Beowulf Heroic Code Analysis

The Anglo-Saxon time period was complicated and violent. The different tribes and peoples are at war for treasure, land, and fame. In addition to the violence, the religion of the Period is a mixture of pagan religions and Christianity. Another important belief of the time was the belief that fate ruled. As a result of the violence and the various beliefs, an important unifying factor for these people was the heroic code. The epic poem, Beowulf, was written during this hard time and uses the hero, Beowulf, as an embodiment of the code. The poet uses frame story, Biblical allusion, and foreshadowing throughout Beowulf in order to effectively create a representation of the heroic code and the belief in fate.

Beowulf is an epic poem you can relate to life today. He was like any other hero very brave, loyal and a really great leader. His followers looked up to him and obeyed him. Beowulf also had a few enemies, but that wouldn’t stop him from doing anything to keep his people save from the monsters. In this poem you would see several ways that shows Beowulf being a great hero.

In the epic poem of Beowulf, many leadership skills and attributes are demonstrated. Beowulf, as the leader of his band of warriors, makes the evidence of excellent leadership skills clear. He sets an example for his band by being a protector of his people in which, he came to them in a time of need (McArthur). He also upholds the standards of truth and justice by taking the life of Grendel (McArthur). Beowulf also leads his band by having an inspirational vision through his behavior and actions (Loughman). His confidence in his abilities is another factor that plays into his role as a leader (Loughman).

Beowulf is an ancient English poem that tells the tale of a young, brave warrior and the victories he obtains throughout his lifetime, up until his death. He is widely regarded as a hero throughout the lands and honorably puts his life on the line multiple times. Throughout the poem, Beowulf’s reasoning for being a hero changes. He begins his journey wanting to be a protector of people, a savior of humankind, but as the poem progresses, there is a distinct change in motivation for Beowulf, becoming more about craving glory and victory over his opponent as opposed to out of pure kindness. Beowulf conveys through this change that while it is worthwhile risking his life and being a hero in order to save his people and carry out his family

Beowulf is a very brave and noble prince. He proves this statement in the way he humbly boasts about his ability to complete quests, fighting monstrous creates continuously, and going into each battle or challenge by his lonesome. “Hail! King Hrothgar! I am Hygelac’s thane, Hygelac’s kinsman. Many a deed Of honor and daring I’ve done in my youth… The best of my people, prudent and brave, Urged

Beowulf is one of the most important and influential pieces of writing in history. One of the reasons for this is that some of the themes discussed in the story are still applicable in today's extremely different society. The warrior society within the story has high regard for its heroic code valuing pride, courage, and honor. Christian philosophy is seen through Beowulf’s belief of protection by God and achievements given through God. There is a certain amount of blend and conflict between the values of the Scandinavian warrior society and the elements of Christian philosophy throughout the story. The blend may not be perfect, but it works in a special way.

The tale of Beowulf has been taught and studied for hundreds of years. As such, it only makes sense logically that scholars should discern certain lessons from the text, relevant to the original tellers’ lives and to our own. Throughout the poem, we see examples of leaders in Hrothgar and Beowulf, both epitomizing great leadership and displaying characteristics that people could learn from today. Beowulf shows us that a great leader inspires courage in his followers, remains true to his word, can swallow his pride, and rewards loyalty and acts of valor.

“Beowulf” is a medieval heroic epic. The poem originated on the basis of ancient traditions related to pagan times. The poem represent an early example of precisely moral heroism, but not the one that is caused by the desire for fame and power. The main character of the poem, Beowulf, is capable of sacrificing himself and courage in the name of justice. He is a true hero by honoring his country and exerting his power and strength to protect others. His courage is shown by not hesitating to risk his own life to pursue the Dane’s enemies. By being self-assured, Beowulf is able to successfully defeat the fiends, Grendel and his infamous mother. At the time Beowulf is planning to pursue the vindictive dragon, the epic poem states, “I’ve never known fear, as a youth I fought in endless battles. I am old now, but I will fight again, seek fame still, If the dragon hiding in his tower dares to face me.” (ll. 2511-2515). He feels no fear, is confident in fighting the dragon alone, and has no qualms in risking his life to save others. He declares his bravery by saying, “When he comes to me I mean to stand, not run from his shooting flames, stand till fate decides which of us wins... No one else could do what I mean to, here, no man but me could hope to defeat this monster.” (ll. 2525-2534) In his actions, Beowulf’s bravery is clearly shown throughout the poem. As king, Beowulf is the

     Beowulf displays the qualities of a good leader that were mentioned in the speech given by Hrothgar. The speech speaking of the vices and virtues of great political leaders contains many of the same qualities that Beowulf embodies. His boastfulness, generosity and kindness are evidence that he is a good leader and provides for his people. Although the qualities he posses may not be the best-fit qualities of a common man, they are admirable qualities of a strong leader.

Beowulf exhibits many obvious heroic qualities, such as his strength and confidence in battle. These along with more subtle diplomatic actions serve to define him as both a great warrior and leader.

Beowulf is a classic story of a hero. His immense strength allows him to complete impossible deeds, and his honorable personality and strong moral compass means he is focused on helping people, not on winning glory. Beowulf’s strength as a hero beyond physical strength is exemplified by his extreme stubbornness and persistence when faced with a difficult challenge. His battles follow the arc of his character development, from a minor hero to a powerful and loved king with his conquests being so important in the warrior-culture which he lived in.

Beowulf is a courageous, strong individual whose honor is show through his many great and valorous deeds. Throughout “Beowulf”, Beowulf shows off the ways that he affects others around him, whether it be through a courageous act, giving details of his honor, or just showing off how strong he is. He shows his traits well and often.

Beowulf’s embodiment of both warrior-like and king-like heroic traits is the predominant reason he is so successful in Anglo-Saxon society; however, it is also the cause of his demise. As stated previously, Beowulf’s loyalty towards his people drives many decisions he makes, and when faced with the impeding threat of the dragon, Beowulf’s loyalty drives his decision to personally fight it. Although this action directly complies with the values of loyalty and protectionism associated with the heroic code of kings, it is directly contradicted by the ideal of political skills, that is kings making decisions with the best interest of their people in mind. Although at the time, fending off the dragon seems to Beowulf like the proper course of action

In Beowulf and all of the Homeric epics, there is a very broad theme displayed as the main focal point and that is heroism. Much of Beowulf is about specifying and illustrating the Germanic heroic code. It values strength, courage, loyalty, generosity, and the good reputation in all people. During this time, your family played a large part in determining your reputation. You were known by your parents and their nobility and rank. This heroic code was important to warrior societies as ways of understanding their relationships to the world. All of the characters’ moral judgments stem from the code’s mandates. Individuals actions can be seen only as either conforming to or violating the code.

In the epic poem Beowulf written by an unknown author we can see a lot of heroic code as we can see in The Art of War. First, lest have a short summary of each book, as we all know Beowulf is one of the most famous poems in the old English. In this poem, Beowulf who is a warrior from Geats comes to the rescue of Hrothgar, the king of the Danes whose land is being attacked by a monster, Grendel. Beowulf fight Grendel and kills him to show his prowess he bare Grendel’s hand. This is not the end because now Grendel’s mother is coming back looking for revenge.