What lessons from Beowulf can you transfer to your own life? Think about the heroic ideals of this time (i.e. bravery, generosity, kinship or friendship etc.) and how they can be interpreted today. With which character from the poem do you most identify?
I think that even though the poem is rather old and dated, we can still take a lot of values and morals from it. For example, Beowulf's bravery and courage are values that were honored then, and are still very honored and respected today. While his impromptu visit to Heorot may have seemed a bit presumptuous today, at the time it was very customary. The values that I would take away the most from the poem are the values of kinship between members of clans. They seem to have made extremely strong bonds with each other, something that I think we lack at this time. If we all were more loyal and protective towards our families and friends, the world would be a more honorable place. A character from the poem that really rings true to me is most likely Hrothgar, because he seems very wise and very friendly towards all of his thanes (as well as Beowulf). I think he has some very admirable qualities.
ReplyDeleteBeowulf seems like a very idealistic view of a hero. I think that the characteristics he displays, such as bravery, are characteristics that people should never stop honoring. One of the lessons that I will definitely take into my own life is the generosity and friendship that Hrothgar showed Beowulf. Regardless of whatever happened between their families, Hrothgar was still very welcoming and generous to Beowulf. He payed Beowulf for the tasks he preformed and was kind to him throughout. These qualities are unchanging throughout time, and I think that they can be interpreted today almost exactly the same way they were back then. Being welcoming to someone and friendly towards them is one way to interpret the way Hrothgar acted. I think that I identify most with Hrothgar because I'm not sure if I would have had the strength to defeat Grendel, but I would have done everything in my power to try. I would have immediately welcomed Beowulf, and I definitely would have been generous towards him as well. I really respected the way Hrothgar treated the other members of his kingdom and how sorrowful he was when Aeschere died.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both Scott and Sasha when they say that Beowulf's heroism, bravery, and kindness is a quality that people everywhere today still look for and try to achieve. An important lesson that I learned from this book is being kind for others, which includes doing dangerous and brave things for those you care for. I saw this book as kind of an example of how the world should be: there was evil, and the good defeated it with generous and brave deeds. If everyone was a little like Beowulf, wouldn't today's world be such a better place? Once in a while we do hear about modern "Beowulfs" but, I guess what I am trying to say is that we don't have to go as far as Beowulf did to live better. I think the character I identify most with is Hrothgar because I admire his openness. He didn't have to accept Beowulf into his kingdom, but he blindly trusted Beowulf. He opened the doors and treated Beowulf with total respect and generosity, even though it wasn't necessarily something he had to do. Also, I just imagined Hrothgar as a very nice and grandfatherly man from the beginning; someone you could go to for advice and help, someone who always knew the right answer.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Sasha:
ReplyDeleteI also think that the qualities written about in Beowulf are unchanging over time, and probably are viewed today exactly as they were when Beowulf was told. I think this is a great thing, because basically the story has its same purpose that it did so many years ago: it is teaching us what being generous, kind and brave leads to, just as it taught the village people who listened to the Scop as he told this tale. Somehow it is reassuring to know that one thing will be the same at any time, in any place in the world: people's ideals and morals.
I often get annoyed when people complain about how the old days were better or safer or simpler. I believe that the gift of hindsight often blinds people to the fact that though the problems of yesterday may seem simpler, at the time they were just as real and jarring as the ones we face today. However, I think that one thing that really has left our society to some extent is the sense of honor that is central to Beowulf. In his days people believed that you really were only as good as your word. People did not often say things they did not mean, and if they claimed that they would do something, their honor was enough to hold them to that claim. I think it would be good to try to introduce some of that back into our culture. People nowadays often joke about serious matters and it becomes difficult to tell the jokes from real opinions. If we all tried harder to say only what we really believed we would have the benefit of simplifying our interactions with other people who held views different from our own, and we would surely increase our respect for each other.
ReplyDeleteIn response to scott:
ReplyDeleteI would definitely agree about the kinship between clans and the loyalty to friends and family. Undeniably the world would be a better place if every family was close knit and supportive of all its members. Family is one of the most powerful bonds that there is, and when all else fails, your family should be there for you. It makes me very sad when I read about people in Dear Annie who lose all contact with someone as important as their sister or something like that.
Also, the character I identify with most is Hrothgar. He seems like a very wise and generous king. Even though he is not strong or mighty in battle like beowulf, he is still beloved of his people simply because he is a great leader.
In response to Joe:
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that we oversimplify "the good old days". Of course back then they didn't have to worry about things like college or your car breaking down, but they had problems they faced that were just as scary or unsolvable to them as ours are to us. I also agree that saying what you really feel is something that our culture has lost. Of course, saying what you really feel can come off as blunt and insensitive.
