ipl-logo

How Did Beowulf Change In Anglo Saxon Time

704 Words3 Pages

The Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf is a piece written hundreds of years ago in what is considered old English. It was first an oral tail that was then translated onto paper. This story has many cases of strong morals, courage of heroes and the forces of good and evil. The poem is a prime example of the morals and personality that people had in the early Scandinavian ages. The qualities of the Anglo-Saxon time period are very clear in the book. Many of these are based upon real life morals and a lot are mythological. When Beowulf went to fight the dragon he was prepared to die for his people and land. In these days’ death was better than defeat, “I risked my life often when I was young. Now I am old, but as king of the people I shall pursue this fight for the glory of winning” (Beowulf 2511). Towards the end of the book, the warriors show lots of morals of there time. When the fight was at its prime, Beowulf was struggling with theses creature and his men came to his aid, “For every one of us, living in this world means waiting for our end. Let whoever can win glory before death. When a warrior is gone, that will be his best and only bulwark" (1384-1389). Essentially dying is the least of there problems. The remarks stated in that example are the perfect depiction of the centuries message and lessons. In addition, the …show more content…

In society, particularly in Beowulf’s time, courage was essentially what determined your whole mentality as a person. Along with having courage, you should never take your strengths for granted, “Thus Beowulf bore himself with valour; he was formidable in battle yet behaved with honour and took no advantage” (2177-2179). Beowulf is a great warrior yet he is humble and that is why so many people adore him. In battle its always all in or you are not honorable. One needs to be okay with dying for ones land and be selfless for the people. When in a fight the thought of this warrior was, “Inspired

Show More
Related
1044 Words | 5 Pages

Beowulf is an archetypal story known by generations around the world. Beowulf took place during Anglo-Saxon English time period. In this work, Beowulf, a young Geat man, journeys to Denmark to save the Danes from the wrath of the demonic Grendel. During Anglo-Saxon time, Beowulf was a folk song only passed around by word of mouth. Monks eventually transferred it to paper since they were the only ones capable of writing.

Read More
687 Words | 3 Pages

Both the characters of Beowulf and the Seafarer have demonstrated courage in their tales. As depicted in the story, Beowulf is willing to face every situation fearlessly and without hesitation. He knows one day he will be defeated but until then he fights until he does. Beowulf know 's when he dies, he will be remembered for what a great warrior he was. Another character who displayed courage this unit would be the character from the Seafarer.

Read More
226 Words | 1 Pages

Near the end of the epic, Beowulf’s kingdom is under the attack of a dragon. Beowulf is loyal to his subjects, so he goes to fight the dragon, even though he knows his chances of survival are not high. Beowulf is a very loyal warrior, subject, and king. Beowulf demonstrates valor throughout the entire poem of Beowulf.

Read More
958 Words | 4 Pages

Bravery is the quality of mental strength that one may have regarding fear, danger, and difficulties. Beowulf is a prime example of a hero in the way that he sacrifices his life time after time for those around him to fight off monsters. Throughout the poem, Beowulf shows bravery and confidence but his priorities and personality change as time goes on. He changes from a naive and reckless warrior to a caring and wise king. At first, he is eager to kill Grendel without much thought then he became revengeful to kill Grendel's Mother, at the end he makes the most sensible decisions for his people.

Read More
65 Words | 1 Pages

The Anglo-Saxon time period was known for its agriculturally rich, and major contributions to literature in a country that would later become England. Tales of glory, honor, and heroes spread kingdom wide. One such tale was the story of Beowulf. Beowulf is a well-known epic, that tells the tale of the hero Beowulf, who comes to rise from well-known thane to a king of legend.

Read More
451 Words | 2 Pages

Beowulf is an archetypal character within a legendary piece of text. He embodies the conglomerate of many Anglo Saxon values expressed throughout his heroic journey. Contrived by the mighty Northern Anglo Saxons, Beowulf is the manifestation of the Anglo Saxon ideals. This work of art helps us identify and analyze Beowulf’s ideals in a way that lets us deduce the values of the Anglo Saxon society. Examination of this poem lets us familiarize ourselves about a society obsessed with religion, vengeance and war-lust beings.

