The Power and Importance of Treasure, in Beowulf

Beowulf accomplished what may be the most difficult of all challenges in today’s times, he was able to aid other countries in times of need and respectfully communicate with them as well. After hearing word of Grendel’s attack, Beowulf decided to sail to Denmark and help defend Hrothgar’s people. In doing so, Hrothgar praised Beowulf and vowed to him that there was to always be an alliance between the Geats and the Danes from that day, forward. Beowulf was also idolized for the great amount of riches he brought to his people. After defeating Grendel, Hrothgar indulged Beowulf in a tremendous amount of riches. Instead of keeping the generous reward for himself, he took the riches home and gave them over to his king, Higlac, in hopes that the gifts would benefit his people. Beowulf was designated the king of the Geats for 50 winters, and always went to great lengths to protect his people. When dangerous situations arose, he stepped up to the plate and defended his people, no matter what the cost. In his old age, Beowulf made the ultimate sacrifice. He battled the dragon, and eventually met face-to-face with death. As a leader, Beowulf sacrificed his life in protection of his people; his heroic sacrifice is the ultimate demonstration of how an epic hero defends their people and serves as a positive influence in their culture.

In addition to traveling with a group of people, Beowulf accomplishes a multitude of valorous deeds. The first way in which this is demonstrated is through The Battle

Beowulf ‘s confidence in his abilities and courage to carry out his mission exhibits how he could be considered an epic hero. When he first hears of the Danes’ plight with the monster Grendel, Beowulf wastes no time in “his plan to sail the swan’s road and seek out that king” who desperately needs assistance in his troubles (Heaney 201-202). He eagerly accepts his call to action, wasting no time in ensuring King Hrothgar of his “awesome strength” and exhibiting an unwavering self-assurance as he recalls how he “battled and bound five beasts” (Heaney 418-420). In these first encounters with the hero, it is evident that Beowulf’s defining characteristics include his courage and pride. There is no fear or reluctance in his attempt for glory,

An Epic Hero is a brave, noble character in an epic poem, and they are admired for great achievements or affected by a grand event. In another point of view, A Epic Hero has to have strength, faith and Braveness in order to perform heroic deeds. In the story Beowulf , Beowulf is an epic hero because he kills Grendel the monster, Grendel’s Mother and a dragon that no one else could have defeated. All the things Beowulf did throughout this story showed evidence of an epic hero, also with his personality and dedication. Beowulf is an epic hero because of how he sacrificed his life to perform heroic deeds. Also for his extraordinary strength, Braveness, and Faith.

As him and his men see the shining reflection of the Danes’ spears, Beowulf feels and interprets the uncertainty they feel, for he is this mysterious man showing up to this island filled with turmoil. As the Geats are reluctantly let in, Beowulf introduces himself and gives detailed backgrounds of his many battles, flaunting his accomplishments and emphasizing his triumphs. In the midst of his storytelling he says, “‘I had a fixed purpose when I put to sea. / As I sat in the boat with my band of men, / I meant to perform to the uttermost / what your people wanted or perish in the attempt / in the fiend’s clutches. And I shall fulfil that purpose, / prove myself with a proud deed / or meet my death here in the mead-hall’” (43).

Beowulf performs the act of being generous when he offers to come fight the Danes battle against Grendel and his horrifying crimes. Soon after that, Grendel’s mother uses her wrath to try to harm the Danes. Beowulf again shows his generosity when he steps up to the plate and slays her. Beowulf returns to the land of the Danes, Hereot, for the third time to defeat yet another potential threat, the dragon. This battle is his final battle occurring near the end of the poem. By this event, he had been ruling the Gaits for at least fifty years. In this occurrence, he shows his generosity once again, by protecting his men and leaving them behind. He takes off and completes his final battle.

more of our men- and stripped the dead bodies; The brave, bold Danes!” (Beowulf pg. 86]. These words prompt the youngsters to thirst for vengeance and glory with the mention of how their ancestors

Beowulf is a fierce warrior who fights for good and helps his people, even if it means to sacrifice himself for the greater good.”His grace has given me allowed me to bring to my people while breath still moves to my lips...Take what I leave, Wiglaf, lead my people, help them; my time is gone.”(805-812). “Fought with fate against him, with glory denied him, he knew it, but he raised his sword struck at the dragon’s scaly hide.”(668-670). As Beowulf dies, he asks Wiglaf to lead his people with the jewels he won from his battle with the dragon. He discovers fear, yet battles it even if fate is against him. Beowulf fights until death beats him, he never gave up to any battle that came upon him. Though at times of his journeys, Beowulf receives praise and glory from all the victories which came upon him.