In response to Gaia:
I also felt like Hrothgar was the grandpa of the story. He seems like the wise character that was able to push someone in the right direction, without directly stating so. He seems like someone that would know how to solve almost any situation; even one like having a Grendel attacking you.
Beowulf, the poem, is a story of holding criminals responsible for their crimes. In Beowulf, Beowulf feels the need to hold the monsters Grendel, Grendel's Mother, and the Dragon responsible for their crimes, no mater how powerful they are. In the modern world, there are probably more crimes committed than in ancient Scandinavia. I think we can learn a lot from how Beowulf brings these great criminals to justice, and apply it to how we treat ours. For example, is a corporation practices excessive digital rights management, people should, as Beowulf would, make an effort to stop it.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, Beowulf, as a person, exhibits some excellent (and fantastic) traits as a leader. Beowulf cares a great deal about his subjects in a way that modern leaders do not. Today the people we choose to be leaders are far more selfish than Beowulf was. There certainly aren't any senators willing to duel with dragons in order to protect their districts.
I think I associate most with Grendel right now because, like him, I'm very hungry (although not enough to eat a person). However normally, I think I would identify most with Hrothgar, because of his serious and pragmatic response to Grendel's attacks. Hrothgar does not run away from the challenge posed by Grendel, and instead struggles to fight him in a way that I find admirable.
In responce to Joe,
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Joe says about the problems of the past being as difficult to the people living with them as our problems are to us. I do think, however, that the concept of honor in the days of Beowulf was a source of some of their problems. For example, Modthryth putting people who looked at her to death may be an action rooted in a sense of honor.
I dont think that I can relate to this books lessons very closely but i do believe that there are a few things in modern day life that can be translated back to Beowulf to poem. Like i think that a modern day envious psychopath can be compared to the murdering Grendel who had no cares for humans at all. and i also think that Beowulf can be compared to someone like Obama who has become a type of hero to many people (no offense of course to McCain fans)
ReplyDeleteAfter reading what Aaron had to say about the translation thing and comparing the poem to modern times I completely agree with the whole bringing criminals to justice thing. I think that now there are thousands of more crimes and criminals (as well as police who didnt exist back then) and that their way of dealing with some crimes is most likely much more productive than the way we deal with ours. Like instead of letting people who deal drugs and kill people hire awesome lawyers and get away with their crimes, the people of Beowulfs era would simply dispose of them
ReplyDeleteI think that there are many things one can learn from the story of Beowulf. From one perspective, it is a stereotypical hero story. The good guy comes and defeats the bad guy and everyone lives happily ever after (in a nutshell). These types of stories are ones that our society tells our children so that they can have role models. I think Beowulf should be honored for defeating all of the Danes' enemies, and he had a lot of courage to achieve this. Beowulf wasn't afraid of what other people would think of his actions, and was a true leader.
ReplyDeleteToday we had a quote for our journal that said "There is no greater importance in all the world like knowing you are right and that the wave of the world is wrong, yet the wave crashes upon you." In a sense, this quote can be applied to the story of Beowulf because Beowulf had the power to "fight the wave," and wasn't afraid if it would crash on him or not. The way that the story turned out, he was able to defeat the wave and proved he was a great leader.
In response to anyone that said they connected with Hrothgar most in the story, I have to agree. He wanted to make sure his people were well protected, so that "the wave would not crash upon them." Hrothgar proves that he is a leader, even if he might not be able to show his prowess in battle. He is very respectful and trusting, and feel like these are the type of people we need to look up to for our society to be great.
One lesson I can transfer from Beowulf to my own life is that of loyalty. Throughout the epic poem there are examples of many different kinds of loyalty. The most awesome, in my opinion, is when Beowulf is fighting the dragon and Wiglaf feels enough loyalty to Beowulf that he risks his life fighting along side him, even though none of the other men do so. Though I doubt my loyalty to friends or family will even be tested in the form of anything like a dragon, I can apply the same principle on a smaller scale, perhaps thinking of the dragon as a metaphor.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the heroic ideals from Beowulf's era have changed too much. We still hold bravery, generosity, friendship, kinship, and so forth in a very high regard. In Beowulf's time, these ideals may have been more intensified, but never the less, they are more or less the same qualities that people value in the present day.
I also identify most with Hrothgar. This is because even though Hrothgar doesn't have the strength of Beowulf, he did everything he could do help. Also, despite being aware of Grendal's horrible presence, he never fled the town of even gave up hope. I like to think I would have done the same.
In response to Aaron:
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with you in saying that Beowulf cared about his people more then (at least some) modern day leaders do. While it is true that no senator would combat a dragon for their district, it is also true that no senator processes the same strength that Beowulf did. If there was a dragon terrorizing the land, though they would not be capable of venturing out and defeating it alone, they would do everything in their power, using, cunning, perhaps armies, and modern technology, to vanquish it.
