Beowulf Essay, Research Paper

Mythical monsters with great powers that get killed by human men are a typical theme in Anglo-Saxon poetry. Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon poem translated by Burton Raffel. Three Anglo-Saxon ideals that are portrayed in Beowulf are strength of warriors, boasting of brave deeds, and the belief in the super natural.

First, one of the ideals exhibited in Beowulf is physical strength. In Beowulf, Beowulf , the hero from Geatland, exerts the most physical strength. Beowulf doesn’t want to use a sword while fighting Grendel. During the fight, Grendel “?twisted in pain, And the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder \Snapped, muscle and bone split \And broke.”(467-470) as Beowulf pulls grendel’s arm right out of it’s socket. Another example of strength is when Grendel “?Tore it’s iron fasteners with a touch?”(375) at Herot’s gates. Finally, when Grendel goes into Herot and slashes and kills thirty men, it shows Grendel’s great power. Also, there is a great amount of strength during the battle with Beowulf and Grendel’s mother.

Another ideal portrayed in Beowulf is the right to boast. When the poem talks about Hrothgar’s building, that it “?reaches higher toward Heaven then anything \That had ever been known to the sons of men?”(6-7), shows Hrothgar’s with his riches. Boasting about not needing to use a weapon, Beowulf values to kill Grendel with his bare hands. The biggest amount of boasting in the poem also came from Beowulf when he arrives at Herot. Telling Hrothgar how many monsters he has killed.

Finally, the belief in the supernatural is another ideal in Beowulf. When Beowulf arrives he tells the stories about the sea monsters he fault. When he was done fighting with the sea monsters they were “Left floating lifeless in the sea.”(279). There is also Grendel, the main monster in Beowulf, with claws and a bloodthirsty appetite. Last there was Grendel’s mother, who comes to avenge of her son. She lives underwater. Grendel’s mother kills Beowulf.

As shown in my writing, three Anglo-Saxon ideals that are portrayed in Beowulf, are strength of warriors, boasting of brave deeds, and the belief in the super natural. These ideals are common in the majority of Anglo-Saxon writings. If you like crazy monsters and heroes then read some Anglo-Saxon poetry.