Beowulf's Germanic Beliefs
The epic poem of Beowulf represents a Germanic ideal of heroism and virtue important to the early tribes outside the Roman Empire. In this culture, men who faced difficult challenges, the strongest and bravest warriors, were exulted chieftains and often looked to for leadership. While many might consider Beowulf a proud and arrogant man, he was a hero to the Germanic tribes. The character of Beowulf embodies the very values and ideals of what a hero was to the Germanic peoples. Through his respect to kinship, bravery, honor, strength, and intelligence, Beowulf offers to Germanic men a model of a great warrior and leader, a model every man should strive to emulate. Early Germanic social organization revolved first and foremost around kin and family, the first quality found in Beowulf. Early on in the story, Beowulf traveled from Geat to help the Danish king, Hrothgar, an old friend of Beowulf's father . Beowulf's father died when Beowulf was very young,
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so it is likely that Beowulf knew very little of his father, or his father's friends like Hrothgar. Despite this fact, Beowulf realized that his father's friend needed help desperately. Traveling far to his aid, Beowulf kept an alliance with Hrothgar that his father had made earlier. The fact that this event took place within the first section of the story shows how important alliances and respect of alliances of one's kin was to Germanic men. Beowulf's honoring of the friendships showed not only his respect to Hrothgar, but the ultimate respect he had for his father and what his father had done in his life. In addition, as seen in line 345, Beowulf refers to Hrothgar as "Halfdane's son. " This shows how much respect the people of Beowulf's time had for leaders of the househould. Beowulf highly respected his family's traditions, as is evident in his aid to Hrothgar. In addition to his honor, one of the outstanding qualities seen in Beowulf is his overwhelming bravery. He first demonstrated his great bravery by undertaking the task of helping Hrothgar defeat Grendel, a task undertaken of his own free volition. Upon Grendel's defeat, Beowulf ventured out seeking Grendel's mother, rather than lying in wait for Grendel's mother. Facing many trials like the lake of burning fire infested with dangerous creatures, Beowulf showed no fear . In the second half of the story, Beowulf, even in his old age, realized his kingdom was in danger and sought the monster wreaking havoc on his land. Beowulf feared nothing and went willingly into any battle in which he was needed . This alludes to the Germanic value that this type of bravery was important. In Germanic society, it was the bravest and strongest soldiers in war that were exulted chieftains and leaders. However, as Beowulf demonstrates, bravery was not defensive, rather it was offensive. Brave men sought out their battles before their battles came to them, despite any fear, just as Beowulf had done with Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the great dragon guardian of the treasure. Perhaps complimentary to the Germanic ideal of bravery was the attribute of physical and mental strength, seen in great abundance in Beowulf. One example of Beowulf's brutish strength was in his battle with Grendel, in which he ripped off Grendel's arm relying solely on strength and no weapons . Another example of his exceeding power was his challenge to swim the river with his friend. This, of course, turned into a greater feat since he struggled to stay alive while being attacked by a creature in the water . All of the examples show the Germanic emphasis on leader's ability to succeed in battle, fighting rather than just simply commanding soldiers.
Of course, with strength was the need for Beowulf's intelligence to defeat his enemies.
When Grendel attacked, he patiently waited while the monster ate one of his companions, perhaps contemplating the best angle of attack . He also realized that no weapon could bring harm to Grendel, which may account for his vow to fight him unarmed. Instead of being looked at as his pride, Beowulf's decision can be seen as his intelligence, even wisdom. Wisdom, in addition to his intelligence, was another quality Beowulf possessed. In his fight with the dragon, which would be his final battle, Beowulf was wise enough to understand that he was older than in his past and this would most likely be his last fight . These examples, though not emphasized greatly in the story, show that Germanic tribes honored leaders who were capable on the battlefield both physically and mentally. They desired a leader and a warrior who could not only lead them in battle through his actions, but also through his strategies and
tactics.
