Beowulf led a honorable life. His life goal was either of two scenarios; one, to make himself look as good as possible before he died by preforming such heroic tasks or two, he simply did these honorable acts to make the world a better place. Either way, Beowulf made a difference in the lives of his people. Beowulf will die with a story, a legend.

"A path led underneath unknown to men.But a certain man stumbled on it,into the heathen hoard,and took a cup,a large, decorated treasure.The dragon did not hide his opinion of that deed;the neighboring people quickly learned his anger." A dragon is simply angry because a person came and stole his possessions from his own house. Anyone in this situation would be angry. If someone stole your private possessions how would you feel? This puts some controversy on whether it was right for Beowulf to go and defend his people. When his people where the one in the wrong. But Beowulf did not care. Something was threatening his people and he was going to do something abo0ut it.

Age does not pass anyone. In Beowulf's case, he does not seem to think his age is a factor. "He held it well, ruled fifty winters; he was an old land guardian."After these fifty winters, Beowulf steps up to the plate to try and defeat a dragon. "a dragon began to rule,he who guarded a hoard, a steep stone burial mound high on the heath." But why would Beowulf try and defeat this dragon at his old age? One word, loyalty. He knows this dragon is harming his people's way of life, therefore he wants to do something about it. Even if it takes his life. Why would he die in his sleep if he could die defeating a dragon? The chance was worth the risk.

Beowulf died and was honored as a heroic man. Year after year schools teach his story an I have not doubt why. It is a story of loyalty, love, and passion for life. Beowulf was a person who simply was loyal to the people he love and kept fighting for life at an old age. What more could you want in a person?

A hero is someone in my opinion who is doing the good whatever the motive. A hero can be a teacher, a writers,a firefighter, a tree hugger, a judge, anyone. Since the world we live in is so selfish we are not going to have many heroes. Nobody wants to make an effort to make someone else's life better when they can try and fix their own. Who needs help right?? Or simply in the day of age I live in, people do not know what the good of the people is anymore. Times were quite more simple in Beowulf's time where being strong would bring a person closer to being a hero. "But a warrior of Hygelac's heard of Grendel's doings;he was the strongest of men alive in that day,mighty and noble." These words describe Beowulf. First thought, strong and ready to make a change. But can you think of someone other than super heroes who have made a significant impact? Names that may come to mind are Mother Theresa, Gandhi, etc. These people made a change and it was a good one. Beowulf made changes also that benefit the world. Yet, most were not appreciated in their own time. However, Beowulf was shown his love he helped create among his people. The people appreciated his care and devotion to their way of living. Not many true heroes today get that small thing called appreciation. In today's world, a hero can come from anything, whether he or she is saving thousands of lives or saving a single tree. Everyone has the power to become a hero, yet many do not many pursue.

Beowulf is a story of a hero, Beowulf hence the title, saves a kingdom from a deadly foe. A kingdom which has been tortured by a outcast most er known as Grendel. In the Anglo-Saxon time period, war and protecting loved ones was a major influance of everyday life. Beowulf is described as "But a warrior of Hygelac's heard of Grendel's doings;he was the strongest of men alive in that day,mighty and noble." This is a perfect description of a warrior. Oral story tellers would of course make the warrior the strongest of men, mighty and noble for this is what a person would want in a warrior.


Loyalty was also a large role during the time fame of this story. Loyalty to the family, friends, and loved ones made a tremendous difference in the everyday lives of the Anglo-Saxons. "My father was a leader well known among the people: Edgtheow." Pride was taken in the family. As show above, Beowulf is proud of his father and his accomplishments. This therefore, drives Beowulf to do something amazing and heroic with his life. To try and live up to his father's and his own standard.

In the life of Beowulf, he welcome death if the time arises. He knows if he dies he would be known for the good and not the evil. And yet in the face of death he moves forward. This is an amazing virtue to have. "Each of us must await the end of this life. He who wishes will work for glory before death." This quote is very true to its word. The Anglo-Saxons incorporated the way people should be and what they should think and feel in their lives. And the readers followed it. Today, students world wide read this story of Beowulf. You can gain from anything you read. It is they way you take in what you are reading that makes the difference. The Anglo-Saxons knew this. What way would be better than to produce something everyone enjoys, a good story.

The ancient bed-time story, Beowulf, captures the essence of the Anglo-Saxon time period and incorporates ideas of the super natural. A story combined with good and evil fighting till death. A death both good and evil will welcome due to the extreme loyalty both creatures have.

Many reflections of the Anglo-Saxon period are shown within the story of Beowulf. The main reflection is the life of the warrior. Protection is needed from the risk of invaders in England hence stories of warriors seemed to be more attractive than stories of romance or love. Horror and bravery are the focus of the story Beowulf. The Anglo-Saxons worship two main gods; Odin, the god of death, poetry and magic and Thor, the god of war and protector of each warrior's eternal resting spot and treasure. Later monks added Christianity to the stories as they were being recorded. The Christan monks were first to take away from the tradition of the Anglo-Saxon's oral story telling.

From beginning to end, the story is filled with description and depth. In the episode, Beowulf hears of Grendel, descriptions such as the follow were easy on the eye of imagination. "on the waves under the cliffs and the warriors stood at the prow as the water wound against the sand. The word flow and variations in this story are very nice to follow as you read. During battles the descriptions were mind catching. Told with great detail of blood and horror. "but set about seizing a sleeping warrior unawares and bit into his bone locks,drinking the streams of blood,then swallowing huge morsels of flesh. Quickly he ate that man,even to his hands and feet." These words explain what horror Grendel has put on a man and this is how it unfortunately happened. But have no fear, Beowulf will save the day. Quickly Beowulf over powering Grendel scares the monster back to his lair.


"Ignorance is bliss" is not the case in Grendel. Poor Grendel was rised by a huge dragon mother. Of course he is a monster in the everyday person's life. Especially since Grendel meals were the people under Hrothgar reign. Hrothgar was bound to find a way to take back power. Little did Grendel know soon he would hang high within the walls of Herot.


The story of Beowulf has been and always will be a good classic story to read. Reading this story is very capturing and engages me into a time period every time I read it. From the way it was written to the references of the Anglo- Saxon time period, Beowulf is a stretch of the imagination. A stretch everyone should have.