he returned to fight Grendel's mother. He also wanted to die glorious, as to why he went and
fought the dragon himself, rather than letting his army take care of it. This new found glory is
partnered by becoming a role model, which is what he always wanted. Being a role model in an
Anglo–Saxon community, is the ultimate goal of any warrior. Beowulf, being the top warrior of his
land, is of no excuse. In fact, this whole poem was recited since those times to guide people to
becoming a great adult within this culture. For instance, in his first encounter with evil, he acts
confident for the people watching to be a role model. In his second encounter, he shows to prepare
for battle as the young people watch. Lastly, in his final moments, he states that he wants a
lighthouse built in his honor, so he can always be followed, and continue being a

Biblical Allusions In Beowulf
Beowulf is a poem written down and told in the Anglo–Saxon era. It is an epic poem written by an
unknown author. An epic poem is long narrative poem dealing with the trial and achievements of a
hero or heroes. This epic poem is about the trial of a man named Beowulf who fights off creatures
and is king of the Geats. Beowulf is a primary epic because it starts in oral tradition and eventually
gets written down hundreds of years later. Beowulf was first poem to ever be written down in old
english and it was translated to modern English by Seamus Heaney. It is believed that Beowulf was
originally written down by a Christian monk. This is because there are Christian references all
throughout the book even though the poem was originally spoken in a pagan, Anglo–Saxon way.
Pagans are people who don't know of, or don't believe in the bible. Beowulf was one of the first
recorded bridges between pagan and Christian values and beliefs. An artifact is an ... Show more
During that time Beowulf was orally told. Throughout time, it had slowly drawn in more and more
Christian references and biblical allusions. In the story while everyone is celebrating at Heorot, they
talk about the "waters rising" and "drowning people for retribution." This is an obvious biblical
allusion to the story of Noah in the bible. This story that was probably added by the christian monk
who supposedly wrote it. Pope Gregory made christian rituals similar to pagan rituals and it gave
people hope and connected the two groups. For example, pagans celebrate the winter solstice.
Christians celebrate Jesus' birth around the same time so Pope Gregory condensed the celebrations
together so that both groups were celebrating together. The celebrations were previously very
similar. This influenced many pagans to become christian. This is one of the events that started the
major transition between Anglo–Saxon pagans and Anglo–Saxon

Companionship In Beowulf
Beowulf is an epic poem by an unknown author. The epic poem is about a man with superhuman
power named Beowulf that goes to a kingdom named Herot to solve their problem of being tortured
by a monster named Grendel. This epic poem was told during the Anglo–Saxon period where values
such as LOF, Comitatus, and WYRD, or fame, companionship and fate, respectively, were important
to their culture.
First, LOF, or fame is important as it is seen throughout the whole epic poem. "My lord, the great
king of Danes commands me to tell you that he knows of your noble birth and that having come to
him from over the open sea you have come bravely and are welcome (Raffel)". In this part of the
epic poem, Beowulf is greeted by Wulfgar who says the king knows of Beowulf. "Then Hrothgar's
men gave places to the Geats yielded benches to the brave visitor, and led them to the feast
(Raffel)". Hrothgar prepared a feast for Beowulf coming to Herot. In the two examples it shows that
Beowulf's fame had already reach the land of Herot. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
"Men at arms, remain here on the barrow, safe in your armour, to see which one of us is better in the
end at bearing wounds in a deadly fray (Raffel)". Here, Beowulf gives a speech to his eleven
warriors who were appointed by Beowulf himself before they're off to fight the fire–breathing
Dragon. "He picked us out from the army deliberately, honoured us and judged us fir for this action,
made me these lavish gifts––and all because he considered us the best of his arm–bearing thanes
(Raffel)". Wiglaf gives his speech to the cowardly warriors who left Beowulf and spoke about how
greatly Beowulf had treated them. The companionship between Beowulf and his men shows how
important it was to them to have these relationships; to be together and

Beowulf: The Epitome Of An Anglo-Saxon Warrior
The epic poem Beowulf expresses many Anglo–Saxon ideas. The Anglo–Saxons were warrior–
farmers who loved fighting. Warriors were celebrated and valued in the Anglo–Saxon times.
Beowulf, the main character of the poem, is an example of the archetypal "hero as warrior," which
defines an Anglo–Saxon warrior. The Anglo–Saxons were always prepared for war and willing to
fight for the sake of the people, just like Beowulf. Nearly god–like, Beowulf undergoes many
physical and mental challenges in order to help others and showcase his heroic ways. Because
Beowulf is a celebrated hero, has supernatural strength, and undying loyalty, he is the epitome of an
Anglo–Saxon warrior. To begin, Beowulf's fame relates him to an Anglo–Saxon hero. Beowulf is
well known because of his many feats, but remains humble. The great Anglo–Saxon warriors were
also well known, and humility was an important aspect of being a celebrated warrior. Hrothgar, the
leader of the Danes, had previously heard of Beowulf's fame and heroic feats. Unferth had also
heard of Beowulf's fame, specifically Beowulf's battle at sea. This anecdote "are you– the same
boastful fool who fought a swimming match with Brecca" (lines 239–241), exemplifies Beowulf's
fame, as Unferth delves into the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Upon hearing the news of Grendel, the monster, who is terrorizing Herot, Beowulf "heard how
Grendel filled nights with horror" (line 112), and immediately demands that a boat and a crew of
men be provided so he can assist King Hrothgar and his people. The selflessness of this action
showcases an important quality of a celebrated Anglo–Saxon warrior. Without Beowulf's selfless
action and persistence to help others, Grendel would have continued terrorizing Herot. The Anglo–
Saxons were willing to fight to the death for their people, as Beowulf was prepared to do for the
people of

