Beowulf essay with quotes

In Beowulf, kings, heroes, and other powerful men must continuously establish their reputations, both those they have inherited and those they have earned. Characters accomplish the former by reminding listeners of their famous ancestors and the latter by collecting treasures.

The young hero reminds Hrothgar of the warrior’s code of vengeance. He is trying to restore the king’s courage by suggesting that the older hero still has time to earn fame. The scene shows Beowulf’s respect for the older warrior and for ancient values.

Beowulf Quotes Then Beowulf spoke—on him the armor shone, the mail-shirt linked by the skills of the smith: Hail to you, Hrothgar! I am Hygelac’s kinsman and devoted thane; already in youth I have done many glorious deeds… Beowulf has finally reached the presence of Hrothgar, the great king who is threatened by Grendel, the monster.

In our culture, preoccupation with material goods usually connotes shallowness, and the pursuit of riches is often seen as incompatible—or at least difficult to reconcile—with our moral convictions. In Beowulf, however, the Danes, Geats, and Swedes’ collective reverence for treasure is not represented as a shortcoming or moral weakness.