False Praise In Beowulf

Lucius Annaeus Seneca once said, "True praise comes often even to the lowly; false praise only to the strong." This can be applied to the epic hero, Beowulf. The poem has been translated to describe Beowulf has "desirous of praise". He is said to be the strongest of all men, and as suggested by Seneca, the strong receive false praise. In the epic poem Beowulf, Beowulf is seen as a heroic figure by characters in the poem but is not a true hero because he desires praise more so than he deserves it, as some translations suggest. Several places throughout the poem where Beowulf demonstrates his desire for praise it becomes masked by his strength. Before fighting the monster Grendel, Beowulf says, "That I, alone and with the help of my men, /May purge all evil from this hall. I have heard, /Too, that the monster's scorn of men /Is so great that he needs no weapons and fears none. Nor will I" (L165-169, 44). Beowulf declares that he will fight without weapons. He has no reason to do this besides his desire for praise. Heroes have often been associated with a quality of selflessness. Beowulf does not fit the role of a hero because he fights Grendel to solely to receive praise. Beowulf …show more content…
The poem states that "No Dane doubted/The victory, for the proof, hanging high/From the rafters where Beowulf had hung it, was the monster's/Arm, claw and shoulder and all" (L355-358, 49). Beowulf's actions here show a clear example of his great desire for praise. A defeated Grendel feared Beowulf, but that was not enough for him. Beowulf ripped off Grendel's arm so that the Danes could see his strength and power. Grendel was already in pain, but Beowulf wanted something to show for his work and to receive praise. Grendel's arm can symbolize Beowulf's desire for praise when he hangs it from rafters for all to see. By hanging the arm, Beowulf asks for praise and therefore does not deserve