anglo saxon

Beowulf wasn’t a story just about good versus evil but also how strong Beowulf was. Beowulf didn’t kill Grendel just because Grendel was evil but he killed it more so for fame to prove his strength. He wanted the challenge more so and to be able to say he killed Grendel by himself and with out weapons and armor.
This though was Anglo-Saxon. Glory in strength and battle. To win great battles in die in battle would let them go to Valhalla and eat and drink till Ragnarok. Which was the battle at the end of the world. So to them fighting great battles and dying was their way into Valhalla. So that is what Beowulf portrays in the book.
That is why it is so different, because it is a different culture and different time period. So it was very informational and showed how things were back then. How different the mind set was at the time. I liked it for the information and culture but it was hard to follow at times because it is supposed to be a poem and was translated from old English. So the language and patterned aren’t how it is supposed to be.
Later when Grendels mother came for revenage because her son was killed Beowulf didn’t just do it out of the kindness of his heart. It wasn’t until after the king said he would be rewarded again and knowing that Grendels mother was a worthy opponent. It wasn't like he was a bad person or anything just the time period accepted other things then.

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In Anglo-Saxon culture dying in battle honorable was the way into heaven basically. They would sit and eat with other warriors until their god Odin needs you for the final battle of the world. "I take joy in this, despite a mortal wound. The Ruler of Mankind will not charge that I murdered a kinsman when my life departs this body" Episode 13.
Being loyal to your king was also part of Anglo-Saxon culture, which Beowulf was very loyal to his king. "But Beowulf would not for any reason be lord over his king's son, so he protected the boy, gave him good council till Heardred became a man" Episode 11.
He also has loyalty to his people. "If battle takes me, send this best of war garments, this shirt of mail, to Hygelac--it is an inheritance from Hrethel and the work of Weland." Episode 3

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Beowulf isn’t the kind of hero that in our culture is used to. Our heroes like superman are based off of self-sacrifice and defending the weak. While Beowulf wasn’t about self-sacrifice, sure he put himself into harms way several times he did it with confidence and as a test. As well our heroes are doing it for the greater good and are humble people most of the time. "I slew nine sea monsters.Nor have I heard tell of a harder fightor a more distressed manever to go in the sea." Episode 3.

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Beowulf at the end died trying to defend his country himself. He fought for his own glory as well or he wouldn’t have wanted to kill the dragon by himself. "No one but myself can fight this monster. Your lord shall either win the treasure or lose his life" Episode 11.
For the first time he was actually helped by someone else. Wiglaf risked his life for Beowulf and helped kill the dragon with him. This seemed that he wanted to do what he could to help save Beowulf from the entire good thing Beowulf did for him. "He remembered the gifts, a rich home among the Waegmundings, the rich inheritance, that his father had had" Episode 12.
When he did die it wasn’t that his deeds didn’t go unnoticed or were casted away. He was hailed as a hero and had a huge funeral mound that people could see form he sea. His deeds weren’t in vain he had earned his glory. If not this book wouldn’t have been told as much as it has.