Studying Beowulf in Correlation with Modern Society

Beowulf, whom seemingly lives up to heroic standards in epic poetry, is a character that some may refer to as swaggerer. In society, a person who boasts about all their accolades or seemingly prominent accomplishments is looked down upon as arrogant and conceited. Parents in many cultures put forth a magnitude of effort to raise their children to be meek and humble. Boasting is an extremely negative connotation in the means of society today. Comparable to today’s society, Boasting in Beowulf is ideal to the author in attempt to attain the support of the reader and society as a whole. It allows the reader to understand the true strengths and capabilities of Beowulf.

Beowulf is a story in which Beowulf himself makes extraordinary claims and boasts about himself, driving him to go to extreme lengths to live up to his word. Beowulf cannot fail and will not fail and it is proven. No challenge that steps in the way of Beowulf is too much to handle; Beowulf is the ideal hero. Beowulf has done it all; came from nothing, fought the odds and has proved why he is one of the most respected heroes of all time and does not forget to tell people why he is the best.

Beowulf, the hero of the Geats, has an exemplary style of discourse in which is used to provide a source of validity to his character. This style of writing also helps to provide insight into what Anglo Saxon people thought of people in society as a whole. The way Beowulf was written, forces the Anglo Saxon people to admire and aspire to be Beowulf. Beowulf was not just the most prominent hero of his time he was a "prince of goodness " (676). Beowulf intends to win a wrestling match to win them over and show his brute strength and power but that is not all, he is going to "ease their afflictions"

The use of imagery, sentence structure and dramatic phrasing brings the story to life, allowing the reader to believe the importance of the story. “And so, my request, O king of Bright-Danes, dear prince of the Shieldings, friend of the people and their ring of defence, my one request is that you won't refuse me, who have come this far, the privilege of purifying Heorot, with my own men to help me, and nobody else.”

Studying Beowulf in correlation with modern society reveals several important similarities. One such likeness lies between Beowulf’s style of discourse and the behavior expected of modern public figures. Our modern political process places a high value on past experience.