Examples Of Patriarchy In Beowulf

Beowulf: A Look at its Society
Great works of literature are interesting in numerous ways, but especially for their ideas. In other words, such texts compel our attention for the thoughts they express. Certainly this is true of the anonymous Old English epic titled Beowulf, which describes how a young hero helps his friends and his people by defeating three different ferocious monsters. This poem perfectly exemplifies many of the most common ideas of Anglo-Saxon literature. For example, it illustrates such important ideas as hierarchy and patriarchy. These two ideas (hierarchy and patriarchy) play an important role in the story of Beowulf. Moreover, a patriarchal society (with a limited role of women) is essential to Beowulf, because it defines the warrior code that the men abide by in Beowulf. Many common Old English ideas are apparent in a memorable passage from the middle of the poem – a passage in which the old Danish king, Hrothgar, speaks of the triumphant young hero, Beowulf. One of the most important early medieval ideas is an emphasis on hierarchy (the tendency to think of the entire universe as an orderly ranking, with God at the very top). One example of this
Characters are referred to as the sons of their fathers. For example, Beowulf is referred to as “Ecgtheow’s son”. The story places importance on lineage, who their fathers were, and how their fathers behaved. In the section, Beowulf’s Offer to Hrothgar, Hrothgar’s dialogue shows the importance of family lineage: “I knew him when he was a boy. His late father was called Ecgtheow… He knows of your lineage, and you are welcome to him here, brave-hearted men from across the surging sea” (497). It is evident that a person’s lineage is significant because it determined whether or not Beowulf was welcome at Heorot. Another example of a patriarchal society’s role is depicted in the communal social structure of the mead