Masculinity In Beowulf

Beowulf is an Old English poem written somewhere between the eighth century and the tenth century; the culture of Germanic times is depicted through varying concepts of masculinity that not only describes their capability as a warrior, but also their aptitude as a leader. Beowulf shows of a demon named Grendel attacking Heorot, and the king, Hrothgar, calls Beowulf, a warrior, for help with the slaying of Grendel. Characteristics and qualities of leadership are directly linked to the masculinity of the characters within Beowulf. The leaders in the prologue are demonstrated with the aspects of masculinity through their strength and brutality. In Beowulf, a man demonstrates his essential worth through evidence of masculinity as seen in Unferth’s cowardice, Beowulf’s heroism, and Wiglaf’s bravery.

In the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf, the stupendous hero’s many great deeds often appear to be for other’s benefit, yet Beowulf’s final conquest exposes his lust for glory and fame, thereby showing his lack of concern for anything else. This lust for immense glory and fame feeds his ego and causes his death and the imminent downfall of his great people the Geats.

The Anglo-Saxons’ cultures and traditions are rooted in their beliefs of the perfect hero. Their ideal hero has many key characteristics influenced by their culture including courage, strength, bravery, thick skin, loyalty, humbleness, and the ability to create strong trustworthy friendships. Beowulf is an epic poem that exhibits the ideal Anglo-Saxon hero. The Anglo-Saxon traditions illustrated in Beowulf accurately represent the Anglo-Saxon traditions of the time period. This is accomplished through the distinct correlation of heroic characteristics between Beowulf and the culture’s traditional depiction of an Anglo-Saxon hero.

In Beowulf’s Society, physical strength was thought of a man who could conquer anything that he would be faced with, such as a monster like Grendel. Another example from Beowulf, is when he says to Unferth “I was the strongest swimmer of all” (Heaney 534). This shows that Beowulf was

In the 21st century, there are several key points in which our society believe masculinity stands for some would include being active, non-emotional, and independent. Although this may be the case for our people today it doesn’t for Beowulf. In Beowulf a man has to prove himself as masculine to earn others respect and to be looked up upon. It also seems to be a disgrace to the individual and the community if you can not prove that you have conformed to the standards that society has settled upon. To be a man is to be accountable for everything that he does. Beowulf represents, for this text, the ideal of what a man should be. The reader can see through his actions what traits the author believes a man should have to prove their masculinity. Thus, based off of Beowulf, masculinity is represented through actions, weaponry, and bravery. These different factors that define masculinity in beowulf are not bad however, they can be very limiting especially because everyone is born with a different built and different talents. With this said it can be assumed that the author purposely disregarded this fact. In Beowulf because of these limited views on what man should be there is a high chance of rebellion or some sort of revenge culture. If man can not conform to certain standards there is a way for them to prove everyone else that these so called traits to be a man is completely inaccurate, to prove this, revenge is a possibility. The non-masculine man would definitely take revenge

Beowulf is an epic poem that, above all, gives the reader an idea of a time long past; a time when the most important values were courage and integrity. The only factors that could bestow shower fame upon a person were heroic deeds and family lineage. Beowulf, as the paradigm of pagan heroes, exhibited his desire to amass fame and fortune; the only way to do so was to avenge the death of others. This theme of retribution that is ever present throughout the poem seems to color the identities of its characters.

“No better king had ever lived, no prince so mild, no man so open to his people, so deserving of praise.” This is an ultimate description of the heroic events of Beowulf, an old Anglo-Saxon poem about a warrior who battles and destroys three horrifying monsters. Although written long ago, the emotions expressed within this work, emotions of bravery, valor, and ethics still speak to us centuries later. The anonymous author of the poem convinces us through the masterful use of various literary elements that emphasize its meaning and message. Conflict, imagery and setting are three literary elements that contribute to the effectiveness of the poem.

