Heroism as the Main Theme of Beowulf

Heroism as the Main Theme of Beowulf

The main theme of Beowulf is heroism. This involves far more than

physical courage. It also means that the warrior must fulfil his

obligations to the group of which he is a key member. There is a

clear-cut network of social duties depicted in the poem. The king has

an obligation to behave with generosity. He must reward his thanes

with valuable gifts for their defense of the tribe and their success

in battle. This is why King Hrothgar is known as the "ring-giver." He

behaves according to expectations of the duties of a lord when he

lavishly rewards Beowulf and the other Geat warriors for ridding the

Danes of Grendel's menace.

But the thanes have their obligations too. (A thane is a warrior who

has been rewarded by his king with a gift of land.) They must show

undivided loyalty to their lord. Only in this way can the society

survive, because the world depicted in Beowulf is a ruthless and

dangerous one. The warriors must be prepared for battle at all times.

Only in the mead-hall is there any respite from the dangers of the

world outside. As Seamus Heaney writes in his introduction to the

poem: "Here [in the mead-hall] is heat and light, rank and ceremony,

human solidarity and culture" (p. xv). This is why the coming of

Grendel is so traumatic for the Danes. They are being attacked in

their own sanctuary.

Beowulf is the greatest of the heroes depicted in the poem not only

because he has the greatest prowess in battle. He also perfectly

fulfills his social obligations. He has the virtues of a civilized

man, as well as the strength of the warrior. He looks after his people

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...im a true hero. Strength, courage, loyalty, and

fame. If these truly are the defining factors in each great hero, how

then are the heroes different from the villains. Doesn't Grendels

mother have all of the same qualities. She was strong courageous,

loyal to her son, and though she dies, famous through her battle with

Beowulf. In the end the

Anglo-Saxon hero is not merely defined by his traits, but by his

appearance through the eyes of his God (or at least how the people

perceive God's vision). The lord sees Beowulf as good, therefor he is

a hero. The grendel family, as well as the dragon are seen as

abominations by lord, so they are evil. Hero's are therefor nothing

more than good looking villains who posses social graces. And yet they

still inspire us to be good. And so Beowuld remains a hero - and an

immortal.