Germanic paganism

There is an unambiguous system of social contracts portrayed in the poem, Beowulf, and they are exemplified by the main character as well as secondary ones. Beowulf is the mighty hero who is beloved by all, just as all leaders were. Warriors were fearless and given riches on a golden platter. The people were obligated to remain faithful and inspired by these men. The foundation of the code of honor and the warrior culture is bravery and it is demonstrated multiple times through their heroic…

Beowulf: A Reflection of Cultural Context. A society's culture and values are dependant on their standard of living. Anglo-Saxons in harsh winter weather constantly warred amongst the neighboring tribes for food, valuables, and territory. In a world where survival hinges on combat, rulers would extol the concept of glory in death. These people were not allowed the luxury of having compassion, not to say they were completely void of it, but it was not necessary. Conversely, we today live in a…

A hero is usually described as a man who is idolized for courage or achievements. In the epic poem, Beowulf, the main character Beowulf is shown as the main hero. There are many different steps in a hero’s journey, starting with a call to an adventure and ending with a heroic return. Beowulf shows many different heroic qualities, through the challenging conflicts he faced during his journey. Beowulf starts his epic journey by stumbling upon Denmark, ruled by King Hrothgar. The Danes are…

A look into Cultural differences based on Beowulf Many cultural differences between the epic poem Beowulf (Gunnarson) and the movie Beowulf and Grendel (Heaney) were demonstrated, including character behavior. In the epic poem, characters that portray this difference from epic to movie are Beowulf and Grendel. Beowulf in the epic poem is mostly known as a God among men, he kills all the evil in his sight, has no flaws, and doesn’t care about much, other than being honorable. Being that this was…

Loyalty is a hard personality trait to find in people but in the story Beowulf loyalty is shown throughout the book as being the most important lesson, being loyal in this book has its ups and down in the story. loyalty in this story can come with perks like treasure and fame are big ones and just respect from people Beowulf is a very loyal man and that is why he is a really respected man one of the first people he is loyal to is his family which says it all because if you can't be loyal to…

Cultural Contrast between Modern day and Old English Values In contrast to our modern day standards of morality and intolerance toward a black and white perspective, Beowulf(Heaney) emphasizes a completely opposite mindset. There is an immense variation between the moral standard a ‘hero’ is held to in the old age of Beowulf and what was depicted in the movie Beowulf and Grendel (Gunnarsson). In the olden age there was a morally low shelf where most only ventured to two perspectives, those being…

Anglo-Saxon, once called Old English, was a language spoke under King Alfred and continued to be a common language of England. Some of the most common literary works of Old English include genres such as epic poetry, sermons, bible translations, and others. Beowulf was one of the most famous works from this period. Beowulf illuminated many different Anglo-Saxon beliefs. First and foremost, to be a hero, he or she must possess the characteristics their society holds up as most important and…

Everyone needs a hero. Heroes come in many shapes and sizes, there is no prejudice to race, sex or social status. According to Webster’s dictionary a hero is a person who is admired for brave acts and fine qualities Beowulf, the oldest surviving epic poem in British literature, tells a story of a brave warrior. Beowulf’s character is portrayed as having many heroine characteristics such as; bravery, loyalty, and honor. He has to overcome difficult obstacles, shows enormous strength, and wins…

Loyalty Loyalty is the most common theme that Beowulf, Lanval, Sir Gawain & the Green Knight, and Chaucer share. For example, loyalty to their kingdom, king, love, or themselves. Being loyal could be selflessness, protection, and allegiance. Characters within these stories, not just the main ones, do something in the stories that show these qualities. Beowulf shows selflessness when he decides to go to Hrothgar to help him out with his Grendel situation. Another part was when he decided to go…

In Anglo-Saxon times literature escalated as an oral tradition. It was past along generations including songs, ancient stories, and poems. The poems did not posses the expected rhyme, they particularly had a strong beat. These traditions all held unique types of alliteration. Anglo-Saxon traditions in Beowulf illustrate how the Anglo-Saxon traditions became a strong influencing focus in Beowulf. In Anglo-Saxon culture and literature, to be a hero was to be a warrior and ultimately a king. He…