The True Warrior In The Anglo-Saxon Poem Beowulf

Throughout the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf, problems arouse and a warrior steps up and defeats the enemy, but is that a definition of a true warrior? Aside from the ability to fight and kill, a warrior should have more significant values than that. He shall attain the values of loyalty and liberality to be considered a true warrior. In the poem Beowulf, the presence of loyalty and liberality heighten the quality of an Anglo-Saxon hero by showing true commitment to the warrior’s path opposed to others who do not show it. Although loyalty and liberality elevate a warrior’s quality throughout Beowulf, there are many absences of the two values in the poem. In the beginning, the narrator mentions the evil beast, Grendel who was kin to Cain (man who kills his own kin Abel in biblical terms) that only wreaks havoc on people and shows no signs of peace: “Suddenly then / the God-cursed brute was creating havoc: / greedy and grim, he grabbed [grabs] thirty men / from their resting places and rushed [rushes] to his lair…” (Beowulf 120-23). Here, the description of Grendel’s actions show a great example of the lack of both loyalty and liberality. At night time, the “God-cursed” monster silently sneaks up on these defenseless warriors while they sleep and takes their lives for no apparent reason.

Beowulf introduces himself to King Hrothgar and shows his commitment unto his lord, Lord Hygelac: “We belong by birth to the Geat people / and owe allegiance to Lord Hygelac. / In his day, my father was [is] a famous man, a noble warrior-lord name Ecgtheow.” (Beowulf 260-63). Beowulf seems to believe he must continue his father’s legacy under the service of Lord Hygelac. He and his people come to defeat Grendel to show great allegiance their lord who sent them. Moreover, Beowulf speaks on the way he will defeat Grendel to honor Hygelac even