The lesson we can learn from Beowulf does not come from the when he slays Grendel or his mother. It is not about when he returns home with tons of treasure and eventually becomes king. To me, the most important section of Beowulf is the end. After all his great strength is gone, Beowulf realizes he is not the great man he used to be. As a young man he does things for himself, for gold, for glory. When he goes out to slay the dragon, Beowulf knows he will probably die. It is about self-sacrifice and knowing your limits.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Teddy:
ReplyDeleteI disagree that the best way to deal with criminals is to simply slay them. Though it does sound nice to just get rid of a problem like the people in Beowulf's time did, we must remember what that time was like. As you said, there was no police. If you had a sword and wanted to kill me you could. The only form of justice was the Wergild, which started endless vendettas. What makes us a more sophisticated and hopefully just society is that we do have a set of codes we can be held to. Just because you can kill me does not mean that that is what you do. Though "awesome lawyers" might be frustrating, if you were ever behind the defense bench I'm sure you would be glad that everyone has a right to fair representation.
The main lesson that should be taken away from Beowulf is the importance of bravery and loyalty. Beowulf is a good example of these two traits. Without hesitation Beowulf fought Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon which proves his bravery. Even today bravery is an honored quality. Bravery often saves lives (although not always). Without bravery many people in our modern world would die, much like the people of Heorot if Beowulf had not come to rid them of Grendel. Loyalty is another important quality that we can take away from the book. Beowulf's loyalty to his father and to the laws of man caused him to go to Heorot and save the people of Heorot. Today, loyalty to your country, to your job, to your friends and to your family is valued. Your loyalties are what get your through life.
ReplyDeleteAs for the character that I identify most with, I would have to say Hrothgar. He is wise and brave, but he is brave in a very different way then Beowulf. I would not have gone to fight Grendel, but I would lead my people without fear, which is brave in itself. He is wise, as many people have said before, but not over confident. He warns Beowulf to become a great king, not ruled by power - which is something I strongly believe in.
In response to Sasha:
ReplyDeleteI agree that Hrothgar's kindness towards Beowulf is something very important. Today, it would be much more difficult to come and help a family (especially one were your father killed the brother). It is the lost art of trust and forgiveness. Hrothgar welcomes Beowulf with open arms because he is trying to help them. Today, would we take that help if it was given by someone who was related to someone who had done bad things? Or would we just turn away the help, even if we really needed it?
I think one of the most important lessons that we can take away from Beowulf is the generosity Hrothgar shows to Beowulf when he first arrives, which is similar to the way Beowulf rules his kingdom later on. Even though he doesn't know Beowulf personally, Hrothgar, who seems like a very wise and good king, welcomes him with open arms, which is especially gracious considering his country was in a state of war at the time. He takes everything Beowulf says and boasts about seriously, and gives him food and lodging. After Beowulf defeats Grendel and Grendel's mother, he bestows upon him and his men many precious gifts, too numerous to name.
ReplyDeleteAlso, another important lesson from Beowulf is the sincere loyalty members of the same clan show towards each other. If a relative or friend is killed, they don't rest until they are avenged, or until the wergild is paid. Also, members of the clans are fierce patriots, with the thanes fighting to death if need be for their king, and the king taking on the responsibility of caring for his thanes.
In response to Joe:
I completely agree with what you said about the sense of honor in Beowulf, and I think you raised a really good point. In the story, when Unferth speaks out against Beowulf, accusing him of not telling the truth, it is very clear that what he did was out of line with what was acceptable back then. People were trusted to be as good as their word, and no more was said on the matter.
Though Beowulf is an ancient poem, there are many ideals that are still important to have today. Beowulf was a brave and loyal man, who was willing to fight Grendel even though he knew that he had killed thirty men. He didn't need to come to Heorot and endanger his life by fighting Grendel, but bravery drove him to offer his help to Hrothgar. It was also Beowulf's friendship which allowed him to help Hrothgar's kingdom, which was being destroyed by Grendel. Despite the former feud between Hrothgar's family and Beowulf's, Beowulf offered his help to Hrothgar and he accepted it gratefully. I think that in some cases, this would no longer happen.
ReplyDeleteI can identify best with Hrothgar. He seems much more human than Beowulf. He's not extraordinarily strong, but he is an excellent leader who cared deeply about everyone in his kingdom. He was kind and generous ruler. He gave many gifts to Beowulf in return for his help.