Read More
526 Words | 3 Pages

In Beowulf, an English epic poem that tells of the tell of the incredible warrior Beowulf, Anglo-Saxons values of the time period are displayed. Loyalty, bravery, and honesty are three of the most important values

Read More
821 Words | 4 Pages

The epic poem “Beowulf”, translated by Burton Raffel, focuses on a hero by the name of Beowulf who goes on a quest to rescue King Hrothgar and his people from an egregious monster by the name of Grendel. This Anglo-Saxon tale gives insight into the values and beliefs of the people from whom the story originated. Their war-centered ideology and views on loyalty and courage were the principles that the Anglo-Saxon culture was founded upon. While warfare was a focal point in their lifestyle, it was far from a savage, barbaric state of fighting. Honor and prestige were bestowed upon those who died during battle and selflessness for fellow warriors was a fundamental belief.

Read More
845 Words | 4 Pages

The Anglo-Saxons were a complicated people with an even more complicated society but they are nonetheless a very interesting people’s. Beowulf swiftly implied since the beginning that “courage” is the ultimate form of “greatness”(“shmoop”). Bravery and heroism comes first in the Anglo-Saxon culture because they used it to prove how worthy they were of power and if they didn’t show it they feared that they would be punished or shunned this can be shown when I Beowulf it is stated that “ Often, for undaunted courage, fate spares the man it has not already marked.” Beowulf shows courage and bravery when he fights Grendel by ripping Grendel

Read More
408 Words | 2 Pages

I sacrificed my life for my king. I also showed responsibility compared to the other cowardly shield-bearers (warriors). Beowulf has learned that having heroism is a risk. We must always remember a key idea of the heroic code: a hero must fight- even though he knows that he fights against

Read More
174 Words | 1 Pages

proves true looking through Anglo-Saxon history. Beowulf has been described as an “a museum for the antiquarian, a source-book for the historian, a treatise for the student of Christian thought, and a gymnasium for the philologist.” Part of the changing Anglo-Saxon and the Germanic reality of the Early Medieval ages in hidden in Beowulf. Beowulf provides an in-depth look at the Early Midivil world regarding the Germanic tribes. Beowulf may not keep the Germanic and Anglo-Saxon culture alive, but as a text or orally it keeps the culture preserved.

Read More
805 Words | 4 Pages

Questions of Honor: Beowulf Beowulf’s honor and integrity can be questioned throughout the entirety of the epic poem, Beowulf. Whether or not his actions are inspired by his own pompous arrogance or confidence, one can argue that he is a hero nonetheless. Evidence and experience prove that Beowulf is more of a fearless hero than an excessively prideful man, and his hubris is more than justified due to the formidable duties he is able to execute. Throughout the poem, Beowulf expresses his intense strength and courage to the fearful people in the poem. His daring sense of self-assurance is backed by his victories against all three monsters, (even though he suffers a tragic death after facing the dragon, it is a defeat nonetheless).

Read More
447 Words | 2 Pages

Not only have we seen brute strength, honorable courage, and admirable loyalty shine through beowulf, Beowulf also possess a great trait not many others have; his will to fight to the death, or self sacrifice. Not once throughout the story did Beowulf ever turn down a battle. Not once did he fear or flee his enemy. Not once did he ever give up even if death had him by the throat causing his mind to flood nothing but fearful thoughts and feelings throughout his body. Every battle Beowulf fought, he fought as if it was his last and that is what truly makes him the great warrior he is.

Read More
758 Words | 4 Pages

Saxon England, courage and loyalty were valued (Janet, 101). A man with valor and loyalty was expected to be rewarded by their king (Janet, 103). Furthermore, above anything, everyone battled for fame because fame is the only thing that lasts. In Beowulf, Beowulf is a renowned Geatish warrior and hero (Beowulf, 153-156). His

Read More
412 Words | 2 Pages

The epic poem, Beowulf was influenced by Anglo-Saxon cultural beliefs. Beowulf is the longest, and greatest surviving Anglo-Saxon poem. The setting of the epic is the sixth century in what is now known as Denmark and southwestern Sweden. This poem strengthens the Heroic Code. This code was derived from the Anglos-Saxons’ Germanic roots and was a basis for Anglo-Saxon honor.

Read More

More about How Did Beowulf Change In Anglo Saxon Time

Related Topics

Open Document