How Does Beowulf Show Humility In Anglo Saxon Culture

In the Anglo-Saxon culture a true hero possessed many qualities. A hero was seen as a fearless warrior with strength, courage, intelligence and honor. Not only must a hero be willing to make the greatest sacrifice for glory and his people, but he must also do it with humility. The duality of Christianity and Pagan influence in Anglo-Saxon culture can be seen in the juxtaposition of the grandeur of a warrior and the humbleness of a hero (Brosamer 39). Beowulf is a resounding example of these Anglo Saxon heroic traits. Beowulf displays his unparalleled courage and strength as he battles sea monsters, a fire breathing dragon, Grendel and Grendel’s mother, while also expressing his humility when initially refusing kingship for his victories. These
The battle with Grendel highlights Beowulf’s intelligence. Beowulf waits outside the hall for Grendel. Once Grendel is in sight, Beowulf pauses and anticipates Grendel’s next moves, rather than immediately attacking him. This shows that while Grendel has brute strength, Beowulf has strength combined with intelligence, which will ultimately help him prevail. Even while in battle with Grendel, Beowulf has enough wherewithal to recall his earlier bedtime speech where he swore to defeat the beast without a weapon and merely his hands (Hammett 2). Beowulf constantly has his wits about him. This intelligence is essential to an Anglo-Saxon
He is not concerned with the pain of his wounds or the fact that he is going to die. He has accepted his pending death. Instead, he is occupied with the legacy he is to leave behind. He is not focused on his physical survival, but rather the ever-lasting life in his memory. Beowulf states, “Bid men build me a tomb fair after fire, on the foreland by the sea that shall stand as a reminder of me to my people” (Hammet 2). The sense of modesty that Beowulf evokes is imperative; it focuses not on the physical, but the metaphysical. He is described as “The mildest of men and the gentlest, kindest to his people, and most eager for fame” (Beowulf 52). Although possessing a domineering figure, he is still viewed as tender. Beowulf is able to maintain the duality of a fierce warrior, while also embodying the humbleness of a hero. This contrast clearly depicts the dichotomy of the Christian and Pagan values within the Anglo-Saxon culture. In turn, making Beowulf a true Anglo-Saxon hero with an assimilation of both religious ideals (Brosamer 39).
Beowulf is a fearless warrior with strength, courage, intelligence and honor. He encompasses the duality of the Anglo-Saxon culture through his unbridled grandeur and equally matched tender sense of humility. Through the combination of these numerous characteristics, Beowulf is the epitome of what it means