Beowulf's Pride In Anglo Saxon Culture

Improved Essays
Beowulf, a man of legend, was this biggest and baddest guy of his time. He was greatly respected by the people who surrounded him. Stories of his amazing feats still last to this day. He fought against vicious demons that were cast out of Heaven, and that wasn’t even the most amazing thing he did. In Anglo-Saxon culture, Beowulf was considered a hero, but that is not the case in modern culture.
The Anglo-Saxons took huge pride in their heroes. The Anglo-Saxons’ hero had to have been amazingly strong, intelligent and brave to be thought of as a hero. They also believed in dying while in battle in order to die with a lot of fame and glory.Every hero in Anglo-Saxon culture was a warrior. Beowulf embodied all three characteristics of an Anglo-Saxon warrior and hero. Beowulf’s story was so amazing to the Anglo-Saxon’s that they kept his story of going through word of mouth.
…show more content…
Beowulf also fought against three amazing entities that he could have lost at. Beowulf had won every fight that is described in his story. In his fight against Grendel the Danes, the ones who enlisted the help of Beowulf, thought that Beowulf was not going to win the battle. They also thought he was going to die trying and maybe to take Grendel with them. Beowulf won that fight and shortly after he faced Grendel’s mother who was way more fierce than her son. Beowulf had also won that fight between that the two fighters. Grendel’s mother couldn’t even touch him. Then Beowulf, later into his prime, had to save his kingdom from a fire-breathing dragon. Even though he was a lot older at the time, Beowulf was still not afraid to go into battle with his life on the line. He was smart enough to bring a specially made sword for his last battle. His shield before would have burned a lot quicker, be he was prepared before the

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    The epic hero named Beowulf is a warrior, who can do what no man can as he defeats life and death challenges. In his youth, Beowulf was considered a great warrior due to his strength and courage. For example, his fable swimming match with Breca to get to grendel 's mom was showing how strong he was and the Germanic heroic code of Loyalty, courtesy and pride. His battle with Grendel and Grendel’s mother validates his bravery as he faces three tremendous battles that help shape him into the epic hero he is known as today. Beowulf young and courageous battles Grendel with ease, will never have any fearful vain and will never back down from any fight.…

    • 1169 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Beowulf Heroism

    • 737 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The topic for today is Beowulf as a hero. Beowulf, an epic poem composed in approximately 750 AD (Greenblatt 26), is a story of a Dane named Beowulf and his astonishing feats. Beowulf is a quintessential hero. He shows a copious amount of the overt traits such as bravery, strength, sacrifice, honor, faultlessness, courage, compassion, and being all-around impeccable. To further drive home Beowulf’s innate heroism, other characters almost always refer to how heroic he is.…

    • 737 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    What are the makings of a hero? Are they the physical qualities or the outstanding achievements? Or is it the mental battles of the hero that count? Three heroes from ancient english literature will be assessed for the noble qualities of a hero. Brave Beowulf was an honorable hero of the Geats.…

    • 464 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Beowulf Characteristics

    • 559 Words
    • 3 Pages

    A hero is a person we look up to they are above us and they have traits we admire and wish to copy. Beowulf is the perfect personification of the Anglo Saxon epic hero he is much more than a mere mortal he has superior strength, intelligence, courage, and morals. He uses all of these traits on his quests in order to grow fame and glory even at the risk of his life. Beowulf believes in fate and that god had already decided the outcome of the battles this makes it seem as if god himself chose Beowulf and protects him.…

    • 559 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    One of the characteristics that Beowulf had like an Anglo-Saxon Hero was his bravery. He didn’t have any fear of going head to head with different creatures that he battled. For example, Beowulf said, “I drove five great giants into chains… hunting monsters out of the ocean.” (p.50). He conquered these massive and difficult tasks without fleeing away or refusing to do them.…

    • 182 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Beowulf: A Brave Warrior

    • 419 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Beowulf was a strong, brave warrior. He fought against many enemies and was victorious, until his streak was ended by a fierce dragon. People still look up to Beowulf as a hero because of all he has done. Beowulf proved that with courage and strength, anything is possible. For Beowulf’s first battle, he needed to fight and defeat Grendel.…

