Beowulf And Anglo Saxon Values

A mighty warrior must battle with evil until the end of his life to show his honor. This warrior, Beowulf, is a hero from the epic poem Beowulf. It was written by an anonymous author, referred to as the Beowulf-poet, around 725 A.D. in an area of Anglo-Saxon influence. In this cultural environment, there was a certain emphasis on the belief that it was a man’s duty to earn honor throughout his life. Honor was only earned through a strict set of morals and duties. The epic depicts Beowulf as a hero whose values strongly represent those of the Anglo-Saxon culture, and this moral code can be found throughout the poem. These principles exhibited by Beowulf and several other characters in the epic are influenced by the Anglo-Saxon culture and include …show more content…
This exhibition of bravery is characteristic of not only epic heroes but also of the Anglo-Saxons. Their aggressive warrior nature forged bravery in the culture; this cultural value permeates the poem. The first description of Beowulf says, “Of living strong men he was the strongest, / Fearless and gallant and great of heart” (132 - 133). This description preludes the brave deeds that Beowulf commits during his life time. In fact, during his encounter with Unferth, Beowulf declares “I count it true that I had more courage, /…. than any other man,” referring to an instance in which he “strove with Breca” during a sea battle. (408 - 409, 389). However, the most notable moment of intense bravery is the battle between Grendel and Beowulf. The reader sees a great outpour of this value from Beowulf when he pledges to defend Hrothgar and his people “with hand-grip only” (341). Although no other warrior has been able to defeat Grendel, Beowulf says that “[he will] settle the strife”, and he plans to defeat the beast, not knowing if he will survive. Secondly, the reader can see this value in the battle between Beowulf and Grendel’s mother. The “monstrous hag” attacks the mead-hall during a feast to avenge the death of her son, and in response, Beowulf takes action by pursuing her and eventually killing her. These outrageous acts exemplify and amplify the importance of bravery to the …show more content…
Strength was essential to warriors who wished to command honor. This value had to be a combination of both mental and physical strength. Also, to earn honor, one must exemplify the Anglo-Saxons’ idea of bravery by acting radically in heroic situation like Wiglaf and Beowulf. Finally, loyalty is the most significant value to possess in order to gain distinction in a warrior society. The Anglo-Saxon culture believed that a person must possess these three moral values in order to acquire honor, and that belief permeates throughout