Reputation is a key theme of the English poem Beowulf and is really important to the main character. Through the entire poem we see how important it is, even at an old age his reputation is everything to him and it’s all connected to him wanting to be the leader and warrior his dad was. Gail Ashton (writer of the Medieval English Romance in Context) said, “These stories only focus on family, kinship, marriage, lineage, and property, all social and political structures.” And it’s true in medieval texts; let’s take a closer look at two of the most used themes in medieval texts.
First lineage; lineage is a lineal descent from an ancestor; ancestry or pedigree. The importance of lineage in medieval stories are: 1st all men identify themselves through their heritage, 2nd men use accomplishments of relatives as …show more content…
For example in Beowulf lines 174-179 “We are Geats, men who follow Higlac, my father was a famous soldier, known far and wide as leader of men, His name was Edgetho. His life lasted many winters; wise men all over the earth surely remember him still.” This description of his father happens when Beowulf and his men are on their way to Herot to help King Hrothgar with the problem that was Grendel. He gives his explanation to a lieutenant of King Hrothgar who was guarding the gate. By him saying, “My father, Was a famous soldier, known far and wide, as leader of men. His name was Edgetho.” You can see quickly what Beowulf is trying to do; by him saying his father accomplishments it puts a tone of, my father was a wise leader and I’m trying to be the same leader so just give me a chance to prove myself by fighting Grendel. In Lines 366-371 “The mighty protector of men, meant to hold the monster till its life leaped out, knowing the field was no use, to
First lineage; lineage is a lineal descent from an ancestor; ancestry or pedigree. The importance of lineage in medieval stories are: 1st all men identify themselves through their heritage, 2nd men use accomplishments of relatives as …show more content…
For example in Beowulf lines 174-179 “We are Geats, men who follow Higlac, my father was a famous soldier, known far and wide as leader of men, His name was Edgetho. His life lasted many winters; wise men all over the earth surely remember him still.” This description of his father happens when Beowulf and his men are on their way to Herot to help King Hrothgar with the problem that was Grendel. He gives his explanation to a lieutenant of King Hrothgar who was guarding the gate. By him saying, “My father, Was a famous soldier, known far and wide, as leader of men. His name was Edgetho.” You can see quickly what Beowulf is trying to do; by him saying his father accomplishments it puts a tone of, my father was a wise leader and I’m trying to be the same leader so just give me a chance to prove myself by fighting Grendel. In Lines 366-371 “The mighty protector of men, meant to hold the monster till its life leaped out, knowing the field was no use, to