Beowulf_Values

Beowulf Values The Anglo-Saxons living in the time of Beowulf did not believe in the afterlife. To them, the only way to experience life after death was to live on in the memories of others. One could fulfill this goal by being known for one’s generosity, courage, and strength. Beowulf, the protagonist of this epic poem, embodied all of these virtues and lives on in memory because of this. First, generosity was widespread and more greatly valued during Beowulf’s time than it is now. It was not merely a virtue, but instead a necessity. Many kings were measured by the extent of their generosity. To him in the hall, then, Healfdane's son gave treasures twelve, and the trust-of-earls bade him fare with the gifts to his folk beloved, hale to his home, and in haste return. This is Hrothgar’s (Healfdane’s son) way of being generous and thanking Beowulf for slaying Grendel and it’s mother. This gift not only increased Beowulf’s fame and riches but also Hrothgar’s greatness. If Hrothgar had not displayed his gratitude for Beowulf’s great deeds he would have been looked down upon. He might be remembered for his lack of charity instead, and that would be the equivalent beowulf, one, courage, beowulf’s, during, time, strength, men, great, generosity, story, son, remembered, man, looked, life, being, world, widespread, while, way, wanted, valor, upon, thy, though, thou, sword, slaying, seen, say, often, now, memory, made