Beowulf examines the heroic ideals of courage and bravery comparing to Anglo Saxon world

The Heroic Ethos

The Heroic Ethos Traditionally Defined:

The heroic ethos is commonly defined as a set of values which prioritise and glorify the valour of an individual. Old English society, contends Clinton Albertson, necessarily honoured a 'heroic code', as "[s]ociety revolved around the strong, enterprising chieftain and his courageous band of followers. The essential cohesive elements were the personal loyalty of the retainers and the large-hearted liberality and bold strength of the leader”.

The motivation of the hero is to garner fame and immortality in legend (Greenfield 80), resulting in feats of excellence and ultimately, of excess (O'Keeffe 123). This warrior elite and its code of ethics is the primary subject of 'Germanic' heroic poetry, and the ethic, if not the specific deeds, is also fundamental to Anglo-Saxon hagiography. Dorothy Whitelock emphasises the personal, rather than tribal loyalty that governed the relationship of the thane to his lord, and details the transactions involved in pledging such a loyalty. The lord, in return for the thane's protection and a vow to revenge his lord's death, gave him the heriot (a gift of armour and horses) and land. Whitelock argues for the symbolic significance of this gift, claiming that the heroic code was "no mere literary convention", and citing several examples of thanes following their lords into exile in support of this claim. The story of Lilla, thane of Edwin of Northumbria, who interposed himself suicidally between his lord and the sword of an assassin, is an oft-related example of how the heroic ethos obtained in reality.

Beowulf attains his immortality through his victories in battle against evil, supernatural creatures. After slaying Grendel, King Hrothgar tells Beowulf “you have made yourself immortal through your glorious action”. Here, it is clear that Beowulf's courageous action in protecting the Danes from the monster gained him high regard in the common memory. Beowulf further clarifies this link between courageous heroism and the reward of infamy when he proclaims: “For every one of us, living in this world means waiting for our end. Let whoever can win glory before death. When a warrior is gone, that will be his best and only bulwark”.

Yet, courage is not the only component of the heroic ideal as seen in Beowulf. Loyalty to one's family and people are also necessary. Unferth possesses courage, yet cannot attain immortal fame or heroic regard because he did not exhibit familial loyalty in the past. He is “under a cloud for killing his brothers” (83). Beowulf, on the other hand, shows tremendous loyalty. He initially sets sail to protect King Hrothgar's people to fulfill an old allegiance, eventually leading to Hrothgar's adoption of Beowulf as a son in his heart. After Beowulf returns to his land, he properly presents his gifts to his king (who is also a relation) to show his patriotic loyalty. Also, Wiglaf, a budding hero, proves his “pledged loyalty” to his king when he joins Beowulf in the battle ...