Beowulf
The Anglo-Saxon Culture like most cultures had their own set of virtues, beliefs, and ideas of what is proper vs. what is not. In the Anglo-saxon culture they believed the only proper way to live was in constant war. With the constant fighting came a set of virtues that they lived up to, among these virtues were honor, courage, loyalty and fame. The Anglo-saxon people even displayed their virtues in their writing of Epics. As an example, in “Beowulf” it tells of the courage of a single warrior and how he showed honor, loyalty and gained fame throughout his endeavor to save not only a neighboring Lord’s kingdom but as well as his own kingdom later on in life.
Beowulf exemplifies the honor of a warrior more than once. However, the most evident example is when he is going into battle Grendel and He says in lines 259-270:
“I have heard,
Too, that the monster’s scorn of men
Is so great that he needs no weapons and fears none
Nor will I. My lord Higlac
Might think less of me if i let my sword
Go where my feet were afraid to, if i hid
Behind some broad linden shield; my hands
Alone shall fight for me, struggle for life
Against the monster. God must decide
Who will be given to deaths cold grip.” (lines 259-270).
These lines show Beowulf acknowledges that Grendel has no weapons and is unaccustomed with the use of weapons, therefore Beowulf will do the honorable thing and be fair.
Beowulf in my opinion is the definition of courage. He starts out by taking an enormous risk by agreeing to help Hrothgar slay the monster. Despite the odds against him he still showed courage and agreed to help, as stated in the following lines: “They have seen my strength for themselves, Have watched me rise from darkness of war, Dripping with my enemies’ blood.”(lines 246-248) Beowulf also showed incredible courage when he did what no other would dare : he dove into the great Lair of Grendel and his Mother. Beowulf didn’t stop there he continued to show courage even into his
Beowulf exemplifies the honor of a warrior more than once. However, the most evident example is when he is going into battle Grendel and He says in lines 259-270:
“I have heard,
Too, that the monster’s scorn of men
Is so great that he needs no weapons and fears none
Nor will I. My lord Higlac
Might think less of me if i let my sword
Go where my feet were afraid to, if i hid
Behind some broad linden shield; my hands
Alone shall fight for me, struggle for life
Against the monster. God must decide
Who will be given to deaths cold grip.” (lines 259-270).
These lines show Beowulf acknowledges that Grendel has no weapons and is unaccustomed with the use of weapons, therefore Beowulf will do the honorable thing and be fair.
Beowulf in my opinion is the definition of courage. He starts out by taking an enormous risk by agreeing to help Hrothgar slay the monster. Despite the odds against him he still showed courage and agreed to help, as stated in the following lines: “They have seen my strength for themselves, Have watched me rise from darkness of war, Dripping with my enemies’ blood.”(lines 246-248) Beowulf also showed incredible courage when he did what no other would dare : he dove into the great Lair of Grendel and his Mother. Beowulf didn’t stop there he continued to show courage even into his