Beowulf LRJ #2

Roberto Sande Carmona
Ms.Peifer 10 IB English
Period 5
8th of December, 2008

1. Values

One thing that the characters seem to hold close is friendship. Especially for someone whom wields a large influence or power, like Hrothgar. After his friend Aeschere is taken by Grendel's hag of a mother, the king seems to take a blow that truly collapses his morale.

He[Aeschere] was Yrmenlaf's elder brother/and a soul-mate to me, a true mentor,/my right-hand man when the ranks clashed/and our boar-crests had to take a battering in the line of action. Aeschere was everything/ the world admires in a wise man and a friend. (Heaney 1324-1329)

Often times it is quarreled over weather someone high in the hierarchy of a society should keep ones away or close to him. It is evident that for these strong people, or at least for their ruler, Aeschere was his nearest confidant. The posthumous recognition of Aeschere and impacting words utilized by Hrothgar, make this clear.
However, along with this ideal is that of Beowulf's value of hardened emotions. He tells Hrothgar, "Bear up/an be the man I expect you to be"(95-96). As one of my astute colleagues so put it, " Beowulf tells Hrothgar to put his man-pants on."
This represents the machismo-swayed culture. It is evidence of their beliefs of tough, emotionless warriors as the infra-structure of their societies.

2. Surrealism
One part that although may not exactly be named surreal that seem somewhat unbelievable was that of the quote stated above, where Beowulf tells the king to "bear-up." In these epics, anybody telling the king what to do in such direct terms seems outlandish. But then again that is the very definition of Beowulf as a man. This short instance carries withing itself the entire plot, that of the protagonist's awesomeness. This cuts it clear for the audience, that Beowulf is a character believed to have the power to do essentially anything he feels fit.
Beowulf is the king. He is the absolute power in this time and in this story. For people in this time he was nearly a religious image, something so incomprehensible and unattainable that it provided basically the same surrealism.

3. Favorite Quote

My favorite quote form the passage I have already referenced; where Beowulf tells the King Hrothgar, "Bear up and be the man expect you to be"(95-96). Like stated before, this, in an ancient epic seems so blasphemous that it really sparked thought and debate within myself. To me it was the sentence with most meaning in this section if not from all the sections we read.
Although it does not provide any information about the happenings in the story, to me it really defines Beowulf, and in that it defines the entire story.