beowulf essay
Anglo-Saxon values shown in Beowulf.
Thousands of years ago, in the period of the Anglo-Saxons, there were certain values that were really important to the people. They would tell stories about great, brave warriors, and the battles they fought. Although they had writing systems they mainly used it for inscriptions on coins and monuments. The stories were transmitted orally in mead halls of kings and nobles were the Anglo-Saxons gathered to eat, drink, and socialize. One of the stories they told was the epic poem about a warrior named Beowulf. He was a great warrior who fought several battles against evil creatures. In the poem there are two characters that show some of the values that were important at that time. These were Beowulf himself, and a soldier called Wiglaf. A character with in the story of Beowulf is Wiglaf. He upholds two very important values, which are loyalty and honor. The narrator says, ‘’ Remembering everything his lord and cousin had given him/ armor and gold and the great estates/ Wexstan’s family enjoyed, Wiglaf’s/ mind was made up; he raised his yellow/ shield and drew his sword” (700-705). This piece of text proves that Wiglaf is loyal because he remembers what Beowulf, his king and cousin, did for him. Based on those memories he decides to help him and fight alongside him. He stays loyal because the rest of the soldiers ran away and hid. He pays Beowulf back with his loyalty. Wiglaf also shows honor. This is stated in the following piece of text ‘’ And the riches he and Wiglaf/ had won from the dragon rings, necklaces,/ ancient, hammered armor- all/ the treasures they’d taken were left there, too/ silver and jewels buried in the sandy/ ground, back in the earth, again/ and forever hidden and useless to men’’ (778-883). Instead of taking all the jewelry for himself he buries them with his king, who he honors in this way. He fulfils his last wishes by burying his treasures with him in his last resting place. He had and still has
Thousands of years ago, in the period of the Anglo-Saxons, there were certain values that were really important to the people. They would tell stories about great, brave warriors, and the battles they fought. Although they had writing systems they mainly used it for inscriptions on coins and monuments. The stories were transmitted orally in mead halls of kings and nobles were the Anglo-Saxons gathered to eat, drink, and socialize. One of the stories they told was the epic poem about a warrior named Beowulf. He was a great warrior who fought several battles against evil creatures. In the poem there are two characters that show some of the values that were important at that time. These were Beowulf himself, and a soldier called Wiglaf. A character with in the story of Beowulf is Wiglaf. He upholds two very important values, which are loyalty and honor. The narrator says, ‘’ Remembering everything his lord and cousin had given him/ armor and gold and the great estates/ Wexstan’s family enjoyed, Wiglaf’s/ mind was made up; he raised his yellow/ shield and drew his sword” (700-705). This piece of text proves that Wiglaf is loyal because he remembers what Beowulf, his king and cousin, did for him. Based on those memories he decides to help him and fight alongside him. He stays loyal because the rest of the soldiers ran away and hid. He pays Beowulf back with his loyalty. Wiglaf also shows honor. This is stated in the following piece of text ‘’ And the riches he and Wiglaf/ had won from the dragon rings, necklaces,/ ancient, hammered armor- all/ the treasures they’d taken were left there, too/ silver and jewels buried in the sandy/ ground, back in the earth, again/ and forever hidden and useless to men’’ (778-883). Instead of taking all the jewelry for himself he buries them with his king, who he honors in this way. He fulfils his last wishes by burying his treasures with him in his last resting place. He had and still has