The virtues displayed throughout the epic revealed that which the people of the early Germanic tribes held most important. Much like Odysseus in Homer's Odyssey, Beowulf represented as the perfect hero and a leader they desired their kingdom. Though Beowulf was displayed as the epitome of values and ideals of the Germanic culture, he was still shown as having flaws, proving he was still, at his core, just a man. He was a man who men aspired to be and whose stature was attainable with hard work and perseverance through good times and bad.
so it is likely that Beowulf knew very little of his father, or his father's friends like Hrothgar. Despite this fact, Beowulf realized that his father's friend needed help desperately. Traveling far to his aid, Beowulf kept an alliance with Hrothgar that his father had made earlier. The fact that this event took place within the first section of the story shows how important alliances and respect of alliances of one's kin was to Germanic men. Beowulf's honoring of the friendships showed not only his respect to Hrothgar, but the ultimate respect he had for his father and what his father had done in his life. In addition, as seen in line 345, Beowulf refers to Hrothgar as "Halfdane's son. " This shows how much respect the people of Beowulf's time had for leaders of the househould. Beowulf highly respected his family's traditions, as is evident in his aid to Hrothgar. In addition to his honor, one of the outstanding qualities seen in Beowulf is his overwhelming bravery. He first demonstrated his great bravery by undertaking the task of helping Hrothgar defeat Grendel, a task undertaken of his own free volition. Upon Grendel's defeat, Beowulf ventured out seeking Grendel's mother, rather than lying in wait for Grendel's mother. Facing many trials like the lake of burning fire infested with dangerous creatures, Beowulf showed no fear . In the second half of the story, Beowulf, even in his old age, realized his kingdom was in danger and sought the monster wreaking havoc on his land. Beowulf feared nothing and went willingly into any battle in which he was needed . This alludes to the Germanic value that this type of bravery was important. In Germanic society, it was the bravest and strongest soldiers in war that were exulted chieftains and leaders. However, as Beowulf demonstrates, bravery was not defensive, rather it was offensive. Brave men sought out their battles before their battles came to them, despite any fear, just as Beowulf had done with Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the great dragon guardian of the treasure. Perhaps complimentary to the Germanic ideal of bravery was the attribute of physical and mental strength, seen in great abundance in Beowulf. One example of Beowulf's brutish strength was in his battle with Grendel, in which he ripped off Grendel's arm relying solely on strength and no weapons . Another example of his exceeding power was his challenge to swim the river with his friend. This, of course, turned into a greater feat since he struggled to stay alive while being attacked by a creature in the water . All of the examples show the Germanic emphasis on leader's ability to succeed in battle, fighting rather than just simply commanding soldiers.
Of course, with strength was the need for Beowulf's intelligence to defeat his enemies.
When Grendel attacked, he patiently waited while the monster ate one of his companions, perhaps contemplating the best angle of attack . He also realized that no weapon could bring harm to Grendel, which may account for his vow to fight him unarmed. Instead of being looked at as his pride, Beowulf's decision can be seen as his intelligence, even wisdom. Wisdom, in addition to his intelligence, was another quality Beowulf possessed. In his fight with the dragon, which would be his final battle, Beowulf was wise enough to understand that he was older than in his past and this would most likely be his last fight . These examples, though not emphasized greatly in the story, show that Germanic tribes honored leaders who were capable on the battlefield both physically and mentally. They desired a leader and a warrior who could not only lead them in battle through his actions, but also through his strategies and
tactics.
The virtues displayed throughout the epic revealed that which the people of the early Germanic tribes held most important. Much like Odysseus in Homer's Odyssey, Beowulf represented as the perfect hero and a leader they desired their kingdom. Though Beowulf was displayed as the epitome of values and ideals of the Germanic culture, he was still shown as having flaws, proving he was still, at his core, just a man. He was a man who men aspired to be and whose stature was attainable with hard work and perseverance through good times and bad.