Imagery In Beowulf

For more than a millennium, literary excavators and scholars have been deciphering and intensively studying the epic Beowulf. The suspenseful and dramatic narrative takes place in Scandinavia where the Danes are experiencing the wrath of a monster known as Grendel. The titular eponymous King of the Geats gives the King Hrothgar necessary assistance to combat this ruthless and belligerent creature. After being killed, the hero Beowulf defeats Grendel’s mother in a watery underworld called her lair after she strikes Herot Hall. In the final scene, after serving five decades as Geatland’s generous and amiable king, he defeats the infamous dragon. Unfortunately, Beowulf suffers severe wounds from the battle. After briefly summarizing and analyzing

the poem, one would begin to see a multitude of heroic traits including bravery, loyalty, generosity, and friendship that epitomize him as an epic hero. Whether he is battling ocean creatures, Grendel's mom, or a terrible flame breathing winged serpent, Beowulf demonstrates that he is worthy of legendary status.
Bravery is fully represented in Beowulf’s character and correlates to the true nature of the Anglo-Saxon hero.

This trait serves a pivotal role on his actions throughout the poem. Despite that many of his adversaries were stronger and/or larger, he never pulls out from any battle. For example, when Beowulf states in lines 265-270,“Might think less of me if I let my sword / Go where my feet were afraid to, if I hid / Behind some broad linden shield: my hands / Alone shall fight for me struggle for live / Against the monster. God must decide,” it shows that can kill him without weaponry or armor and only using his bare hands. When doing this, Beowulf takes what appears as if it were an extensive risk in a fight and takes the risk for glory and showing his bravery. Amid the Anglo-Saxon era, being a hero was considered to be important, but a hero with courage fighting with an insidious creature was even more significant. After killing Grendel, Beowulf exhibits his bravery during the battle with Grendel’s mother when he states, “He leaped into the lake, would not wait for anyone’s/ Answer.” In this passage of the story, Beowulf soon notices that his sword could not be used to fight against her. Fortunately, he keeps on combating her while showing genuine courage. The quality of bravery to the Anglo-Saxon is significant because the people want a hero that is willing to conquer any apprehensions that he may have and show utter fearlessness while doing

so.
Beowulf as a character expresses Loyalty, especially toward Higlac and Hrothgar. This quality is imperative since being steadfast, particularly to a tribal ruler, is also an important quality of any individual in the period of Beowulf. Upon arriving at the Mead Hall, he requests authorization from Horthgar to murder Grendel, therefore showing loyalty because he allies himself with the Danes in defeating Grendel once and for all. Beowulf shows appreciation to Hrothgar by proceeding with this action. When initially introducing himself, he originally states “Hail, Hrothgar! / Higlac is my cousin and my king.” In another example, Beowulf shows allegiance by serving up Grendel’s head to Hrothgar, in which the author states, “To salute him and show Grendel’s head. / He carried that terrible trophy by the hair, / Brought it straight to where the Danes sat.…” In this quote, Beowulf further demonstrates that he indeed killed Grendel and bringing his greatness back with him. There is loyalty here because he keeps his promise of expunging the monster.
With loyalty comes generosity.

In lines 114-117 the author states“Proclaiming that he’d go to that famous King, Would sail across the sea to Hrothgar, Now when help was needed. None of the wise ones regretted his going.” Upon crossing the sea, Beowulf obviously heard of the decimations that Grendel included upon the Danes. Whether he was jeopardizing himself or not, Beowulf decided undauntedly to sail the distance to the land of the Danes and accommodate the needy individuals under the reign of King Hrothgar. This portrays Beowulf’s bounteous generosity toward other human beings. In lines 119-122, the author states that “Beowulf chose the mightiest men he could find/ the bravest and best of the Geats, fourteen / in all, and led them down to their boat.” This quote shows Beowulf’s capacity for empathy for the Danes, and furthermore offers to execute the invidious creature as though the issue was one of his own. Both of these quotes solidify the theme of generosity throughout the character of

Beowulf.
Friendship remains one of the most important components of Beowulf’s characteristics because it shows another side of loyalty. By being amiable toward others, he possesses the capacity to identify with other individuals. In this manner, he has the privilege to give them help in troublesome circumstances. When Beowulf talks to Hrothgar and he says, “Beowulf you’ve come to us in friendship, and because Of the reception you father found at the court.” This implies that Hrothgar was exceptionally appreciative that Beowulf journeyed and thus considered Beowulf an incredible companion. Beowulf demonstrates his companionship in the way that he didn't need to come spare lord Hrothgar's kin, however in light of the fact that he was connecting and being a companion he needed to spare them from malevolence. Again, Beowulf demonstrates that he should have the title of an epic saint by indicating such solid kinship
All through the epic poem, the protagonist Beowulf exemplifies the absolute and most critical Anglo-Saxon beliefs. In the epic poem Beowulf, Beowulf outlines that he is a perfect example of an epic hero. By being loyal, brave, generous, and friendly, Beowulf lays the ground not just for the future lord of his kin, Wiglaf, but additionally to numerous epic heroes to come.