    • 419 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Of the many heroes in the Anglo-Saxon and medieval literature, Beowulf is a prime example of a hero. In the Beowulf poem written by the Beowulf poet, and in Robert Zemeckis’ film, Beowulf. Beowulf selflessly sacrifices his own life in the hopes of saving the lives of the Danes, who belonged to a whole different clan than his own. Beowulf is willing to give his own life for the betterment of another society, and with this he chivalrously saves many people. Even though Beowulf is portrayed as an ideal hero in the poem, and in the movie the audience is introduced to his flaws, they are both similar in their theme of heroism.…

    • 1478 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Picture a dagger, bloody upon the blade; red-ish blood dripping down, and a hero fighting like never before with this nemesis hellfire creature. It takes great pride to even stand up to what’s wrong in this era. Although, once there was a prince, adore by all his people; a man with strength out of this world. Named Beowulf, the wolf with fangs in the night, and man hunter in the day. Beowulf pride came from making his people happy, being loyal to all his comrades and training hard to gain an incredible…

    • 93 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Beowulf is an epic poem that has captivated readers for centuries. It tells the story of Beowulf, the “heroes of all heroes” and savior of the Danes and Geats. Beowulf represents what a true hero should be, not just in his time, but throughout history. In contrast, Grendel, his mother and the dragon share characteristics that accurately portray them as villains. So it is only natural that conflict would arise between the virtuous hero and the dangerous villains that around him.…

    • 757 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Beowulf’s society, the Anglo-Saxons, idolized many qualities, specifically those of a strong warrior, courageous fighter, and hero willing to die for his glory and people. Principally, the persona that the Anglo-Saxons most idolized was that of a warrior. Beowulf is an admired warrior well-known to all who surround him. When Beowulf first meets King Hrothgar, he announces, “My people supported my resolve to come here to you, King Hrothgar, because all knew of my awesome strength” (line 415).…

    • 441 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “Beowulf- The Anglo-Saxon Hero” The Anglo-Saxon culture embraces virtues such as courage, strength, loyalty, cunning, and generosity. These virtues are exemplified by the epic hero Beowulf. Beowulf possesses each of these characteristics.…

    • 657 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Human Traits In Beowulf

    • 1369 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Throughout literature, every culture has created their own idea of the perfect man and hero. These cultures were trying to formulate a man who could fight in wars, slay dragons, and rule a country all at the same time. For the Anglo-Saxon people, this ideal hero meant a hero that housed superhuman abilities, the bravery of a lion, a royal background, and glory beyond belief. From the time the reader meets Beowulf; he exhibits the Anglo-Saxon qualities of an epic hero that include superhuman abilities, above average bravery, and excessive glorification of his deeds.…

    • 1369 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Beowulf The Watcher

    • 365 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Who is Beowulf? Beowulf was an epic hero during the Anglo-Saxon times. He was considered the most heroic man alive during the Anglo-Saxon times. Beowulf originated from an old poem written by an unknown author, and has been passed down for many centuries. Beowulf was a warrior of the Geats and had fought many monsters in his time.…

    • 365 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    In the story, Beowulf is described as “the strongest of the Geats-greater and stronger than anyone in this world” (110-111). Another way Beowulf of the Beowulf takes on the role of an epic hero is by possessing supernatural traits. During the oldtimes, the Anglo-Saxons valued heroes who win the battle and protects the people. In the story, Beowulf faced many evil monsters like demons and dragon. Beowulf is fighting opponents that mere mortals cannot ever dare to battle.…

    • 1034 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Beowulf always shows great bravery in every battle he fights: “I have heard moreover that the monster scorns/ in his reckless way to use weapons/ therefore, to heighten Hygelac’s fame/ and gladden his heart, I hereby renounce/ sword and the shelter of the broad shield,/ the heavy war-board shield, the heavy war-board: hand-to-hand/ is how it will be, a life-and-death/ fight with the fiend.” (Beowulf 433-440.) Beowulf proves using weapons or protections would make the battle too easy. He confronts Grendel with his weapons off and fights in bare hands to show his bravery. The battle describes Beowulf’s strength as a legendary epic hero’s.…

    • 1161 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays