Heroism and Leadership: Beowulf

When thinking about the stories told in the Medieval Ages, many people today might picture a knight, hero, or king that represents as a role model for us people. Two books, Beowulf translated by Burton Raffel and The Once and Future King by T.H. White are two examples of stories told at completely different times, by different authors, that include hero’s. In both stories there are similarities and differences that can spotted between these character’s heroic traits. Both Beowulf and King Arthur show the heroic trait of wisdom which is essential to becoming a great leader.

My father was a famous soldier, known far and wide as a leader of men. His name was Edgetho. His life lasted many winters. Wise men all over the earth surely remember him still (Beowulf pg.46 lines 174-179)”. This is Beowulf speaking to a lieutenant from the Herot. He was responding to the question, “Who are you”? He included his father in his response because it shows where he came from. This not only shows his bloodline, it shows that he is mighty, victorious, and he had great leadership just like his father who was a valiant warrior. What desperate town wouldn't want someone like Beowulf who comes from a line of warriors to defend

A way Beowulf demonstrates his heroism is the way he stays true to the Geats by honoring them. Before

The Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf touches on the vice of pride, and is instilled in the main character, Beowulf, the great and mighty warrior. His boasting and arrogance when first dropping anchor at Heorot transitions throughout the poem, and, in contrast with his ideal kingsmanship, motivates him to accomplish and overcome the many challenges he faces as an epic hero. The contrast of his absent humility in the rise and fall of the story help promote the progression of the story, through its different purposes. Beowulf, when first landing upon Hrothgar’s kingdom, boasts, which does not go unchallenged, so that he might gain the trust of the Danes, but when knowingly facing his last battle, uses bragging to comfort and brace himself for his ultimate demise.

For example, after the defeat of Grendel’s mother Beowulf is reminded by Hrothgar that his pride will lead only to his undoing but it can also be said that his pride and search for glory has undoubtedly left the land in better shape than without his heroic feats. It can also be said that Beowulf is a representation of a change in times from traditional Scandinavian values such as doing great feats to achieve more glory or to die in battle for a glorious death to a more Christian set of values such as being a humble servant to the people or to God. Beowulf’s character starts off the story as being boastful and prideful but as the story progresses it can be seen that Beowulf evolves into a humbler

A hero is one who is not only strong, but one who uses his strength to uphold others. A hero is humble, philanthropic, magnanimous and selfless, a humanitarian at best. In the unprecedented epic Beowulf, the tale’s namesake exemplifies every characteristic befitting an Anglo-Saxon hero. He is honest, loyal, and courageous. He portrays these characteristics in the battle against Grendel, the affray with Grendel’s mother, and the fight against the dragon that inevitably ended his life.

A great leader is able to recognize his limitations and how to overcome them. In the case of Beowulf, King Hrothgar foreshadows what is to come for Beowulf if he continues down the same path a previous king had gone. In his sermon, Hrothgar informs Beowulf of Heremod, a “pariah king who cut himself off from his own kind” (McArthur). Hrothgar says that God “allows the mind of a man of distinguished birth to follow its bent,” and because of this, cruel and greedy Heremod “forgets that it will ever end for him,” and “he ignores the shape of things to come” (McArthur). Warning Beowulf not to become like Heremod, Hrothgar advises him to “not give way to pride,” and that “for a brief while your strength is in bloom

When people think of a successful king, they often associate them with the hero. However, many fail to notice that no one could own both the title king and the hero at the same time; they need to give up either one of the titles to become a truly successful hero or king. In the famous epic poem, Beowulf, despite Hrothgar rules Danes, another hero, Beowulf, shows up to solve Danes’ problem while the true Danes king sits on his throne and simply gives all honor and credit to Beowulf. To become a truly successful leader, one must know to put down his honor and fame for his people’s safety. Furthermore, a ruler who cares about his people in every aspect fits the title king, not a person who goes off on a quest to defeat the villain for his own

The world as it is depicted in Beowulf is home to many aspects of society that are at odds with behaviors acceptable in modern culture, but perhaps shares a startling number of similarities as well. As part of the Anglo-Saxon society, the concept of loyalty is imbued into the seams of the civilization, and allegiance can be found split between lords and kin. Tales concerning themselves with eternal human problems are not few and far between in Beowulf—given that it is an epic poem—and antithesis governs the flow of the narrative. In the midst of the battles raging between evil and good, heroes and villains, mourning and glory, and victory and defeat, death is omnipresent, constantly looming and prompting men to drift towards their swords. This is a society in which chances for a clean slate—a tabula rasa—are minimal, and every action is chiseled in stone, forever etched into eternity. During a time period when very little is certain, the only guarantee of being remembered, of having your name go down stamped with your identity, is through heroism and action. Boasting is a means through which one can build a reputation for himself, planting his name into his opponents’ heads and setting a foundation for success. It remains a skill to be used prudently, though, as overstating and misrepresenting one’s abilities has the great potential to yield adverse repercussions.

Lastly, Beowulf has this incredible strength that can not be missed, that an Anglo-Saxon Hero would have. “They have seen my strength for themselves, Have watched me rise from the darkness of war, Dripping with my enemies’ blood. I drove five great giants

The Germanic warrior society had an unspoken code – a list of rules that warriors and kings alike must uphold. The main aspects of this code for warriors were strength, courage, loyalty and honour; and for kings were loyalty to his warriors, generosity and a sense of responsibility. The character of Beowulf represents both sides of this Code very well. Hrothgar, King of Denmark, represents the nobility’s side of the code:

In any culture there is some type of leadership. Whether it is a group or a single person, all leadership has certain qualities that are admired. Qualities that have been established through cultural core values over centuries of time. There are certain qualities that overlap in many cultures. This is also true in Anglo-Saxon writings and stories, like Beowulf.

In 800-850 A.D. they believed that heritage and bloodline were important to your social standing. Where you came from and who you followed was also important. “We are Geats, /Men who follow Higlac. My father/ Was a famous soldier, known far and wide/As a leader of men. His name was Edgetho. /His life has lasted many winters;/Wise men all over the earth surely/Remember him.” (l.173-179). Here Beowulf is telling one of king Hrothgar’s men his king and who his father was. Also the people of those times held in high value the good deeds and obstacles that a man had completed. His name would be well known by the tasks he had overcome. “In his far-off home Beowulf, Higlac’s/Follower and the strongest of the Geats-greater/And stronger than anyone anywhere in this

Warrior society, leadership and heroism are closely related to the Anglo-Saxon work, Beowulf, and which demonstrates the loyal followers in medieval literature. In the text, Beowulf, which contains many clues to what is a positive hero should be. Moreover, the story of Beowulf has gone through using both positive and negative characters in different scenarios, and which describes their actions and reactions that the readers would distinguish what either a poor or exemplary leadership. Therefore, the Beowulf has demonstrated what is the key element for a hero to be succeeded only when the hero’s fellows are supportive and their hearts are willing to fight for their master, and specifically for a country. On the other hand, the means to succeed will also relate to the conventions of leadership which has a combination of traditions ( what a warrior means to fight for the enemy) and religion ( the faiths for the leaders to fight for).

Looking back at early forms of literature we notice the classic idea of heroism in Beowulf. As time passes by the notion of a hero changes. Consciousness in early literature such as, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, does not enter the innermost thoughts. The notion of a hero and the notion of consciousness changes within literature through time. In the novel, Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen the hero is portrayed differently compared to earlier texts as well as the characters being aware of one’s environment. The author Jane Austen, carefully shapes her characters’ actions, feelings and affiliations in a specific way. In Sense and Sensibility we have a clearer picture of the consciousness of characters than what we see in Beowulf or Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.