Nicholas Reynolds
Professor Dow
ENG 215-001
7 October 2014
Beowulf’s Loyalty
The chivalric code in the Middle Ages stressed the importance of humility, integrity, loyalty, piety, and honesty. In the epic poem Beowulf, our hero does not fall short of these virtues. Throughout the poem, Beowulf demonstrates qualities that embody the ideals of his culture. Beowulf sails to the Danes to help them slay a monster and its terrifying mother. He fights in wars and eventually becomes king of the Geats. He rules for fifty prosperous years before having to lay down his life to kill a dragon. Beowulf’s fidelity to his father’s allies, to his comrades, to his kings, and then to his country remains steadfast throughout the entire poem. The epic Beowulf, …show more content…
His loyalty is shown, because he wants his comrades to be properly taken care of if he falls in the upcoming battle. Not only does he show loyalty to his comrades, but also to his king in Geatland. He wants the gold he earned from killing Grendel to be sent to his king back home to honor him even when facing possible death. Beowulf puts the lives of his companions over his own by showing concern with their lives, even though he is the one facing death. He also shows a great deal of loyalty to his king because he wishes to have his rightfully earned fortunes to be sent to his …show more content…
Then a dragon disrupts his kingdom, and he courageously takes up the challenge while knowing he won’t be able to survive. Beowulf proclaims, “I risked my life / often when I was young. Now I am old, / but as king of the people I shall pursue this fight /…This fight is not yours, / nor is it up to any man except me / to measure his strength against the monster / or to prove his worth.” (2511-14, 32-35). Beowulf knows he faces his last battle and courageously fights to his death for glory and for the love he has for his
Professor Dow
ENG 215-001
7 October 2014
Beowulf’s Loyalty
The chivalric code in the Middle Ages stressed the importance of humility, integrity, loyalty, piety, and honesty. In the epic poem Beowulf, our hero does not fall short of these virtues. Throughout the poem, Beowulf demonstrates qualities that embody the ideals of his culture. Beowulf sails to the Danes to help them slay a monster and its terrifying mother. He fights in wars and eventually becomes king of the Geats. He rules for fifty prosperous years before having to lay down his life to kill a dragon. Beowulf’s fidelity to his father’s allies, to his comrades, to his kings, and then to his country remains steadfast throughout the entire poem. The epic Beowulf, …show more content…
His loyalty is shown, because he wants his comrades to be properly taken care of if he falls in the upcoming battle. Not only does he show loyalty to his comrades, but also to his king in Geatland. He wants the gold he earned from killing Grendel to be sent to his king back home to honor him even when facing possible death. Beowulf puts the lives of his companions over his own by showing concern with their lives, even though he is the one facing death. He also shows a great deal of loyalty to his king because he wishes to have his rightfully earned fortunes to be sent to his …show more content…
Then a dragon disrupts his kingdom, and he courageously takes up the challenge while knowing he won’t be able to survive. Beowulf proclaims, “I risked my life / often when I was young. Now I am old, / but as king of the people I shall pursue this fight /…This fight is not yours, / nor is it up to any man except me / to measure his strength against the monster / or to prove his worth.” (2511-14, 32-35). Beowulf knows he faces his last battle and courageously fights to his death for glory and for the love he has for his