Why Is Beowulf Still Relevant Today

Beowulf showcases many values of the Anglo- Saxon period, which are still upheld today. In Beowulf they valued strong leaders, truth, and honor the most and those values are still of importance today. They are valued and thought of highly still today.

   In Beowulf it first started off showing the value of strong leaders and how important and how highly they were thought of and treated. “Hail Hrothgar!... 25/ What it has been before  26” (Beowulf 25-26). Beowulf was portrayed as a strong leader whom others looked up to as a great warrior. He speaks with dignity and high honor, he’s brave, courageous, and ready to face any task that is thrown at him. People look up to him for bravery, strength, and guidance to help them and for them to count

on someone to rely on with their lives. He tries to protect his people at all cost.He is someone they want to follow to the end and believe he will lead them to great things. Today we have the same value except it is more modernized. We elect presidents to basically rule our country and guide us to greatness. Our president is someone who will be brave, courageous, and strong for us. The president is someone who people look up to to help them through hardships, or provide guidance for them when they need it most. The president vows to protect people from enemies just as Beowulf protects his people from enemies who might invade and harm is people and others. In Beowulf the value of strong leaders is still shown today for help, guidance, strength, and who are ready to face any task at hand to help those in need, and someone who people can rely on for anything.
   The second value in Beowulf is the value of truth. Truth was very valuable in Beowulf because it showed that people were very honorable for not lying. Telling the truth was thought very highly of just like today. The truthfulness of people is important because it showed worthy of their words, and their truthfulness earns them the respect of others. Lying was disgraced and thought harshly of just like today. Telling the truth gained trust which made people more honorable. Heroic acts back up with truth were thought very highly of. And boasting wasn’t a big deal if it was the truth. Beowulf proves that he’s truthful by telling Unferth his downfall. He told him about the battle he had not won, he didn't lie about it or hide it from him. But after he continued telling Unferth about his many accomplishments. Most thought it was conceited, but others thought differently if the boasting was true. “But the truth is simple... 28/ until a flood swept us apart 29/ other monsters crowded around me 30/ he can test his strength in battle...May enter this hall: That evil will be gone! 31” (Beowulf 28-31). Today truth is valued as trust in a person if said person isn't truthful then they aren't trustworthy, which makes people lose respect for that person. Lying is thought as very ugly today and people who lie are unworthy of respect. Telling the truth or having truth behind words is thought highly of no matter the subject of the truth.  Both highly value truth as a great importance.
   Lastly but most importantly in Beowulf they valued honor more than anything.

Having honor was the most important thing to people.having certain amounts of honor gives people certain rankings to others by their accomplishments.  Beowulf’s honor comes from his heroic acts to the town and to the people. He rid the sea of monsters in a single night by himself.  He’d slain Grendel, who terrorized Herot for twelve years and he also slain Grendel’s mother, both by himself. By all of these accomplishments, it earned Beowulf his honor towards his people and towards others from different towns. He was most honored by his men, when he had to face his last daunting task he saw that it was his hardest and last battle. One of his men, Wiglaf, helped the wounded and weakened warrior as the rest of Beowulf’s men fled. Wiglaf stayed because Beowulf protected him, and he was his lord and it was his duty to serve and protect his lord in times of trouble. Together they slayed the dragon, and sadly Beowulf had died, but his men and the people of Herot buried his with all the treasure they found after they slayed the dragon, to honor him for his brave act. “Quickly, the dragon came at him... 43/ His name was Wiglaf... 44/ ...Then Wiglaf went back... 45/ ...And then twelve of the bravest Geats... 46(Beowulf 44-46). Today people also value honor with trophies, plaques, and medals to show their great acts, which show their worthiness. People get medals for doing great things for example, the Nobel peace prize. It shows their honor, and their great accomplishments. It ranks people by what they do or accomplish that makes them great or worthy of

honor.
   Beowulf showcases many values of the Anglo- Saxon period, which are still upheld today. These values of, strong leaders, the truth, and honor are still incredibly important today just as they were in Beowulf. And are valued just about the same just modernized, but just as important.