Beowulf, an epic poem, had a many elements of Anglo-Saxon culture. Some of those elements included, but not limited to, loyalty, kinship, fame, etc.
One of the main themes in Beowulf, embodied by the character, is loyalty. Beowulf helps the Danes and tries to increase his reputation. He wants to be loyal to his own king in Geatland. In the times of the Anglo-Saxons, the quality of your king was the quality of your loyalty. Beowulf's loyalty and honor saved Hrothgar's country and his people. Beowulf stands apart from other men because of his extraordinary loyalty to his king. Beowulf wants to help Hrothgar and do what’s right. Whenever Beowulf goes to fight Grendel he tells them that he alone will fight the monster. He does this out of loyalty to Hrothgar and to the safety of his men. Later in Beowulf's life, he vows to protect his village from the attack of the dragon. Although much older, he goes off alone, believing it is his duty. This is his loyalty to his own people. He could send others to fight the dragon, but takes it upon himself. …show more content…
Kinship is a sharing of characteristics or origins. The Geats, Danes, and Swedes regarded other tribe members as family. They were willing to fight to the death and protect their family. Kinship continued In Beowulf, It was a great dishonor to kill a fellow tribe member, for example when Beowulf accused Unferth of being a brother-killer. “...the extent of recognition of living kin depends on the conventions existing in a society of counting certain cousins in or out (232)”. A man without kinship ties would have little recourse in law, little wealth, and no place to ride out the harsh northern winters. The prominence given to elements such as Beowulf's fostering with Hrethel and the bonds of kinship and fealty felt by Wiglaf would only serve to strengthen the importance of kinship in the minds of those listening to
One of the main themes in Beowulf, embodied by the character, is loyalty. Beowulf helps the Danes and tries to increase his reputation. He wants to be loyal to his own king in Geatland. In the times of the Anglo-Saxons, the quality of your king was the quality of your loyalty. Beowulf's loyalty and honor saved Hrothgar's country and his people. Beowulf stands apart from other men because of his extraordinary loyalty to his king. Beowulf wants to help Hrothgar and do what’s right. Whenever Beowulf goes to fight Grendel he tells them that he alone will fight the monster. He does this out of loyalty to Hrothgar and to the safety of his men. Later in Beowulf's life, he vows to protect his village from the attack of the dragon. Although much older, he goes off alone, believing it is his duty. This is his loyalty to his own people. He could send others to fight the dragon, but takes it upon himself. …show more content…
Kinship is a sharing of characteristics or origins. The Geats, Danes, and Swedes regarded other tribe members as family. They were willing to fight to the death and protect their family. Kinship continued In Beowulf, It was a great dishonor to kill a fellow tribe member, for example when Beowulf accused Unferth of being a brother-killer. “...the extent of recognition of living kin depends on the conventions existing in a society of counting certain cousins in or out (232)”. A man without kinship ties would have little recourse in law, little wealth, and no place to ride out the harsh northern winters. The prominence given to elements such as Beowulf's fostering with Hrethel and the bonds of kinship and fealty felt by Wiglaf would only serve to strengthen the importance of kinship in the minds of those listening to