culture courage was one of there most important values. In the poem Beowulf overflows with courage. When he arrives with his men, the coast guard, who even in the darkness can feel Beowulfs courage, stops them. He says bravery not banishment, must have brought you to Grothgar(p.25). This shows that Beowulfs bravery does not go unnoticed. A second showing of Beowulfs courage is when he is pleading with the king for the chance to fight Grendel. He says, I have suffered extremes and avenged the Geats. Now I mean to be a match for Grendel, settle the outcome in single combat.(p.29). This powerful declaration shows that Beowulf will show no fear and go with courage into his fight with Grendel. A third statement that shows his courage and gives insight into the root of his bravery is when he is preparing to go after Grendels mother. Here Beowulf states that for every one of us living in this world means waiting for our end. Let whoever can win glory before death. When a warrior is gone, that will be his best and only bulwark. This basically defines the reason behind the Anglo-Saxons value of courage, a trait in which Beowulf obviously whole-heartedly embodies.The time period in which this poem was meant to take place is one much different from our own. In this time the ideas of loyalty, courage and strength meant more than they do today. There are not as many loyalties amongst people outside of the family such as the allegiance between Hrothgar and Beowulf, a loyalty that Beowulf was willing to die for. Nor in this time are people of great strength and war heroes the most respected in the land. And lastly courageousness, such as Beowulfs, is often overshadowed or taken for granted. With these things in mind I believe that while reading Beowulf, people may want to adopt some of these age old Anglo-Saxon ideals that the hero embodies, or at least give them some thought....
