Beowulf Close Reading

Eleanor Cory wrote “Bravery, Honor, and Loyalty as Morals in Beowulf.” Cory explains that Beowulf and Wiglaf both exhibit bravery throughout the epic poem of Beowulf. Before Beowulf fights Grendel, Beowulf decides, “…that using a weapon or protection of any kind would make the battle too easy.” Cory says. She also explains that Wiglaf shows bravery through the aid given to Beowulf against the dragon. Cory also explains that Wiglaf and Beowulf demonstrate honor through their actions. Beowulf throws away his armor and sword to be fair to Grendel, who does not know that there will be a fight against him. Wiglaf shows honor while fighting in the battle against the dragon. He does not flee for the safety of himself, but stays to fight for the protection of his king and his kingdom. Eleanor Cory goes on to explain that Beowulf and Wiglaf show loyalty in the piece. Beowulf decided to fight Grendel to repay his father’s debt which showed his loyalty. Wiglaf’s loyalty lays with Beowulf, his king, and is shown during the battle of the dragon.

1) Describe how we find King Hrothgar and his response to learning that Beowulf has come to his kingdom.

Beowulf is a brave noble, later to become a king, who confidently vows to defeat Grendel. He not only kills Grendel, but slays the demon’s mother, and a dragon. Although he dies in battle with the dragon, he proved himself one of the bravest and strongest men in the kingdom. Wiglaf is a thane, and kinsman to Beowulf, and in him, Beowulf sees his younger self. Wiglaf shows the same bravery in battle as Beowulf, and assists in the destruction of the dragon. As Beowulf lies dying, he passes the kingdom of

Beowulf: A New Telling by Robert Nye is about a character named Beowulf who has to fight evil by using strength, but by also using cleverness. Beowulf’s name means “bee hunter” and Beowulf loved bees. In the story a hall is built it is called Hall Heorot. “By day it towered above men’s heads like a second sun, so bright were it’s walls and roofs”(p. 5). Once the hall is made, a monster comes and eats people at night.

The story of Beowulf deals with life, death, violence, kings, and monsters. Written around 800 CE, and then picked up hundreds of years later to be rewritten by a monk, it is written well after the coming of Christ. It could be simply read as an action adventure, filled with conquests and elaborate feasts, as were common of Old English tales. The story is not that simple though, and gives us a peek into a culture going through some drastic changes. Once built upon a Pagan belief system void of Christ and saturated with values such as revenge and violence, the Anglo-Saxons did not immediately adopt all of Christianity. There was a lengthy time in which both sets of beliefs were muddled and weaved together haphazardly, where no one religion was distinct. Beowulf is an example of these cultural influences crashing together. While Christianity in Beowulf, the Old English epic poem, looks different than the Christianity we recognize today, the story is built with Christian values.

The character Beowulf embodied the Pagan heroic code (comitatus), but he also exhibited Christian values. Overall, he was a warrior and a hero who sought fame and reputation. Most of his actions were motivated by his desire to be remembered after his death as a courageous and loyal warrior. When Beowulf hears about Hrothgar’s trouble he goes to help him. He wants to help him for a few reasons, all of which relate to the comitatus. He wants to acquire fame and he wants lifelong honor. By beating Grendel he would receive honor and his reputation would be enhanced. Also, Beowulf wants to repay Hrothgar for settling a feud for his father years before. Beowulf is willing to do battle for the old king even though it means that he could die.

Beowulf is an epic poem thought to be written towards the end of the first millennium. Today, it is considered an old English masterpiece and is also the most ancient known piece of English literature. Written in "Old English", or the language of the Anglo-Saxons, the story talks about glorious heroes and dreadful monsters with the typical reference to the struggle between good and evil. This reference is speculated to be also tied to the crusade, and the fight for strengthening Christianity. It is also a type of "history book" of how the English language has altered throughout the time.

“Beowulf” is an epic poem that contains monsters, bravery, and sacrifice during the Anglo-Saxon Period. Some people say that Beowulf is a great epic that everyone should read at least once in their life. But others despise the poem thinking that it is very boring.

Interrelation of Christian and Pagan motives in “Beowulf” is, perhaps, one of the most frequently and actively discussed issues regarding this brilliant piece of Old English poetry. While it is possible to argue that “Beowulf” is almost entirely Pagan and all the Christian motives were added later, one can also find only the trace amounts of paganism, declaring the poem a Christian epic. A third and most balanced point of view states that both Christian and Pagan elements coexist in the poem to create a piece of literature that reflects social, cultural and religious complexity of its contemporary society. This essay will argue that, though Beowulf’s deeds are more or less Christian, his anticipation of his own actions reveals a Pagan attitude. Beowulf acts like a Christian hero, but his – and author’s – views of life and his values are the ones of the Pagan warrior of old.

