Theme Of Fame In Beowulf

Whether obsessing over celebrity news, the latest American Idol contestants, or likes on a YouTube video, there is no doubt that modern society gives great weight to fame and reputation. However, the true origin of society’s fascination with fame traces farther back than one might expect. The epic poem Beowulf, apart from being a tale of warriors, monsters, and dragons, is one of the few remaining Old English works that provides insight on the Anglo-Saxon era. The three most important aspects of Anglo-Saxon culture are comitatus, memento mori, and fame, with the role of fame being similar in modern society. By examining Beowulf, we can learn about the Anglo-Saxons, but we can also draw correlations between their culture and our own. What a

The worth of kings and warriors was determined by the amount of fame they won during their lifetime. Siegmund is glowingly described on lines 885 to 895 of Beowulf for defeating a dragon and earning treasure that made him as rich as kings. Both of these accomplishments granted him immeasurable fame. After Beowulf defeats the monster Grendel, Hrothgar tells him that “Glory is now yours / Forever and ever; your courage has earned it, / and your strength. . .” (Beowulf 953-5). While Hrothgar’s compliments are numerous, he specifically emphasizes how Beowulf has earned much glory and fame through his deeds. When Beowulf describes to his king, Higlac, his battle with Grendel’s mother on lines 2131 to 2134, he states that he was asked to “seek still greater glory” and “win / Still higher fame” (Beowulf). All three of these examples serve to show that in any situation of praise or respect, the greatest concern for the characters of Beowulf and the Anglo-Saxons was fame and reputation. Siegmund was only respected because of the fame and treasure he accumulated, and the most significant reward for Beowulf’s defeat of both Grendel and Grendel’s mother was fame. Conversely, it is evident in Beowulf that the loss of reputation and fame is also treated with equal importance. The argument between Unferth and Beowulf, in which Unferth reveals an embarrassing story about Beowulf and ridicules him, is given significant detail in Chapters 8 and 9 because Beowulf’s reputation is on the line (Beowulf). In addition to being the most important aspect of Anglo-Saxon culture, the concept of fame also prevails through time into present