Beowulf is the ideal Anglo-Saxon hero. He is physically strong and a cunning warrior, for one thing. During his three battles, he overcomes his increasingly stronger adversaries. He overcomes Grendel through brute force, but he overcomes Grendel's mother through cunning, grabbing onto a magic sword to strike her down right before she is able to kill him first.
Anglo-Saxons seek immortality through becoming famous. Beowulf does not speak much about an afterlife where he will be rewarded or punished. Rather, he talks about wanting to become famous by fighting monsters so his name will be remembered long after his death. Hrothgar tells Beowulf,
Thy fame is extended through far-away countries,
Good friend Beowulf, o’er all of the races,
Thou holdest all firmly, hero-like strength with
Prudence of spirit . . .
This shows how important reputation is to the Anglo-Saxon people. This is the fool-proof way to make sure one's memory lives on after death. When Beowulf is buried at the end of the poem, the love of his people is the greatest legacy he leaves behind. Even though he is gone and can no longer protect them, his memory will live forever.
The Anglo-Saxons also prize loyalty to a king. We see this with how Wiglaf remains loyal to Beowulf even in the face of fiery death at the hands of the dragon. The other warriors abandon their king, which is shameful. A good warrior is always loyal to his king, even unto death. The king, in turn, is generous with his warriors, letting them make merry in the mead hall and sharing treasures with them after battle.
No comments:
Post a Comment