Anglo-Saxon

Beowulf

For the first part of this project I was required to read a story titled Beowulf which was written David Breeden. Beowulf is a story with 12 long episodes and it also is written in a poem like form so as you can imagine I hardly understood any thing I was reading. But after watching the movie (which was almost totally different) and reading through all the episodes I finally understand it.

I actually liked this story after it started to make sense. To me this was a great story of a strong warrior with a lot of pride and courage that could destroy any creature he came in touch with. The story of Beowulf to me is sort of like all hero stories if you think about it. Someone or someplace is in trouble a hero comes along makes a promise and destroys the bad guy. In the end the hero always gets lots of rewards and praise for the good deeds.

Here are a couple of points that stood out to me from the story: How every body around the world knew or heard of Beowulf from one of his great adventures. I really didn’t understand how that little man had all that strength. He probably didn’t work out and how could just fighting big creatures make you that strong. Another thing that stuck out is the part where Beowulf just up at the Empire of the Danes and sort of takes control in a silent way (like all the lives were in his hand).

The Anglo-Saxon Culture is not organized at all; they have a different king for each different area. The Anglo-Saxon also have no customs or laws were similar so as you can tell from my perspective they were not organized at all. The major part of their culture was the warrior tradition and the ultimate protection of England from its invaders. Also absolute loyalty to leaders was essential. The most important god was Odin the god of death, poetry, and magic. Another important figure in religion was Thunor, or Thor, and the dragon theses were the protectors of treasure or warrior graves.

Beowulf must have believed in the idea that being a warrior was a great part of their culture just look at this example from the story. But a warrior of Hygelac's heard of Grendel's doings; he was the strongest of men alive in that day, mighty and noble. So as you can tell from this little passage Beowulf must have believed the idea of being a great warrior because he was one. I think that Beowulf also believed in the idea of absolute loyalty to leaders because in this story he promised the king of the Danes something and he made sure that he kept his promise. And now I shall, alone, fight Grendel. I ask you, lord of the Danes, protector of this people, for only one favor: that you refuse me not, fair friend of the people, do not refuse those who have come so far the chance to cleanse Herot. So as you see in that passage Beowulf really wants to help and he promises he will cleanse the Danes, and in the end he does. The last belief I felt he believed in was the belief of reciting tales of adventures with plenty of violence, which in the story he talks about one of his own personal adventures. "Well, my friend Unferth, you have said a good many things about Brecca and that trip, drunk on beer as you are. Truth to tell, I had more strength but also more hardships in the waves. He and I were both boys and boasted out of our youth that we two would risk our lives in the sea. Brecca could not out-swim me, nor could I out-distance him.

I feel that this story is sort of like the stories of this time in a couple of ways. To me Beowulf was similar because in our stories there’s always something that happens like out of no where a bad guy or creature comes along and starts to kill innocent people. After the hero finds out about it he tracks down the creature and kills it or brings it to justice. Beowulf hears of Grendel, Beowulf tracks down Grendel, then Beowulf kills Grendel. Beowulf to me is not really that different from the stories I know.

Beowulf to me was sort of a coward because he knew he was old and he knew that he couldn’t do all the things he used to. I think that Beowulf was very dumb for trying to kill the dragon. But I agree that it was the saddest part of the story but he kind of deserved what he got. Beowulf should just have stayed where he was at and he should have found another brave and great warrior to defeat the dragon.

I also feel that Beowulf thought too much of himself because if he didn’t he would not have tried to kill the dragon in the first place. So in the end he does kill the dragon but the dragon also kills him with its deadly venom. Personally I feel that Beowulf could have done something else with his time. But after finally reading through the whole story I feel that Beowulf is a great hero and that his people should be very proud of him.