Examples Of Ancestry In Beowulf

As said by Tomy Beta, “you are the fairytale told by your ancestors.” This quote is directly referring to the importance of ancestry and how it plays a part in a person's life, and the way they are perceived by others. In Beowulf, this idea of ancestry proves to be one of the biggest ways Beowulf finds his identity, and achieves his goals. Ancestry, in this sense, is not only a part of your life, but a part of your past and future generations. Additionally, the way a person is perceived can be tied to their motivation in pursuing heroic acts. Once these acts are performed, depending on their ancestry, it can have a major or minor effect on the way people view their authority. Beowulf’s family motivates him to create a legacy for himself. Beowulf’s

In Beowulf, and many other ancient texts written around the same time period, family is one of the most prized and important things. Making your family proud of your accomplishments, and carrying on their past traditions and values, is vital to being a successful, well known person. “I can leave/ This life happy; I can die, here,/ Knowing the Lord of all life has never/ Watched me wash my sword in blood/ Born of my own family” (Line unknown, around pg. 110). Right before the death of Beowulf to the dragon, when he says this, it really gives the reader a huge insight on how absolutely vital it was for Beowulf to carry on his family tradition of dying an accomplished person. It directly illustrates that he feels his life is complete, and has brought him to a satisfying end. Now, what is interesting is the fact that Beowulf is actually saying that he has died fulfilled because he has never killed one of his kin. Although it definitely states this, his statement also possesses deeper meaning, that washing his sword in the blood of his family also means not carrying on tradition. This would be valid to say, as a result of the other lengths he took throughout the book to ensure well being for his future and present generation. “The Geat leader, resolute in his helmet, answered in return: "We are retainers from Hygelac's band. Beowulf is my name" (340-343). This shows that one of

Throughout the book it can appear that Beowulf’s actions are all performed not for his personal gain, but to carry on traditions and legacy for his family name. In some respects this is true, but one of Beowulf's final goal in his life is to become king of Geatland, and also be a respected, well known leader. In order to achieve this, Beowulf’s takes daring risks in his actions in order to build his reputation. An example of his accomplishment was presented after his defeating of Grendel’s mother, when he awarded for his actions. “He had been poorly regarded/for a long time, he was taken by the Geats/for less than he was worth….but presently/every affront to his deserving was reversed” (2183-2189). This idea of accomplishing one's goal after so many years of overlook highlights Beowulf’s uncanny motivation. In order to become this person of high status, he persevered through all of his battles, and took risks that could have, if not achieved, sent his reputation on a downfall. Another interesting idea presented by the dialogue in the book was the way that Beowulf and others viewed his daring actions. “Beowulf, / tell us what your trip to far off places/brought you… your search for war in Herot?” (1986-1990). This explicitly tells us that Hygelac believes Beowulf’s departure, while purposefully aimed to assist Hrothgar, also possessed a part of unknowingness for what was happening. It was instead a