Perseverance In Beowulf

The Anglo-Saxon culture had many strong values that they practiced in battle, faiths, and their everyday lives. Some of these values include honor, perseverance, and loyalty (to their leader and each other). Beowulf displays and represents these values in many ways.

Honor is a quality the Anglo-Saxons practiced heavily. Anyone successful in battle, or going into battle at all, was teeming with honor from those around them. Leaders were showered with respect and honor because it’s associated with battle and success within that. Beowulf demonstrates honor as an importance of Anglo-Saxon culture in that Beowulf himself was well respected and honored greatly for his actions and intentions. This came from not only Beowulf’s own men, but Hrothgar and his men as well. Beowulf earned his honor by being a great leader amongst his own people and displaying courage and bravery when stepping up to fight

for Hrothgar and his people. Really, honor is the true reward of such a battle. Beowulf knew of his own strengths and when he got word that Herot was being terrorized, he gathered his strongest men and was on his way for rescue (lines 10-20). He did this without any idea of a reward or what could happen and so, for this action alone, he receives great honor and respect from not only Hrothgar and his men, but his own people as well.
Furthermore, perseverance was valued greatly within Anglo-Saxon culture and is also shown throughout Beowulf.

Perseverance, for the Anglo-Saxons, meant following through with something no matter the difficulty or danger, often at the expense of their own safety. Beowulf and his men are the epitome of this perseverance. Although Beowulf presses on throughout the entire epic, there is a particular moment where this value is needed more than ever and, in the end, leads him to his success. After triumphantly defeating Grendel, Beowulf has another battle in his wake. Grendel’s mother arrives to kill in revenge of the death of her son, attacking Herot (lines 41-45). Of course, Beowulf must persevere to finish what he and his men came to do; save and protect Herot. Beowulf then states, “Carrying the sword Hrunting, Beowulf goes to the lake where Grendel’s mother has her underwater lair. Then, fully armed, he dives to the depths of this water hell.” (lines 468-469). His perseverance is demonstrated fully as he commits himself to finish the battles brought to him and protect

Herot.
Lastly, the Anglo-Saxons greatly valued overall loyalty and this was shown in everything they did. Not only were they loyal to each other, but they were loyal to their leader as well in that this was the key to their individual and community success. Beowulf and his men exemplify the Anglo-Saxons’ loyalty. Beowulf is a leader and must not only show loyalty to his people, but those he protects as well. This loyalty shows in every aspect of Beowulf’s actions and decision making. Moreover, one of the reasons Beowulf looked to save Herot was because he felt as great sense of loyalty towards Hrothgar because of previous favors to his father (lines 190-192). Furthermore, he feels this loyalty so greatly and is so dedicated to this that he determines to defeat Grendel, even if it leads to his own demise (lines 366-367). Loyalty is a common theme both within Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon culture.
These values of Anglo-Saxon culture reflect on the human condition in that, really, pushing through life is all about perseverance. Of course, honor and loyalty are within this as well. We all go through individual battles, great and small, within our lives and our way of growing and developing in life is through perseverance. Whenever we go through these individual battles, we gain honor and respect. And sometimes, our reason for perservering may be because of the loyalty we feel towards our family or ourselves.