The Heroic Code: How Did Beowulf Represent the Epic Hero?
The heroic code was a set of values and ways to act in a warrior society. Even if you’ve never heard of the heroic code before, you can certainly imagine it: pride, chivalry, victory and more. Beowulf is a famous epic poem written in Old English that perfectly exemplifies the heroic code.
Read on to find out exactly how.
What is the Heroic Code in Beowulf?
The Beowulf heroic code, or the Germanic code or Anglo-Saxon heroic code, is shown through the focus on loyalty, bravery, victory in battle, ancestry, pride, and more. There is a code of behavior for all the characters within the poem.
Where warriors must be brave and give of themselves to a cause to be classified as noble. Women, on the other hand, must be traditional and follow ceremonial patterns as taught.
Death by fighting for a cause one believed in, was considered a good thing. As an example to the latter, loyalty to family in terms of ancestry and valiancy were also part of the heroic code. As you read the poem, you can vividly see how Beowulf aligns himself perfectly with the heroic code. All his decisions, as well as the decisions of others, were made to fit within the code precisely.
J.R.R. Tolkien, a scholar of literature from this time period, also known for being the author of The Lord of the Rings, completed his own translation of Beowulf. He even wrote about both the poem and the heroic code, stating that the aspects of the heroic code in this poem included:
- Physical strength and courage/bravery
- Hating humiliation and refusing to be cowed
- Pride
- Individualism
- The duty and joy of getting one’s revenge
While today in stories about heroes, they have strengths and weaknesses, and many times, like in The Avengers, many have to work together. Contrary to this, Beowulf was the perfect hero, being able to do everything, needing no one to help him accomplish his goals.
Physical Strength, Courage and Pride in Beowulf, Fitting the Heroic Code
To begin with, a warrior following the Anglo-Saxon code of honor must be leading, strong, and courageous. In spite of that the male warriors today, enjoy proving their strength through battle in one form or another.
Proving and showing their strength to others, portraying that they fit in, and also validating their strength to themselves. The warriors at Beowulf’s time were obliged to fit in with the heroic code of the time and the specific mandates.
There are many examples of Beowulf’s physical strength throughout the poem. Looking at the example, how he swam across the vast sea carrying thirty sets of armor with him.
The poem highlights descriptive and imaginative aspects, so that the task would seem impossible, but only a powerful warrior like Beowulf would most certainly be able to do it. Nonetheless, he himself even discusses about both his own strength and power as he narrates about how he battled with Grendel, the bloodthirsty monster.
Beowulf states, “Often, for undaunted courage, Fate spares the man it has not already marked. However it had occurred, my sword had killed Nine sea monsters.” He not only mentions his courage, but also the skill he had with a blade. He even taunts another man about his lack of competence and courage when he says, “I don’t boast when I say That neither you nor Breca ever were much Celebrated for swordsmanship Or for facing danger in the battlefield.”
Beowulf and The Heroic Code: Refusing to Be Humiliated
Even if there are some readers both in and out of the poem, who don’t see Beowulf as perfect, however, it is an important note that Beowulf refused to be humiliated. For example, when Beowulf arrives at the Danes and King Hrothgar to offer his services, a jealous young man named Unferth insults him with the past.
Claiming that Beowulf attempted a swimming contest against another man named Breca just because of his vanity. Unferth believes that there is no way that Beowulf will be able to defeat Grendel because no one else was keen enough.
Beowulf, being his brave self, was quick to respond to Unferth. As he states, “Well, friend Unferth, you have had your say About Breca and me. But it was mostly beer That was doing the talking. The truth is this: When the going was heavy in those high waves, I was the strongest swimmer of all.” He goes on explaining in many more lines just how well he will accomplish the task to kill the monster, and of course, he will not be humiliated by any fool.
The Heroic Code in Beowulf and the Contradicting Elements of Christianity
Depending on the translation, and there were many, there was a mixture of both Christian and pagan elements in Beowulf. Christianity became popular in the area in the 11th century, around the later time of the poem’s origin date. It was a transition period between the pagan times and the new growth of Christianity, which later became Europe’s main religion. Beowulf might be seen as a literary work that mixed both of those religious elements.
In some cases, the pagan elements featured in Beowulf being related to the heroic code could be construed as Christian elements. The ideas in Christianity are present as well when it comes to fighting for what is right, loyalty and pursuit of noble goals. Nonetheless, the heroic code, in general, can be seen as decidedly pagan. Overall, it’s about fighting for one’s own glory, earning treasure as a reward as well as honor.
Christianity’s focus is about doing the right thing in this life so that you will be given honor in kingdom come. There is a shedding of light on violence in the story, and getting even with one’s enemies. After all, Christianity teaches that we must forgive and ‘turn the other cheek.’ Just as the author of this poem tries to mix the two sides, hoping to find a balance between them.
What is Beowulf: The Background to the Famous Epic Warrior Hero
Beowulf is a poem anonymously written between 975 and 1025. It was written in Old English, but it takes place in Scandinavia. It represented the type of writing and the type of characters that were popular at the time. It’s written in a unique way without a focus on rhyme, selecting alliteration instead to be its focus.
The main hero is Beowulf, a warrior who comes across the sea to help the Danes fight a brutal monster named Grendel. He defeats the bloodthirsty monster, has to face the monster’s mother, and he defeats her as well. He is hailed as a hero and becomes king in his own country. Later in his life, he fights against a dragon, defeats him, but Beowulf becomes a martyr at the end.
Beowulf is the perfect example of an epic hero, and he also perfectly represents the heroic code. In this poem, he portrays the usual attributes of a warrior following the warrior code in Beowulf.
Conclusion
Take a look at the main points about the heroic code in Beowulf listed below.
- Beowulf is a poem written between 975 and 1025, written in Old English, 6th century Scandinavia.
- The poem was likely originally an orally told tale but later written down and translated many times.
- Believing in his strength, and he seeks glory, he slays the monster and the monster’s mother, and he becomes a hero, as per the Germanic heroic code.
- It was a set of values and attributes that were focused on and necessary for warrior heroes in the time period.
- The heroic code includes aspects like courage, strength, valiancy, valor, pride, refusing humiliation, revenge, loyalty…
- In Beowulf, the elements attached to the heroic code could be seen as both pagan and Christian, as the author wanted to include aspects of both religions into it.
- The Christian elements are fighting for what is right and being loyal to others
- The pagan elements go against Christianity: seeking revenge, using violence and seeking honor and reward in this life
Beowulf is one of the most important works of literature in Old English because it highlights perfectly the example of a hero and the heroic code at that time. The heroic code was a way of life for warrior society, and it gives us a glimpse of what the past seemed to be like in certain societies. But even now people still seek glory, still hate humiliation, and we like to take pride in what we do, so have things really changed?
