The Medieval Hero

Obviously in the text Beowulf the main literary hero figure that is presented to us is Beowulf himself. Over the course of his career as warrior turned into a king he has many opportunities to showcase a variety of traits. It is these traits that show us exactly what the Anglo-Saxon community valued and my informed opinion on why they would have valued that certain characteristic. Below I have identified what I feel are the main traits he exhibits, an explanation or example of them in the text and how that reflects the cultural values.

 

Honour: He exhibits a strong need to honour his own reputation, those of his fellow/fallen comrades and his king. He exhibits honour in a variety of ways by living up to his reputation as a great fighter, by avenging Aeschere and by honouring his king’s alliance with Hrothgar by helping him defeat Grendal. This was important to promote because they needed their warriors to feel a connection between their reputation and their deeds, so that they would feel compelled to complete tasks.

 

Pride: Beowulf exhibits pride in his own ability by never refusing a challenge and boasting about his past victories. A good example of when Beowulf exhibits pride is when he boats that he will fight Grendal unarmed; he says "More I hear, that the monster dire, in his wanton mood, of weapons recks not; hence shall I scorn -- so Hygelac stay, king of my kindred, kind to me! -- brand or buckler to bear in the fight, gold-colored targe: but with gripe alone must I front the fiend and fight for life..." (Beowulf IV). Pride is important for a hero figure to exhibit because it shows that they are willing to stand behind the boasts that they make. In a society that can constantly be under the threat of an attack from invaders, it is important that they know their warriors can fight as well as they boast. By having their warriors be prideful, and in Beowulf’s case being able to actually accomplish what he brags about being able to do, it teaches the warriors to be confident in their abilities and to be able to perform the feats they say they can do.

 

Courage/Bravery: His courage and bravery is shown when he faces down impossible odds with confidence, for instance facing the dragon because he already knew he would die doing it. Or when he is able to face others fears, like when he defeats both Grendal and Grendal's Mother which many other warriors were fearful of. The literary hero of this culture must exhibit courage and bravery in order to be able to stand their ground against adversaries or terrifying beasts. The Anglo-Saxon community obviously valued courage in their warriors and shows the value of this trait by exemplifying it in their literary hero. They valued courage because they needed their warriors to be able to go into battle, no matter what they were up against.

 

Loyal: How he stays true to his king or companion with unwavering faith. For instance when he discusses the boy who challenged him to swim across a part of the sea. He says "We twain had talked, in time of youth, and made our boast, -- we were merely boys, striplings still, -- to stake our lives far at sea: and so we performed it. Naked swords, as we swam along, we held in hand, with hope to guard us against the whales. Not a whit from me could he float afar o'er the flood of waves, haste o'er the billows; nor him I abandoned" (VIII). Loyalty to a king was important in a hero because it taught the citizens that one should not abandon your king and should be willing to fight/stay in the kingdom he rules. Loyalty to comrades, as Beowulf shows in the above quote, was important for a hero to embody because it shows the audience that hero's and thus warriors should always be faithful to the members of the community, no matter what their personal relationship is with them.

 

Supernatural Strength: As a warrior we would expect him to be stronger than the average person but Beowulf exhibits supernatural strength that would now be associated with a superhero like Superman. For instance when he rips Grendal's arm from its socket (XXI). Supernatural strength is important for a hero figure to have because it allows them to have the upper hand or at least equal chances as their opponent in their battle. This trait was obviously important to the Anglo-Saxons to show others that having this supernatural strength is a possibility and thus they should strive to be as strong as they can be. This society would want their warriors to be as strong as they can be, so that they are prepared against any monsters or invaders that threaten their community.

 

Warriors Death: Beowulf advocates that one can get glory through death by dying while doing something heroic. Within this mentality he also tells of how one can gain immortality by being sung about for your warrior deeds. After Aeschere is killed he tells the king "Sorrow not, sage! It beseems us better friends to avenge than fruitlessly mourn them. Each of us all must his end abide in the ways of the world; so win who may glory ere death! When his days are told, that is the warrior's worthiest doom" (Beowulf XXI). This concept was important to teach the community because it taught people not to be afraid of death. It showed both warriors and other tribes members that death was not something to be feared as long as you were dying for something worthwhile. It also gave warriors something to work towards because if they could fight hard enough or do some incredible deed, they could be immortalized in songs and tales about them. In a society that is constantly under threat of attack it was important for both warriors and citizens to not be afraid of the possibility of death.

 

Wyrd/Fate: Many times he speaks about how he is fated to do a task or to die. Wyrd is the idea that something, kind of like a positive fate, can save you if you are undoomed and fated. However it can also lead you to your death if you are unworthy. This concept reoccurs in the character of Beowulf for 2 reasons. The first being that it gives society hope that something is looking after them, plus it also helps lessen the fear of dying if it says everyone is fated to die. The second reason is that it gives warriors hope. By telling warriors that there may be a chance that you are skilled enough to be fated to be saved, they may find more courage to face their enemies.

 

Communitatas: This is the strong bond that is exhibited between Beowulf, when he is king, and his lords. It is the agreement that they will go into battle and lay down his life for them. This is shown during the fight with the dragon when it says "Nor yet about him his band of comrades, / sons of athelings, armed stood with warlike front: / to the woods they bent them, their lives to save. But the soul of one / with care was cumbered. Kinship true / can never be marred in a noble mind (Beowulf XXXV). In this passage his party of lords leaves him except for Wiglaf and it is this lord that is praised and described in favourable terms. This concept is important to the Anglo-Saxon culture because it reinforces that one should be faithful and loyal to your king. They need to know that their lords and warriors will not run away when the going gets tough. By portraying the lords who do not stand by Beowulf as despicable/doomed, it reinforces how important that bond is to your king and thus impresses the need to stay faithful to your king and kingdom.

 

Commitas: This is the feeling of community or male bonding that we see within Heorot; it is the idea that all men are more or less equal in nature. The idea that all men are equal in nature is enforced through Beowulf because