Core Values In Beowulf - 774 Words

The people exalt their beloved king who sacrifices himself to save his citizens from monsters in the resolution of Beowulf. Beowulf bravely fought for peace against evil forces, including Grendel, Grendel’s mom, and a fire spitting dragon, numerous times. Beowulf became the societal ideal of a man in the Anglo-Saxon time period because of his heroic deeds. Beowulf clings to Anglo-Saxon values and demonstrates their significance by defeating monsters, which motivates one of his men to follow. Wiglaf aspires to overcome his own fears to achieve glory from observing Beowulf’s dedication to their core values. The epic’s ending further emphasizes the most significant Anglo-Saxon values and themes such as fame, courage, and loyalty through†¦show more content†¦Wiglaf was the only man to stay with Beowulf when others â€Å"ran for their lives† and â€Å"fled deep in a wood†, despite their earlier claims of remaining loyal. Wiglaf condemned the men later and â€Å"angrily told them what men without courage must hear. Wexstan’s brave son stared at the traitors, his heart sorrowful†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Wiglaf showed true courage by entering the fight even though his life was at stake, when none of Beowulf’s boastful men dared to face the dragon. Wiglaf remains loyal to Beowulf and earns himself the throne of Geatland as a reward. Loyalty is a major theme that influences Beowulf’s decisions from choosing weapons to praising God for his victories. Beowulf gave â€Å"the golden necklace from around his throat to Wiglaf, gave him his gold-covered helmet, and his rings, and his mail shirt, and ordered him to use them well.† Beowulf trusted his weapons to protect and defend him during his battles. His mail shirt protected him against Grendel’s mom’s claws and the fire breathing dragon’s flames. The sword was an heirloom gift and successfully killed the dragon. Beowulf believed the weapons would serve Wiglaf well and protect him the same. Beowulf trusts in material objects and in their God whom they cannot see. Beowulf trusts that heShow MoreRelatedThe Similarities And Differences Of Beowulf And Robin Hood749 Words   |  3 Pagesgoing ‘back in time’ to an Anglo-Saxon hero like Beowulf or even hearing about a somewhat modern hero like Robin Hood in todays day and age, one can think of several key differences and similarities that the two heroes share. Heroes are a universal concept, but not every hero is universally the same. Although the concept of a hero stretches around the globe, not every hero is a carbon-copy of another. The main difference between a hero like Beowulf and a hero like Robin Hood is their willingnessRead MoreBeowulf, The Epic Hero1239 Words   |  5 PagesBeowulf, The Epic Hero An epic is a long poem, usually derived from ancient oral stories, describing the adventures and deeds of a legendary hero. 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