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Theme Of Reputation In Beowulf

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Beowulf is one of the oldest scripts known to mankind. Overall, the Beowulf poem is about a hero whom has the strength of thirty men in one arm. In this Anglo-Saxon tale, the unknown authored had a never ending theme of reputation. According to Dictionary.com, reputation can be defined as “the estimation in which a person or thing is held, especially by the community or the public generally.” Fast forward to today’s age, reputation is a big component in an everyday life setting. Someone’s reputation can either make or break them. Reputation, today, can also be classified as individualism, or someone’s independence. “Commentary on the List of Basic American Values” is L. Robert Kohls’ way of addressing how American’s reputation is essential …show more content…

It has been dissected multiple times and deconstructed in every way possible. Literary scholars conclude that the epic poem was placed in Scandinavia, between the years of 500 A.D. and 1000 A.D. (SparkNotes.com, “Beowulf”). The tale surrounds the life of a epic hero named Beowulf. From the beginning, Beowulf is immediately verbally attacked by Unferth. He claims that Beowulf has lost the swimming competition between him and Breca. This affects Beowulf because his reputation is vital to him. Beowulf fires back with a reminder that Unferth killed his own kin. “[...] and the forthright Unferth, admired by all for his mind and courage, although under a cloud for killing his brothers, reclined near the king” (1164-1167). To prove himself, Beowulf informs the King Hrothgar of his new expedition, killing Grendel. “Grendel was the name of this grim demon haunting the marches, marauding round the heath and the desolate fens; he had dwelt for a time in misery among the banished monsters, Cain's clan, whom the creator had outlawed and condemned as outcasts.” (Beowulf, 102). Basically, Grendel was constantly a threat to the community, which is why it was quite a task to rid of him. Eventually, Beowulf kills nine sea monsters and faces his battle with Grendel. When he murders Grendel, he leaves all the materialistic treasures and only takes the most valuable thing to him, Grendel’s head. By the end of the poem, Beowulf is established as a courageous, prideful and an overall hero. Reputation to Beowulf was very critical because he didn’t want to be seen as anything less than the

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