Honor And Honor In Beowulf

The poem Beowulf tells the story of a great Thane, named Beowulf, to Hygelac, the king of the Geats in Sweden, and his battle with unknown beasts. To begin, Beowulf hears the reign of terror about this beast named Grendel that has been killing and eating people in the mead hall, Heorot, for 12 years. As a result, Beowulf decides to risk his life crossing the ocean from Sweden to Denmark to fight this monster he has never heard of for a king that he has never met. Some may ask why, but Beowulf‘s ideas of fame, honor and courage brought him across the ocean. Ultimately, Beowulf risks his life to fight an unknown beast for a distant king for his belief of fame, honor and courage. Beowulf’s idea of fame is to being known by many. As a result of his many victories against other beasts, Beowulf was called upon by the best of his people to fight an unknown beast for King Hrothgar, King of the Danes, someone who Beowulf has …show more content…
To start, Beowulf believed honor had no price, but was for himself. In this case, Beowulf decides to fight Grendel with no armor and no sword because he believed that it would be fair in his mind knowing that his opponent did not have any armor nor a weapon. In the poem, Beowulf, Beowulf states,” I count myself nowise weaker in war or grapple of battle than Grendel himself. Therefore I scorn to slay him with sword, deal deadly wound, as I well might do! Nothing he knows of a noble fighting, of thrusting and hewing and hacking of shield”(507-513). Beowulf greatly honors his opponent by fighting him evenly even if the two are different sizes, which shows how much Beowulf respects his opponents. Not to mention, this act of respect shows how much Beowulf believes in himself if he was going to fight Grendel barehanded. All in all, Beowulf’s act of honor to Grendel demonstrates his idea of courage as a result of being summoned to Denmark due to his