Birthtnoth's Heroic Behavior

Birthtnoth’s heroic behaviour further emphasizes why “overconfidence” would be the translation that makes the most sense. Heroes are seen as confident figures and I believe that is how Birthtnoth is portrayed. Without Birthtnoth agreeing to take on the Vikings the English would have been seen as cowards, it was his confident behaviour that brought them to war, even though they did loose the war they died fighting which still maintains the heroic elements of the poem. He demonstrates this confidence when he declines the Vikings offer of paying tribute instead of fighting, “It seems to me too shameful that you should go unfought to ship with our tribute, now that you have come thus far into our land” (52-54). Birthtnoth is challenging the Vikings