Values And Values In Beowulf

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Seamus Heaney’s translation of Beowulf captures the magnificent strength and glory of the hero Beowulf as he saves Hrothgar’s kingdom from the wrath of Grendel and his mother. In this section of the poem, Heaney retells Beowulf’s final fight, one with a treasure-hoarding dragon, as well as the last words he utters to his fellow warrior Wiglaf as he dies from the dragon’s venomous bite. The scene is an exuberant, almost chaotic display of great heroism and courage, however; it is also symbolic – Beowulf’s battle with the dragon, as well as his interaction with Wiglaf, illustrate the core beliefs and values of Anglo-Saxon culture, which include, but are not limited to honor, loyalty, fate, legacy, and kinship. Although Beowulf struggles against …show more content…

For his crusade against the fire-breathing dragon, Beowulf hand-picks the most trustworthy, courageous, and mighty warriors from his army to accompany him in his fight; however, the brave warriors are struck with terror after seeing the dragon, and they “[break] ranks and [run] for their lives to the safety of the wood” (175). Only Wiglaf is able to resist his fear and stays behind to protect and honor his king, because “within [his] heart, sorrow welled up: in a man of worth the claims of kinship cannot be denied” (175). When he sees his lord struggling against the heat from the dragon’s flames, Wiglaf becomes motivated to carry on the legacy of his father Weohstan, a respected Shylfing warrior, and honor his kinship. Beowulf, honored by Wiglaf’s great sense of loyalty and courage, “[unclasps] the collar of gold from his neck and [gives] it to the young thane, telling him to use it and the warshirt and the gilded helmet well” (189). However, the collar of gold is more than just a gift; it symbolizes the passing of Beowulf’s legacy to Wiglaf. Beowulf, because he has no kin, relies on Wiglaf, the last of the Waegmundings, to ensure that his reputation of a courageous and honorable king and hero survives. Although fate cannot be avoided, the Anglo-Saxon value of legacy, loyalty, and kinship triumphs – as a result, Beowulf’s heroism lives on in …show more content…

With this passing of kingship, Beowulf instructs Wiglaf to “order [his] troop to construct a barrow on a headland on the coast, after [his] pyre has cooled. It will loom on the horizon at Hronesness and be a reminder among [his] people – so that in coming times crews under sail will call it Beowulf’s Barrow, as they steer ships across the wide and shrouded waters” (189). A barrow, as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary, is a “mountain, mount, hill, or hillock”, and has Old English, Old Saxon, and Old Germanic roots (“Barrow, n.1.”, 2016). Similar to the collar of gold, Beowulf’s Barrow serves as a physical representation of his legacy in Geatland, emphasizing the importance of preservation of legacy in Anglo-Saxon culture. Just as how Beowulf protected his people from the monsters that once plagued their kingdom, Beowulf’s Barrow will protect crews from wide and shrouded waters and lead them to safety, serving a constant reminder of his reputation as an honorable

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