Journal Two.

Topic: Epic poetry usually embodies the attitudes and ideals of an entire culture. What values of Anglo-Saxon society does Beowulf reveal? What universal themes does it also reveal? Use specific examples from the poem to support your answer.

The typical values that were important to the Anglo-Saxon society were bravery, loyalty, friendship and generosity. In the epic poem “Beowulf,” bravery, loyalty, generosity, and honor are displayed repeatedly. Generosity and friendship were revealed in “Beowulf” with the arrival of Beowulf and his warriors. The arrival of Beowulf and his warriors signified generosity because they travelled to Herot to help relieve Hrothgar and his people from the threats of Grendel. Hrothgar also took this as a sign of friendship as seen in line 191, “’Beowulf, you’ve come to us in friendship’” (Beowulf).

 Loyalty, bravery, and honor were repeatedly highlighted throughout Beowulf, and very important to the development of the poem. Beowulf was a perfect example of bravery and honor. He displayed his bravery and the reason he should be honored in his boast to Unferth’s challenge in lines 266-267:“’No man swims in the sea/As I can, no strength is a match for mine’” (Beowulf).

The universal themes of bravery and honor/fame are universal and apply to every culture. In basically every culture, the value of bravery in a person remains and is important. Sometimes, this bravery can contribute to a person’s honor or fame, which is equally as important. In every culture, people either want to be brave, want be brave and honored, or want to obtain fame or honor in any way possible. Bravery and honor are revealed multiple times in Beowulf, especially in lines 308-310. “’Of sea-huge monsters I killed. What man/Anywhere under Heaven’s high arch, has fought/In such darkness, endured more misery, or been harder’” (Beowulf).