Beowulf And The Anglo Saxon Epic Poem, Beowulf

In the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf, the stupendous hero’s many great deeds often appear to be for other’s benefit, yet Beowulf’s final conquest exposes his lust for glory and fame, thereby showing his lack of concern for anything else. This lust for immense glory and fame feeds his ego and causes his death and the imminent downfall of his great people the Geats.

       From 1805 until the present there have been introduced an abundance of paraphrases, translations, adaptations, summaries, versions and illustrations of Beowulf in modern English and in foreign languages due mostly to two reasons: the desire to make the poem accessible, and the desire to read the exotic (Osborn 341). It is the purpose of this essay to present a brief history of this development of the popularity of the poem and then compare some of the translations with respect to some more difficult passages in the poem Beowulf.

The world as it is depicted in Beowulf is home to many aspects of society that are at odds with behaviors acceptable in modern culture, but perhaps shares a startling number of similarities as well. As part of the Anglo-Saxon society, the concept of loyalty is imbued into the seams of the civilization, and allegiance can be found split between lords and kin. Tales concerning themselves with eternal human problems are not few and far between in Beowulf—given that it is an epic poem—and antithesis governs the flow of the narrative. In the midst of the battles raging between evil and good, heroes and villains, mourning and glory, and victory and defeat, death is omnipresent, constantly looming and prompting men to drift towards their swords. This is a society in which chances for a clean slate—a tabula rasa—are minimal, and every action is chiseled in stone, forever etched into eternity. During a time period when very little is certain, the only guarantee of being remembered, of having your name go down stamped with your identity, is through heroism and action. Boasting is a means through which one can build a reputation for himself, planting his name into his opponents’ heads and setting a foundation for success. It remains a skill to be used prudently, though, as overstating and misrepresenting one’s abilities has the great potential to yield adverse repercussions.

Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, is an oral story about a Norse hero. Beowulf is a pagan story with Christian influences. This story takes place in the Norse kingdoms of Denmark, and Sweden. The basic Viking tenants included “courage” (2), and “greatness” (2). However, there are values that are displayed by people who are greater than the common man. These values include being “prudent” (19), and being a good leader. In Norse culture, honor is a key aspect in defining a person’s status in a kingdom. Honor is defined by one’s respect, wealth and power. The primary Norse traditions are funerals (burning a ship), sailing, being a warrior, and giving gifts as sign of respect and peace. In several instances, there is a threat to civilization, or society. In most of these cases, a glorious hero saves the day. Beowulf is this hero. Beowulf arrives in Heorot hall to maintain order, in order to gain glory, and save the Danes. However, these heroes do not last forever. Beowulf’s downfall occurs because he did not listen to Hrothgar’s advice, he was a good king; but his followers did not come to his aid, and his actions, attitudes and beliefs.

In our culture, engrossment with material goods customarily implies shallowness, and the pursuit of power and honor is often seen as incompatible -or at least difficult to reconcile -with our moral convictions. In the epic poem, Beowulf, the protagonist encounters human tendencies of pursuit of honor and power. A closer examination of the protagonist reveals as a young warrior, Beowulf is free to travel afar to protect the kingdom to gain honor, nevertheless as an old king, he must commit himself to guard his people. The protagonist’s external battles: first Grendel, then Grendel’s mother, then the dragon shape his personality and advance him into adulthood. The exceptional play Beowulf focuses on the heroic, hero’s life early on, seeking to make a name for himself, he must focus on the fate and maintenance of his reputation late in life.

In the great poem Beowulf, which chronicles the heroic exploits of a Danish warrior, a recurring theme is presented that often appears in many epics as a hero’s downfall—fame and glory. Throughout the poem, the warrior is described as mighty, strong, and one could say, invincible; however, after being rewarded with great treasures soon after defeating the first great monster, the Grendel, the narrative’s title hero receives wise advice from Hrothgar concerning the true reality of the rewards of battle. The poet captures the overruling theme using a cautionary tone, emphasized and repeated phrases, and strategically listed fates.

Beowulf is the classic hero archetype, his personality and heroics lauded and replicated in literature to this day. However, the same cannot be said about the Northern Anglo-Saxon society that fashioned him. A thorough dissertation of Beowulf exposes a society principally centred on opulence, strife, vengeance, brutality, superstitions, and chauvinism although underlying positive aspects subsist. Often disguised as “honor, glory, might and wealth” battle glory, affluence and retribution were rudimentary aspects of life for the Ring Danes, Geats and other pagan Anglo-Saxon warriors.

The poem, Beowulf, explores its protagonist’s—Beowulf’s—heroism through a series of three increasingly difficult conflicts with Grendel; Grendel’s mother; and the dragon—, each of which exemplifies an aspect of the Anglo-Saxon heroic code. Beowulf’s first encounter with Grendel demonstrates the importance of reputation as a means of establishing one’s legacy, even beyond death; Beowulf’s triumph over the seemingly indomitable Grendel legitimatizes his boasts and ensures that Beowulf will be long celebrated. His subsequent encounter with Grendel’s mother exhibits the importance of vengeance; just as Beowulf exacts revenge upon Grendel for killing Hrothgar’s men, Grendel’s mother attempts to avenge her son by slaying her son’s aggressors, and Beowulf in turn chases and slays her as revenge again for Aeschere. Lastly, Beowulf’s final encounter with the dragon echoes the fateful mortality that befalls all humans; blinded by his preceding victories, Beowulf engages the dragon alone to preserve his warrior’s reputation and suffers his demise. In all three instances, though Beowulf’s actions embody the traits of a hero in a warrior’s culture, it is these same actions caused by the steep influence that his warrior upbringing has that ultimately lead him to his tragic downfall.

