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Beowulf Essay On Anglo Saxon Values

1052 Words5 Pages

New Beowulf Essay Anglo-Saxons, although human, lived in a culture where war and fame were prized over democracy and peace. In the epic Beowulf, translated by Burton Raffel, many of these values are shown and they drive the Anglo-Saxons in their short existences on Earth. Beowulf follows the story of a young Geat warrior who comes to help the Danes defeat their archenemy Grendel. After he bests Grendel and his mother he becomes king, eventually dying as king protecting his homeland from a dragon. The two most vital traits to the Anglo-Saxons were loyalty and strength. Anglo-Saxons held at the core of their code a loyalty to their king, homeland, and kinsmen and the importance of strength to oppose all enemies that threatened them. Loyalty is the most compelling reason that Anglo-Saxons had to fight. They had fierce loyalty towards their homeland, their king, their kinsmen, and their fellow tribesmen. This loyalty caused them to be valiant warriors who would defend their homeland to the death if that is what it came to. Every action they perform is offered up to their king or God and they seldom seek to praise themselves. Beowulf never claims reward or praise for himself, but instead introduces himself by saying, “Higlac is my cousin and my …show more content…

This strength was what defined a person’s reputation and was always what warriors boasted of most as Anglo-Saxons loved to boast of their power and mighty deeds. People were determined to be the strongest they could because it could help them gain favor in the community and earn more rewards. It was often the strongest warriors who gained legendary status and this is what people hoped to gain fame by honing their skills. Strength is ultimately what allows Anglo-Saxons to crave the glory that they carve and it gives warriors a way to raise their standings in the

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