The Consequences of Bravery in the Epic Poem Beowulf

Throughout this paper I plan to examine the positive and negative repercussions of bravery in the epic poem “Beowulf.” I shall demonstrate how the consequences of bravery were beneficial in this epic. I shall also demonstrate how bravery did not always lead to a propitious outcome. The person who demonstrated the most bravery throughout this epic was obviously the main character, Beowulf. Throughout the span of his lifetime he became well renown for his bravery, but due to his bravery his life is lost in battle.

The most obvious positive repercussion of bravery would be fame. Through Beowulf’s bravery and his ability to win battles he earned much fame. Soldiers and storytellers alike told tales of Beowulf’s brave deeds. On pg. 121 there are Geats speaking about Beowulf, and they basically sum up the fame of Beowulf’s among the average person. “Telling their sorrow, telling stories of their dead king and his greatness, his glory, praising him for heroic deeds, for a life as noble as his name.”

Another positive repercussion of bravery is wealth. In this epic wealth would include land, money, and most importantly for a warrior, grandiose armor and weapon. In this epic soldiers can earn wealth by displaying bravery on the battlefield (or wherever else they may be battling). One example of this is after Efor and Wulf kill Ongetho, the Swedish king. The passage read, “Efor and Wulf would have treasure heaped in their battle hard hands; he’d repay them their bravery with wealth, give them gold and lands and silver rings, with rich rewards for the glorious deeds they’d done with their swords. Beowulf earned much wealth in all his days as well. As a warrior he gained much treasure, land, and battle gear.

One other positive repercussion of bravery is that power may be achieved through it. He would achieve this power in many ways. First off, he would have wealth. Since wealth is pretty much power he would have already achieved most of his power. Next, since he is famous. Fame is power as well. This is why Beowulf had the option of becoming king instead of Higlac’s heir, because Beowulf had an undeniably good reputation in battle.