In today’s culture a hero can be anybody who endangers their own protection to help someone else or to help the group as a whole. Today's necessities to be a hero can be anybody as long as they put other people’s lives before them, in which they will be seen as unselfish and kind. Many features that are represented of heroes were once used to decide a hero back in the Anglo-Saxon times. In the poem Beowulf, the fighter Beowulf is the model of an Anglo-Saxon hero.

The epic poem Beowulf expresses many Anglo-Saxon ideals. One of these ideals incorporates warriors, which were celebrated and valued in the Anglo-Saxon times. Beowulf, the main character of the poem, is an example of the archetypical “hero as warrior,” which clearly defines an Anglo-Saxon warrior. Nearly god-like, Beowulf undergoes many physical and mental challenges in order to help others. Because Beowulf is a celebrated hero, has supernatural strength, and undying loyalty, he is the epitome of an Anglo-Saxon warrior.

Storytellers shared this story from tribe to tribe to teach cultural values that were considered important to the identity of the tribe. “Beowulf” encompasses many cultural values, but the biggest examples of cultural values shown in the battles scenes of the poem are courage, loyalty, perseverance against bad odds, and the importance of treasure to rank. Courage noticeably comes into view in all of the battles among both Beowulf and his fourteen men with the exception of the last battle with the Dragon, which will be explained later. The ability for many of the men to assist Beowulf in these battles takes a large heart and gut to accomplish. Loyalty persists as the most noticeable feature among Beowulf’s fourteen men throughout the battles.

The book Beowulf is a story of a man named Beowulf, who comes from the land of the Geats, who is continuously put to the test having to fight in battles, in which in his last battle he Beowulf finds death. After reading Beowulf I have concluded that this book is meant to glorify the men who have fought and succeeded in violent battles. Those men hold a legacy and power in which there name is known throughout. Those same men have children or sons and their sons continue to hold that legacy with them and make one of their own, if they do not then they no longer have power and fame and become unknown. Therefore in order to hold a legacy, have power, and become known, one must fight in brutal wars and must win in those wars, and one main person that fulfilled this duty was Beowulf.

The epic tale of Beowulf, formed during a remarkable tradition of Old English oral poetry, illuminates the epitome of true heroism. Though the precise date of Beowulf’s origin remains a mystery, the great long poem was later written down in the early eighth century by an unknown Anglo-Saxon author. The character of Beowulf the Geat is depicted as extraordinary unmatched in strength and valor as well as exceedingly boastful and proud. Like many heroic figures, Beowulf’s entire identity rest solely in his physical and mental capabilities. Similar to the importance of Beowulf’s internal perception, Sir Gawain of Camelot places great value on his own knightly abilities. Also composed by an unknown poet—though in a far diverse time and place—the fourteenth century story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight portrays a character of exceptional merit and courage. Nevertheless, the foundation of Gawain’s heroic identity relies predominately on his ability to conduct himself with chivalry and honor at all times. The vast distinctions observed in those ideals that constituted heroism in Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight are largely established by the broad expanse of time and location between their periods of conception.

Are there some evils in existence that are necessary? In the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf, vengeance plays a central role in the actions of the characters. Beowulf is set in a Scandinavian society that places a heavy emphasis on righting wrongs and avenging others. A warrior who comes in aid of his fallen kinsmen is often regarded as a hero, and it is clear from the poem that combating those who have wronged you is a favorable action. Does this make vengeance a necessary element of heroism in the poem?

Given, the current high profile debate with regard to dating the epic poem Beowulf, it is quite surprising that some scholars go as far as placing it during the Vendel era around 550 - 793 CE. Eventhough it is considered as a kind of folk tale, many are those who believe it happened towards the early Vendel era. As a rebuttal to this point, it might be convincingly argued that this period is also referred to as the Germanic Iron Age. Moreover, this era saw the rise of Norse mythology, which is very fatalistic in nature; it focuses on a world coming to an end in a great cataclysm. Along with this fatalism comes the willingness to die. That’s why warriors would go to fight in battles and combats. Surprisingly enough, not only the heroes die but so do the Gods. Therefore, the central value of this culture is glory and heroism. Having considered the fundamental premises upon which the Poem Beowulf took ground , it is also reasonable to look at the epitome of this epic poem which starts with a tale about the ancestors of the Danish king, Hrothgar who wins great fame and wealth in different battles. Therefore, he built a Mead-Hall called Herot, to commemorate his victories. The Mead-Hall took its name from a popular drink, mead, being fermented liquor which was drunk at banquets and celebrations. Herot is also a place intended for peace and community.The Mead-Hall is also a place where Hrothgar rewarded his followers for their loyalty. Evidence for in support of this opinion, can