Throughout the Anglo-Saxon period, treasure and weaponry were highly valued among the kingdom and its people. Only those worthy enough to the King or Queen would receive treasure. Treasure was typically given to high-ranking warriors and loyal civilians that had accomplished some great deed. Beowulf shows that these men were so attached to those treasures and weapons that they buried them along with their dead

An epic hero is someone who is of great importance, they have supernatural abilities, have some form of connection with the Gods, and accomplish great deeds. In Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, Beowulf is the epic hero in his tale and he is considered great by those who know of his life. There are two versions of his story which portrays him in a certain way. The video version does not do its best to portray him as an epic hero but instead show that he is a liar, a womanizer, and a coward. The written version does not portray him as such, it portrays him as someone who is strong, brave, and fearless. The written version best portrays Beowulf as an epic hero by showing his actions involving superhuman deeds in battle.

He always explains his death wishes before going into battle and requests to have any assets delivered to his people. “And if death does take me, send the hammered mail of my armor to Higlac...”. Beowulf is a hero in the eyes of his fellow men through his amazing physical strength. He fought in numerous battles and returned victorious from all of them but his last. He understands that fate will work its magic no matter what, and he could be killed at any point in his life. He faces that reality by showing no fear and preparing for a positive or a fatal outcome.

Though in Beowulf there is no war going on between two tribes, Beowulf fights many supernatural monsters such as the sea-monsters and Grendel. When Beowulf was sinking down to the bottom of the lake to fight Grendel’s mother, he was not only going to fight Grendel’s mom. She had various sea-monsters in her cave to help tear Beowulf apart. Luckily for Beowulf, the only thing that kept him alive was his unbreakable chain-mail. He does fight the sea-monsters, but his main goal was to kill Grendel’s mom. “…a bewildering horde came at him from the depths, droves of sea-beasts who attacked with tusks and tore at his chain-mail in a ghastly onslaught” (105). Not only was killing Grendel’s mom not going to be easy, it is even harder when there is a group of terrifying sea-monsters that are trying to kill you too! As king, Beowulf fights a dragon because some stupid thief could not keep himself from taking a piece of its treasure. Not only does the dragon try to kill the thief, but it tries to burn the whole city down in flames. Beowulf says he will fight the dragon and that he could possibly die, “… I shall pursue this fight for the glory of winning…” (171). Beowulf does finally pass away after this fight because of a fatal wound to the neck from the

Gold is a prized possession and often times it becomes something worth fighting and dying for. It validates greatness in battle thus representing the spoils of war. Treasure is valuable to people today but its meaning has evolved since Beowulf’s time. Warriors were buried in flames while our warriors were buried in the earth but much like we do, the people who served Beowulf built “a mound on a highland/a marker that sailors could see from far away” (3157-3158) which becomes “a hero’s memorial”(3160). With the greed and desire treasure had on people, Wiglaf had the gold burned in Beowulf’s pyre knowing they aren’t worthy of having gold that lead to their king’s death. Treasure is important but it’s not important enough to risk one’s life and

In the poems Beowulf and The Song of Roland, the authors chose to emphasize wealth as a reflection of the customs and traditions of the respective countries. Because both cultures favored heroic deeds, those who displayed the most heroic actions were appropriately rewarded in the form of material wealth. Generally, the more affluent members of society took on the responsibility of rewarding honorable actions because they had the means available to reward the soldiers. The king, sometimes called the ring-giver, also dispersed wealth as a way to guarantee loyalty and bravery from his soldiers. Additionally, nations often exchanged wealth as a method of ensuring peace between the two nations. In contrast to the expected generosity of those with

An epic is a long, narrative poem that encompasses a hero or a heroine who is usually involved in an amazing battle between two forces. It includes forces that are not of the human world such as demons, angels, gods, and spirits. The epic of Beowulf is about a hero with superhuman strength that defeats the demon who torments the soldiers of the kingdom. In The Rape of the Lock, the heroine Belinda has a piece of her hair cut and stolen from her and the major battle is trying to get her lock of hair