How Is Grendel's Mother Portrayed In Beowulf
The Anglo–Saxon period was during the 5th through the 11th century and included British, Irish,
and Scandinavian inhabitants. Anglo–Saxon values, such as courage and strength, are depicted in
Beowulf through the defeat of Grendel and his mother by the Danes' hero, Beowulf. In Beowulf,
Grendel and his mother's gruesome deaths at the hands of Beowulf exemplify how good will always
eventually prosper over evil. The fight between the cowardly Grendel and the brave Beowulf
exemplifies the Anglo–Saxon beliefs of strength and courage. Grendel terrorizes the Danes by
visiting their mead hall and killing everyone. Grendel pusillanimously kills the men while they are
sleeping, so he always secures the easy kill. Grendel finds joy from killing the ... Show more content
Grendel's mother, likewise, exhibits evil completely. Grendel's mother is furious when she hears
about her son's death and promises revenge. She kills the king's most trusted advisor and sends the
Danes back into a panic. Beowulf swoops in to save the day and shows his strength and courage
again. Grendel's mother is bigger and more villainous than Grendel, so the fight is not as easily won
for Beowulf. He tries to fight her with his sword, but he soon realizes that her skin is indestructible,
and he has to fight bare handed again. The fight is equal and the author states that by saying: "He
was weary, that best/ and strongest of soldiers; his feet stumbled/ and in an instant she had him
down, held helpless" (Line 497–500.) Beowulf is almost defeated by Grendel's mother, but God's
favour for him helps him kill her. God's help is the defining factor in Beowulf killing Grendel's
mother. God being on Beowulf's side exhibits how Beowulf is truly good and he is the greatest hero.
Beowulf also uses his immense strength and courage to finally defeat her. Grendel's mother eventual
death demonstrates how good ultimately does defeat

Preservation In Beowulf
Preservation is of utmost importance to human kind–preservation of one's culture, pastimes, and
even individual life. This longing for immortality has existed since humanity's origin and has
resulted in fine works of art relished by many today. The Anglo–Saxons preserved their own
identities through their literature, such as the epic poem, Beowulf. Much of Beowulf's value today
stems largely from its genre's definition. Beowulf's primary focus follows the profound, often
supernatural escapades of its epic hero, the human embodiment of the cultural values of his
contemporaries, who inevitably determines the fate of the people he represents, defining the work as
an indisputably epic poem (Wheeler). Beowulf, the principle character whom the epic

Imagery In Beowulf
Beowulf: A Legend Forever
Heroes are forgotten, but legends never die. England's " mother poem" was written by an
anonymous Christian monk during the Anglo–Saxon period. It was composed circa 700 A.D. and
1,000 A.D. Beowulf is a poem that shares Christian and Pagan references. Consisting of three
literary devices of imagery, tone, and style , thus making it the " mother poem" of England. Imagery
is the visual perspective of the reader. In Beowulf the " infamous killer" uses hell forged hands to
cause destruction and crime regarding the Danes. This being said, describes how Grendel is seen as
something constructed from eternal damnation. While fighting the sea monsters, Beowulf realizes
God's bright beacon is shining down on him. This gives him the spiritual strength to battle the
monsters and finish the swimming contest. The dragon is the symbol for death and eternal
damnation. In the poem, Beowulf's chain mail melts and is burned by the dragon. This represents the
fire in hell. As Wiglaf sprinkles the water over his dying lord's forehead, it symbolizes a baptism.
Beowulf's images promote settings and actionable plots. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In the beginning, the Danes show provocation towards Grendel's harsh acts. Healfdane's son, calls
for a courageous warrior to defeat hell's captive. This warrior's audacious behavior, sacrifices one of
his men to watch Grendel's behavior. As the poem continues, inflammation occurs between the
Geats and dragon. King Beowulf, seventy, marched to protect his kingdom against the ferocious
beast. During his final battle, Beowulf is fatally injured. He tells Wiglaf to build him a Tower with a
tomb, so all sailors will remember his name. Without these tones, Beowulf would not be as great as
it

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