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What are the values of Beowulf the Geat?
and the values that they all share, which is importantly explained in the Finn episode. This also foreshadows the end of the poem, with the Geat’s enemies massing at their borders, with Beowulf dead. The tale mainly focuses on a Danish attack on the Frisians, made more complicated by the fact that the King of the Frisians, Finn is married to Hildeburh, a Danish princess. The Danish attack is indecisive and so a truce is signed. The Danes soon become bored and homesick and decide to ambush the Frisians:
“The fate they had suffered, all blamed on Finn. The wildness in them had to brim over. The hall ran red with blood of enemies.”
The Finn episode is important because it highlights what has already happened and what will happen. On line 498, the Geats and Danes are mentioned together in a positive way, but we have just seen how they can betray and kill. Furthermore, the poet is also commenting on the lack of civilised behaviour (or lack of Christianity), in them, for example ‘the wildness.’
However, the poet is quick to re-iterate the positive values of Beowulf, as he comes to fight Grendel’s mother. Just before he goes into the water, Beowulf shows another of his values:
“It is always better to avenge dear ones than to indulge in mourning.”
Again this is showing that Beowulf is a fighter, and also that he is part of the society that he exists in. It seems clear that he could quite easily have been a character in the Finn episode, if he could have been persuaded that he was fighting for honour or conquest.
The failure of Unferth’s sword Hrunting, in the battle with Beowulf and Grendel’s mother is perhaps significant. The sword it is claimed “had never failed the hand of anyone who hefted it I battle,” and before he leaves Beowulf says, “With Hrunting I shall gain glory or die.” The failure of Hrunting in many ways represents the failure of Beowulf’s values and the warrior culture he exists in. Importantly though he is able to rise above this crippling failure and continues to fight. When Beowulf is saved, it is not by himself, but by god, giving him the ancient giant’s sword, which he kills Grendel’s mother with. This intervention by god demonstrates the element of fate that both Beowulf beliefs in and the tangible element of it that the poet incorporates into the poem. Obviously it is something that becomes very important in the fight with the dragon at the end.
King Hrothgar reflects on Beowulf’s values before he leaves to travel across the sea;
“A protector of his people, pledged to uphold truth and justice and to respect tradition.”
Although once again we see the hero’s strengths are given a dark sense of foreboding, as two thoughts enter King Hrothgar’s mind as Beowulf leaves:
“But one was stronger: Nevermore would they meet each other face to face.”
And with that, Beowulf and his men sail the seas and return to their home. When Beowulf gets back he [next page]