The definition of masculinity: possession of the qualities associated with men. This definition is also implied in Beowulf except that the qualities then may be different than the ones our society has today. A man has to prove himself as masculine to earn others respect and to be look up upon. To be a man is to be accountable for everything that he does. Beowulf represents, for this text, the ideal of what a man should be. The reader can see through his actions what traits the author believes a man should have to prove their masculinity. Thus, based off of Beowulf, masculinity is represented through actions, weaponry, and bravery.

Built upon the idea of Beowulf and the Anglo-Saxon Society, the value of a hero is characterized by one’s masculinity. During the time of Anglo-Saxons, it was conventional to focus on the ideas of virility. Beowulf’s vigorous personality is shown when he states, "I have heard that the demon in proud disdain Spurs all weapons: and I too scorn may Hygelac’s heart have joy of the deed to bear my sword, or sheltering shield, or yellow buckler, to battle the fiend.

1. John Berger, an English author, stated that “men act and women appear.” This belief exemplifies itself in Beowulf, through Queen Wealhtheow who appears as a simple cuppasser in Heorot Hall. While the men feast and talk around the great Heorot Hall, Queen Wealhtheow simply passes the cup and acts as a lowly hostess. Not only do women just “appear” in literature but also in the everyday media and pop culture of today.

The epic poem Beowulf shows a society much different from others in literary history, and it is very period of its time. A great deal of this novel is spent setting a background and introducing the values and peculiarities of Anglo-Saxon culture to the reader. In particularly, the ideals of masculinity are frequently and obviously portrayed throughout the story and mainly through the character of Beowulf. The poet who wrote Beowulf communicates the masculine values of Anglo-Saxon men through the loyal and prideful motives of Beowulf.

Within every culture come certain values and beliefs that signify them. The Anglo-Saxons have prided themselves on their great heroic warriors throughout the years. To be a hero was the greatest form of respect to them, and to achieve such greatness you need to have bravery, faith, strength and loyalty. In the story, Beowulf, the great warrior embodies all of the coveted traits of an Anglo-Saxon warrior. The significance of bravery, faith, strength and loyalty are shown heavily in Beowulf, accurately detailing the Anglo Saxon culture and their beliefs in its entirety.

Beowulf is an old English epic poem, it is written in an Anglo-Saxon society, and is a Christian-based poem. A Christian monk wrote some pieces of this epic poem all because some of the true pieces were missing from the poem. Beowulf is also a computerized film produced in 2007. Beowulf is a young Geatish man who is putting himself out there to help Hrothgar and save Heorot by fighting a monster by the name of Grendel and two others later on. The monster named Grendel is tearing up everything from people, buildings, and things from Hrothgar, the King of the Danes. The poem and film are very different from each other in many ways, some examples are how femininity, masculinity, and religion is portrayed in both the poem and film.

Over the course of history the value of certain ideas and concepts have radically changed similarly to value of currency. Especially in the most recent years of humanity as it engages over various debates over the gender roles and capabilities that are to be expected from a general perspective. Many questions have arisen in regards to the necessity of masculinity in relationships and societies. In the past thirteen centuries the differences between masculinity in the present and during the conception of Beowulf have become gigantuous, primarily in the value of manhood, the definition of manhood/the transition between physical masculinity and mental masculinity, and the redefinition of humanity and masculinity.

Beowulf is the longest and the most marvellous poem in the Old English literature and that is why it is called an epic poem. In accordance with the principles of heroic poetry, the poet mainly focused on the deeds of the male hero. Men have big important roles while women are depicted as side characters that do not have any significant role in society. Well that is exactly what you will think if you do not read the poem carefully. So even though women may seem to not be of primary concerns, they have significant roles in the poem. The three major women that play integral roles throughout the epic are Wealhtheow, the gracious queen of the Danes, Hildeburh, daughter of the king of the Danes and Grendel’s Mother, the monstrous water-witch. These women bring peace and order in their country and contradict the social expectations of the female gender.