Epic poetry usually embodies the attitudes and ideals of an entire culture. There are many important aspects of life that are valued and weighed differently from culture to culture. The Anglo-Saxon society places strong emphasis on ethics. They were more concerned with ethics than mysticism such as earthly virtues of bravery, loyalty, generosity, and friendship. The ideology of bravery is highly regarded in the Anglo-Saxon society. Beowulf, a significant icon in the Anglo-Saxon society, was viewed as an individual that possess all of the values each Anglo-Saxon should possessed. He displayed courage by going to Herot and volunteered to eliminate Grendel, the monster who was terrorizing the city. Beowulf was not a citizen of this nation, but he set sail across the sea to come with help. This is applauded within the Anglo-Saxon society. It is because he was generous enough to show true friendship and helped another nation amidst a dilemma. In spite of all the dangers he and his men faced, they remained loyal to their promise of helping Herot. When Grendel attacked the mead hall, with some of their men killed by Grendel, they did not run away, but stayed and continued to fight. The dedication displayed by the men, propelled by the values they lived by, caused them to become iconic in the eyes of the Anglo-Saxon society.
The universal themes of these views are the tension between good and evil and identifying life through a cultural heroic code or value system. The idea of good versus evil is constantly depicted within the epic. It ranges from the battle between Beowulf and Grendel to Beowulf and Grendel’s mother. The Grendel’s evilness represents temptations in life that lead a person to perform bad deeds, while Beowulf bravery represents the courage a person has in time of difficulties. The idea of life through a heroic code or value system is not to be left unnoticed within the epic. Beowulf and his men are the solid symbols of true Anglo-Saxons. They possessed all of the qualities of a true Anglo-Saxon who dedicated his life to helping others and defending goodness. All of the character’s moral judgments are based upon the view of society. Their actions tend to be a depiction or violation of the typical norms of the society they reside. If society does not support the action as being brave, generous, or loyal; then the person is not living under the values of the society. In order to assimilate to the culture, one must display the values that the society revolves around.
The universal themes of these views are the tension between good and evil and identifying life through a cultural heroic code or value system. The idea of good versus evil is constantly depicted within the epic. It ranges from the battle between Beowulf and Grendel to Beowulf and Grendel’s mother. The Grendel’s evilness represents temptations in life that lead a person to perform bad deeds, while Beowulf bravery represents the courage a person has in time of difficulties. The idea of life through a heroic code or value system is not to be left unnoticed within the epic. Beowulf and his men are the solid symbols of true Anglo-Saxons. They possessed all of the qualities of a true Anglo-Saxon who dedicated his life to helping others and defending goodness. All of the character’s moral judgments are based upon the view of society. Their actions tend to be a depiction or violation of the typical norms of the society they reside. If society does not support the action as being brave, generous, or loyal; then the person is not living under the values of the society. In order to assimilate to the culture, one must display the values that the society revolves around.
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