Examples Of Ethos In Beowulf

The period in time that we refer to today as Old-English constitutes The Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf is the most well-known example to the general public; it depicts the Pagan views of violence and bloodshed interconnecting with the battle of Beowulf and the monstrous Grendel to create imagery of the Christian ethic of Good vs. Evil. This time in history, known as Old English, constitutes the heroic ethos. The heroic idiom represents three core values, God, community and fighting. Both the poems Beowulf and Battle of Maldon exemplify the meaning of the heroic ethos, both poems deal with defending their community by fighting and thanking God for allowing them to obtain victory or die a noble death in the process. However, while the hero is glorified his housecarls appear to be the ones suffering the most from the actions of the hero.

Looking first at the conduction of warfare, The Battle of Maldon tells of a battle fought off the coast of Essex between a pillaging Viking war band and the Anglo-Saxon defenders led by Earl Byrhtnoth. The Anglo-Saxon’s fierce defense embodies one of the three mechanics of the heroic ethos, defense of the community. “While there was no standing army during the Anglo-Saxon time, the men were expected to perform in service of the military. Often it was the ceorl, a low

class freeman from a farming background, who was expected to perform the primary military duties” (Osgood, 54), the housecarls represented the backbone of the army, as these men were typically outfitted with better weapons and armor then the ceorls. In Beowulf, the author gives detail about the war gear carried by Beowulf’s men, “mail shirts glint, the high gloss of their iron rang. Stacking wide shields of hardwood, they collected their spears into a stand of greyish tapering ash” (Beowulf, 321-30). The men’s equipment matches that of the thanes in Maldon, giving evidence that these men are of high status and worth. This is proven true during the struggle with Grendel, Beowulf’s men “hack at the monster in defense of their lord’s life” (Beowulf, 793-799).
The first action taken is the exchanging of words of the “Vikings offer of tribute, or danegeld” (Osgood, 55) and Byrhtnoth’s refusal of the tribute by forcing them into a battle. Then the moment long argued and critiqued throughout the ages, Byrhtnoth allows the Vikings to gain ground in order to show his faith in his honor or his self-pride. The cinematic battle begins with a shield-wall or “war-hedge” (Maldon, page 3) forming as each side let loose with volleys of arrows and javelins until both sides clash against one another on the beach. It is here that the battle becomes a stalemate until Byrhtnoth is killed and “Godric’s actions demoralize the infantry” (Maldon, page 4), thus forcing his loyal housecarls to fight to the last against the Vikings. Similarly in Beowulf, the act of negotiation is nulled as Grendel “cannot pay the death-price” (Beowulf, 155) and thus forces Beowulf into conflict, and like Byrhtnoth, he prides himself on overpowering Grendel without the use of his weapons and amour (Beowulf, 684-87). He does this once more when facing the dragon, although now armed, he still boasts on defeating the dragon without the assistance of his fellow warriors, in turn attributing to his death at the venomous fire of the dragon.
At the climax of Maldon, the housecarls Offa, Ælfwine, Leofsunu and Dunnereare are the warriors who rally the remnants of the Anglo-Saxon defense force after the demise of Byrhtnoth. Although we are shown that Byrhtnoth can hold his own “as it takes four assailants to fell the thane” (Maldon, page 4), the real power comes from his dedicated retainers. The best example, I believe, of the men’s prowess in the poem is when “Wulfmær removes a spear from his lord and hurls it back at the offending Viking, killing him” (Maldon, page 4). The absolute loyalty to one’s lord was the strongest motive in Anglo-Saxon society and allows for Beowulf’s and Byrhtnoth’s men to be encouraged in battle and fight to the death for their lord’s honor. Beowulf acknowledges the bond when Beowulf arrives at Heorot and is greeted by Hrothgar, who claims Beowulf “is returning the favor of an old friendship from his father before him” (Beowulf, 376) and when Wiglaf tells his shield brothers about the “time they drank mead and pledged loyalty to their ring-giver and lavished them with gifts of war gear” (Beowulf, 2632-40). Birhtwold’s rousing speech is perhaps the greatest evidence of this relationship, “Purpose shall be the firmer, heart the keener, and courage shall be the more…Here lies our lord all hewn down, good man on ground…I am old of life; from here I will not turn, but by my lord’s side, by the man I loved, I intend to lie” (Maldon, page 6). Fulfilling their boast, the Anglo-Saxon warriors avenge their dead lord and die beside him.
As Maldon shows the effective use of violence in war, Beowulf shows the unknown side effects of violence.

For Beowulf the violence allows for him and others, such as King Hrothgar, to attain glory and fame which in turn intimidates their neighbors into a state of prolonged peace. Violence also stops violence when Beowulf kills Grendel and Grendel’s mother, and as violence begets more violence as seen with the Fight at Finnsburg in the end. Maldon shows the effects of Byrhtnoth’s “over-confidence” (Maldon, page 3) as leading to the defeat of the Anglo-Saxon force; his violence begets more violence by endangering the surrounding communities from further Scandinavian

attacks.
In the end, both warriors fall victim to their pride and their warriors are forced to deal with the consequences, Wiglaf and the Geat people must contend with the aggressive “Franks and Frisians” (Beowulf, 2913) who will have heard of Beowulf’s demise and seek retribution for past conflicts. Byrhtnoth fails to stop the violence, but his redemption comes from the poet who describes the battle as a noble defeat instead of a failure.