Beowulf’s men show unquestioning loyalty as they submit their lives to their lord. The night of Beowulf’s fight with Grendel, the men are told by Beowulf to sleep (in the mead hall) and they bravely do, showing immense trust and devotion as they are aware of that they could very well increase their chance of dying when Grendel attacks if they follow as Beowulf instructs (to sleep as opposed to standing guard through the night). Beowulf remains loyal to King Hrothgar and as he promised to purge the mead hall of its murderous foes, he fulfills his pledge by killing not only Grendel, but also Grendel’s mother. Beowulf in turn is also loyal to his men as he states to King Hrothgar, “…if I at your need I should go from life, you would always be in a father’s place for me when I am gone: be guardian of my young retainers, my companions, if battle should take me.” Nor does Beowulf forget his king as he also requests that Hrothgar send the rewarded treasures and gifts to Hygelac if Grendel’s mother defeats him. Wiglaf, portrayed as the only worthy one of Beowulf’s company that joined him at his battle with the dragon, also showed loyalty in his aiding his Beowulf in fighting the dragon (as others cowardly shy away from the fight) and followed Beowulf’s instructions for carrying out his funeral and other processions after Beowulf’s death, and in his speech to the people he

In society’s, such as the one in Beowulf, there is a strict heroic code that would define how a warrior should act. This code held great importance on values such as bravery, courage, and honor along with loyalty and kindness. (Eleanor) What could be the most important value to the thane’s is loyalty. A thane’s loyalty to his king is to be regarded over his own family. But even with such a high placeholder for loyalty in the heroic code, all the thanes, except for Wiglaf, abandoned Beowulf in the final fight against the dragon. Because of Wiglaf’s loyalty, Beowulf would reward him the crown. The other thanes, however, were punished and banished for their abandonment in the battle. The value of bravery is an expected quality at all times from thanes. Thanes were to be brave in any condition no matter the situation. The

Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon epic that was transmitted verbally for hundreds of years before it was written down. Around the time of its composition, Christianity was beginning to gain prominence in England and was quickly replacing the animistic religion of the Celts. As a result of the dueling religions of the time, the poem includes influences from both Christianity and paganism, leaving its readers to wonder which religion had the most sway over the poet. Beowulf is a fundamentally more Christian epic on account of Beowulf’s resemblances of Jesus Christ, its allusions to the Bible, and its intimation of a supreme, monotheistic religion.

Beowulf travels around the land, battling the huge, malicious creatures that debilitate his kingdom. He does so for the benefit of his kingdom and at the same time, he improves the situation his own reputation. In Beowulf, the Anglo-Saxon hero is all around characterized by the actions of Beowulf. The qualities mostly seen throughout the Anglo-Saxon period are strength, bravery, loyalty and belief in God. Beowulf states “So I praise God in his heavenly glory...” this shows Beowulf’s faith in God and how religion was an important characteristic of the Anglo-Saxon period (Heaney, 1778-9). Clearly, Beowulf is a perfect representation of an Anglo-Saxon hero. His strength and courage are unparalleled, and he is much more honorable than any of the corrupted knights around him.

Beowulf is a hero, and we all know a hero when we see one. There are many traits and characteristics that make someone a hero. These traits and characteristics are more expressed in ancient epics and poems. Beowulf is one of the most famous ancient Anglo-Saxon poems still taught to this day in schools and colleges all over the world. The story starts off of how a man by the name of Beowulf receives news that a neighboring land is being terrorized by a monster named Grendel. Beowulf shows several characteristics of here such as, bravery, loyalty, generosity, friendship, and showing a high level of intellect. Beowulf first shows his heroic character through his bravery while journeying on his epic quest. There are several cases where he is not afraid, and instead of being frightened, he shows great bravery. An example of from the poem is, “Instead, they inspected omens and spurred his ambitions to go, whilst he moved about like the leader he was, enlisting men, the best he could find; with fourteen others the warrior boarded the boast as captain” (Beowulf 205-210). This quote gives proof of his bravery because he was the head of the group leading his men. Beowulf proves that even he himself must be brave in order to lead the bravest of men into battle.

The epic story of Beowulf is bursting at the seams with examples of paganism and Christianity, the presence of religion in Beowulf is extended throughout the epic, it can be seen through kennings, characters, symbolism, and events. During the time of the Anglo Saxons, when Beowulf was written, Christianity and paganism coexisted while Christianity was changing thoughts throughout Europe. The Europe of the past maybe distant in time but not by morals, Both present-day Europe and the Europe of the past are Christian based societies with pagan tendencies. The unknown author was most likely a Christian monk recording a primarily pagan story, in which a beautiful blend of religions was created that come together to forge an epic poem. From the late 6th century towards the end of the Anglo Saxon period, through monasteries and missionaries, Christianity spread north and westward. By the time Beowulf was written down, the religion was well-established in England. Nevertheless, Beowulf himself embodies characteristics of both, occasionally his actions say he is one more so than the other. Religion can be seen throughout this piece making itself present through the actions of characters, diction chosen by the author, and symbolism between Christ and main characters such as Beowulf and Grendel, as well as the soldier's religious beliefs.