An Analysis of the Epic Poem, Beowulf - Social Codes in Beowulf Essay e

tender Codes in Beowulf In reading Beowulf, one squirtnot cooperate noticing the abundance of references to weapons and outfit throughout the text. Many passages involving weapons and armor contain all important(predicate) messages that the author is trying to convey. These passages involve the alternative to map or terminate from using harness, the behave of disarming oneself upon entering an new(prenominal)s abode, and the brain of a mans worth(predicate) cosmos mensural by his weapons. First, the theme of choosing to use, or not to use, weapons against an opposer seems to be a major issue in the work. On lead different occasions, when Beowulf fights Grendel, Grendels mother, and the dragon, the choice of whether or not to use weapons against a foeman is brought to the readers attention. In the events leaders up to the fight with Grendel, Beowulf says The monster in his precipitation cares not for weapons. thereof, so that my liege lord Hygelac may be smiling of me in his heart, I scorn to bear stigma but with my stab I shall make love with the enemy ... foe against foe. I claim myself no poorer in war-strength ... than Grendel claims himself. Therefore I will not put him to quiet with a sword . . . though surely I might. (32, 35) Beowulf knows he is evenly matched with Grendel, and that using a sword would make it an unfair contest because he would surely smite Grendel. By making the fight fair, Beowulf maintains his honor, which is the main idea of each of the other confrontations as well. In Beowulfs fight with Grendels mother, he engages her with Hrunting, Unferths sword, since she attacks him with a knife. When Beowulf decides to fight the dragon, he comments I... ...est represented by the passage in which Wiglaf, thane of Beowulf, makes the hardy statement It does not seem right to me for us to bear our shields home again unless we can first fell the foe, defend the life of the prince of the Weather-Geats (61). either three of the ideas involving arms are recurring images throughout Beowulf the choice to use or leave off from using arms, disarming oneself upon entering anothers home, and the worth of a man being measured by his weapons,. They all deal with discordant layers of respect, obviously a very important issue to the person of the beforehand(predicate) Middle Ages and give the reader an opportunity to understand an aspect of the chivalrous mind. Works Cited Beowulf. Trans. E. T. Donaldson, 1966. The Norton Anthology of face Literature. Ed. M.H. Abrams. 6th ed. Vol. 1. New York Norton, 1993. 2768. An Analysis of the Epic Poem, Beowulf - Social Codes in Beowulf canvas eSocial Codes in Beowulf In reading Beowulf, one cannot help noticing the abundance of references to weapons and armor throughout the text. Many passages involving weapons and armor contain important messages that the author is trying to convey. These passages involve the choice to use or refrain from using arms, the practice of disarming oneself upon entering anothers home, and the idea of a mans worth being measured by his weapons. First, the theme of choosing to use, or not to use, weapons against an adversary seems to be a major issue in the work. On three different occasions, when Beowulf fights Grendel, Grendels mother, and the dragon, the choice of whether or not to use weapons against a foe is brought to the readers attention. In the events leading up to the fight with Grendel, Beowulf says The monster in his recklessness cares not for weapons. Therefore, so that my liege lord Hygelac may be glad of me in his heart, I scorn to bear sword but with my grasp I shall grapple with the enemy ... foe against foe. I claim myself no poorer in war-strength ... than Grendel claims himself. Therefore I will not put him to sleep with a sword . . . though surely I might. (32, 35) Beowulf knows he is evenly matched with Grendel, and that using a sword would make it an unfair contest because he would surely defeat Grendel. By making the fight fair, Beowulf maintains his honor, which is the main idea of each of the other confrontations as well. In Beowulfs fight with Grendels mother, he engages her with Hrunting, Unferths sword, since she attacks him with a knife. When Beowulf decides to fight the dragon, he comments I... ...est represented by the passage in which Wiglaf, thane of Beowulf, makes the bold statement It does not seem right to me for us to bear our shields home again unless we can first fell the foe, defend the life of the prince of the Weather-Geats (61). All three of the ideas involving arms are recurring images throughout Beowulf the choice to use or refrain from using arms, disarming oneself upon entering anothers home, and the worth of a man being measured by his weapons,. They all deal with various layers of respect, obviously a very important issue to the person of the early Middle Ages and afford the reader an opportunity to understand an aspect of the medieval mind. Works Cited Beowulf. Trans. E. T. Donaldson, 1966. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Ed. M.H. Abrams. 6th ed. Vol. 1. New York Norton, 1993. 2768.