Comparing Beowulf And The Anglo-Saxon Culture

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Folklore often holds truth to the past. In the translated version of Beowulf, by Clarence Griffin Child, Beowulf sets off to slay a monster, Grendel, who is wreaking havoc in the land of the Danes. Hrothgar, king of Danes, accepts Beowulf’s help, and Beowulf defeats Grendel. This epic is set in the time of the Anglo-Saxon culture, where tradition and values reigned supreme. Beowulf provides an insight into the values of the Anglo-Saxon culture, such as power and strength, honor and loyalty, and bravery and truth.

First of all, strength and power are important values in both Beowulf and in the Anglo-Saxon culture. Beowulf first demonstrates power when he hand picks his warriors to travel with him to battle Grendel. “He, the worthy one, …show more content…
Beowulf first demonstrates loyalty to his king when he says that he will fight honorably against Grendel so his king will be proud. “I the, so may my liege-lord, Hygelac, find pleasure in me, shall think scorn to bear sword or the broad shield, yellow-rimmed, to the battle, but with my hand-grip shall I join with the fiend and fight to the death, foe against foe” (10). In the Anglo-Saxon culture it is important for the thanes to stay loyal to their kings; whether it is for the honor or for the treasure and glory. Beowulf also simultaneously demonstrates honor when planning to fight Grendel. He knows that Grendel will be without weapons, so he too will go weaponless. “I have also learned that the monster in his recklessness takes no thought to use weapons” (10). Although the Anglo-Saxon vikings were known for their trickery, Beowulf is genuinely honorable about his actions. He believes that if he does not fight honorably, he will not die honorably. This is also true for the Anglo-Saxon’s, who believe that dying honorably in battle is the best way to die. The value of loyalty is again shown in Beowulf's men. When Beowulf dove into the murky waters to defeat Grendel’s mother, and cut off Grendel's head, the water became tinged with blood. This caused the Scyldings to lose hope in Beowulf and leave after he did not rise, nine hours later. “The brave Scyldings left the cliff; [...] The strangers sat there, sick at heart, and stared on the mere. They wished and yet trusted not, to see their dear lord’s self” (32). Although Beowulf’s men may have been losing hope, still they sat waiting for their leader's body. Loyalty was something that every leader wanted in their men. Beowulf’s men showed this by not leaving him to, what they thought, a dishonorable burial. Hrothgar and his men may have left, yet Beowulf remained honorable and brought Grendel’s head to Hrothgar as
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