In response to Nick:
ReplyDeleteI agree that one of Beowulf's most admirable traits was not his incredible strength, but that he was willing to fight the dragon even though he knew he would probably die. He was much older than he was when he killed Grendel and he knew that his chances of winning were much less. But he was still willing to fight the dragon and sacrifice his life if he needed to in order to save his people from the dragon. This is Beowulf's most admirable characteristic: his willingness to sacrifice himself for the greater good.
I think that the most important lesson I can take from Beowulf is the transformation he undergoes from the beginning to the end. At the beginning of the poem he's a powerful warrior- probably the most accomplished in most of Europe. He knew what he was capable of and completed what needed to be done (kill Grendel, then his mother). However, at the end, he has transformed from a strong and wise leader of his country. He knew that he would not be able to kill the dragon by himself, and gladly accepted Wiglaf's help.
ReplyDeleteI think that Beowulf develops a trait that I value later in life, his incredible quiet strength and humility. While it may have not been so apparent during his earlier life, his heroic exploits definitely primed him to be a excellent king.
In my opinion, Beowulf's heroic triumphs over the vicious monsters Grendel and Grendel's mother are greatly overshadowed by his loyalty, maturity, and courageousness he displays later in life. I identify with Beowulf's ability to put others before himself, especially if that means maintaining patience and doing something that jeopardize your comfortability level. Towards the end of the poem, Beowulf is in the land of the Geats, where his leadership skills as a wise king shine through. After Hygelac dies, Beowulf does not immediately and greedily place himself as the leader, he places his energy in supporting the fitting heir, Hygelac's son. With this gesture, he proves himself truly faithful and respectful the throne. He follows the rules of his culture and people. Beowulfs final expression of loyalty for his people, is witnessed in his dragon slaying ordeal. At this point, he is already an aged man. Some view his fight with the dragon as a king leaving his people without a ruler. However, I see it as a king succumbing to fate, he let the rules of his warrior culture guide him to participate in the seemingly invetible act of slaying the dragon. He takes on this task, however he has matured and disregarding pride, he accepts the help of Wiglaf. Sometmes leadership is not always standing out from a crowd, but upholding the guidelines of a people. The kinship that he expresses is something that is still viewed as a priority in society today.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Clark's entry, I like how you phrased the importance of all Beowulf's fights. I don't think I fully realized what values Beowulf displayed. You make a great point in that Beowulf carried on his path of heroic deeds, regardless of what others thought of him (i.e. Unferth tries to bring him down), and to that extent he carries a certain confidence that ultimately befefits all those around him. However, I disagree that his decisions to fight earlier on embody a true leader, he only hears his voice, not what others around him may think of his actions; luckily growing and taking advice from great men such as Hrothgar.
I think that although Beowulf is extremely dated there are still many valuable lessons that we can learn from the poem, such as possessing bravery, courage, and integrity. These three attributes were important thousands of years ago and they are still just as important today. Another very important lesson that i have learned from Beowulf is to always respect your elders and respect where you come from. This is on of the most important lessons that Beowulf has to offer in my opinion. Whenever someone is mentioned in the poem the name of their father and where they came from is often metnioned just after it. This is important in my mind because it reminds one where they came from and to never be ashamed of their lineage. In conclusion the lessons that were portrayed thousands of years ago are still just as important as they were back then.
ReplyDeleteThere were little lessons and morals throughout the epic poem, but I think the main lesson was about chivalry and integrity. He was driven to help Hrothgar and his kingdom not only to prove once again his strength and courage, but because he genuinely wanted to help. I think readers can use this lesson in their own lives because sometimes a person is attracted to doing something because of recognition and attribution, but the motivation shouldn't come from this; it should come from the desire to help people and do what's right, regardless of the outcome, which sometimes involves sacrifice. Beowulf knew all about sacrifice, and he was willing to give himself fully to the cause of being a hero, which partly means being willing to sacrifice.
ReplyDeletein response to Colleen:
ReplyDeleteI really liked that you mentioned quiet strength and humility, that he underwent a change in his life so that he was not just a powerful warrior, but a good and humble leader. I think this can be applied to a teenager's life, because teenagers can sometimes get carried away with their confidence and raging hormones so they feel on top of the world, or their actions are extreme and flamboyant, but later, they settle down into adulthood and become more calm from experience and aging.
I really didn't identify with any of the character's very much. It's a completely different mindset to the way the world works today. Today people admire cunning and the ability to make people smile over mere brute strength. And I guess all the ideals of the yesteryears are still around today. I mean, we all love it when some guy runs into a burning building to save a little helpless kid's life. We eat it up, put the guy on TV, give him some fifteen minutes of fame. Of course, after that, we all forget about the guy, but such is life. Other ideas have changed significantly though. For instance, male-female relationships have changed significantly. While they are still tied to social dogma, it is a significantly different social custom then it was beforehand. So the same with many many other things in our modern society.
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