Brian Langham 1/11/07


I enjoyed the story of Beowulf mostly because I like to read fantasy novels in my spare time. My favorite writer uses the same speech in his books and some of the same names and places. I have found that I enjoy stories about ideals and warlike people, ideals of honor and loyalty to ones blood kin and to ones friends. Even though this story ended because of Beowulf’s foolish pride.


Beowulf also was just a fun read. The story has enough background that the reader can really feel what Beowulf feels. When Beowulf almost felt obligated to go and destroy Grendel’s mother, because he had just exchanged one evil for another in maiming Grendel.


The question I would like to ask is how would Beowulf feel, and act, if he were to be transported into this day and age. War has become almost mechanic, and valor and honor can be changed by the amount of money in an enemy’s pocket. Our leaders are caught and held by treachery and will not even speak truthfully to the people they rule.


Beowulf is the epitome of Anglo-Saxon culture, in the way that he was a warrior of endless strength in battle, in his foolish yet boundless since of courage(ex.But a warrior of Hygelac's heard of Grendel's doings;he was the strongest of menalive in that day, mighty and noble.). The Anglo-Saxon people were obviously a war-like culture and prided themselves on physical strength and wisdom in battle. To be anything less would make you a coward(ex.He who once ruled a nation was encircled by fire; no troop of friends, strong princes, stood around him: they ran to the woods to save their lives.). The Anglo-Saxons also seemed to have very well defined ideals about loyalty. This can be seen when Beowulf faces his last battle, and only one of his men comes from beneath the trees to aid him, and that last man names the others as cowards(ex.Yet in one of themwelled a sorrowful heart.That true-minded one didn't forget kinship. Wiglaf he was called, the son of Woehstan... (Wiglaf said) It isn't proper that we bare shields back to our homes before we can defend our lord and kill the enemy.). I find that this part of the story is more of a warning than a true ending, a warning that those who do not even try to help will lose their names into history forever.


When reading Beowulf I realized that many modern writers use stories or names from this piece of ancient literature. R.A. Salvatore has been one of my favorite writers since I learned how to read. In his novels he uses some of the same locations and names as in Beowulf. Wulfgar son of Hrothgar and the Mead hall of Herot are just a few examples of their similarities. The stories have changed since the Anglo-Saxon times but mostly concerning magic. In modern stories magic is almost celebrated, but in Beowulf magic is evil and something to be afraid of.


Beowulf’s last battle against the dragon showed his true courage, and folly. He at least thought enough to bring a metal shield and not a wooden one. Why did Beowulf hold his own image in such high esteem? I have come to the conclusion that Beowulf fought the dragon not for any of the gold that the dragon held, instead he decided to fight more to let his last battle be a glorious one. I think that he knew he was going to die in the fight, then again he may have just been full of himself and really thought that he could easily conquer a dragon. Many people have died in the same fashion as Beowulf (dying by their own miscalculation), and many more will die in that same way.