JOURNEY 6

I consider loyalty to be a fundamental value that implies a commitment and fidelity to someone
or something. For me, loyalty means keeping my commitments and staying true to my values and
principles. I have had positive experiences with loyalty in my personal and professional life. For
example, I have maintained a commitment to my daughters to provide them with a better quality
of life, which has strengthened our relationship. I have also applied loyalty in my work career,
which has allowed me to stay in the companies where I have worked for more than 6 years. In
my analysis, I believe that loyalty is an important value that can build trust and stability in our
personal and professional relationships. By keeping our commitments and being loyal, we can
strengthen our relationships and create an environment of trust and respect. In short, loyalty is
a core value that can have a positive impact on our lives.

In my opinion, loyalty is a fundamental value that involves a commitment and fidelity to someone
or something. For me, loyalty means keeping my commitments and staying true to my values and
principles. In the epic poem "Beowulf," the importance of loyalty is illustrated through the actions
and relationships of the characters. Beowulf himself demonstrates unwavering loyalty to his king,
Hrothgar, by volunteering to confront the monster Grendel and protect the kingdom of Hrothgar.
In addition, Beowulf's loyalty to his own king, Hygelac, is reflected in his valiant pursuit of glory
and honor for his lord. Likewise, the loyalty of Beowulf's warriors, who accompany him in his
perilous enterprise, exemplifies the importance of this value in the context of the society
depicted in the poem. In analysis, these examples from the poem "Beowulf" illustrate how loyalty
is a central theme in the epic and how the characters demonstrate their commitment and fidelity
to their leaders and peers. The connection to my view of loyalty lies in the idea of keeping
commitments, being true to one's values and principles, and demonstrating loyalty to those one
serves or has a bond with. These examples from the poem reinforce the importance of loyalty in
personal relationships and in the context of society depicted in "Beowulf."

The examples in the poem "Beowulf" support my idea of loyalty by illustrating how characters
demonstrate an unwavering commitment to their leaders and peers. Beowulf shows loyalty by
offering to confront Grendel and protect the kingdom of Hrothgar, proving his loyalty to his king.
Likewise, Beowulf's quest for glory and honor on behalf of his king, Hygelac, reflects his
commitment to loyalty to his lord. The warriors who accompany Beowulf in his enterprise also
exemplify the importance of loyalty by courageously supporting their leader in a dangerous task.
These examples reinforce the importance of loyalty in everyday life, showing how maintaining
commitments and being true to values and principles can strengthen relationships and build trust
and stability both personally and in the social context.
Beowulf Reading Guide

The Coming of Beowulf

1. How is Beowulf first introduced? How does this establish our expectations for the story?

Beowulf is first introduced as a brave and powerful warrior who has gained fame in his youth for
his exploits in battle. When he arrives at King Hrothgar's court, he introduces himself as a warrior
from King Hygelac's court and offers his help in defeating the monster Grendel. This presentation
sets our expectations for the story, as we expect to see Beowulf facing ever-increasing challenges
and demonstrating his bravery and skills as a warrior. We also look forward to seeing how
Beowulf takes on Grendel and how the battle between them plays out.

2. Why is the Danish watchman immediately suspicious of Beowulf’s arrival?

The Danish watchman is immediately suspicious of the arrival of Beowulf and his men because
their unexpected arrival with a large number of warriors and their battle gear suggests that they
could be a threat to the kingdom. The watchman is worried about the possibility that they are
spies or invaders, as they don't have permission from the Danes to be there. His duty is to protect
the kingdom from any possible threat, so he approaches Beowulf and his men to find out who
they are and what their purpose is in the kingdom.

3. How is Beowulf able to convince the watchman that they are trustworthy?

Beowulf can convince the watcher that they are trustworthy by presenting himself and his men
as loyal warriors of King Hygelac, and explaining that their mission is to help King Hrothgar defeat
the monster Grendel. Beowulf also tells the watchman that they have no hostile intentions and
are willing to follow the rules and customs of the kingdom. In addition, Beowulf shows his bravery
and skills as a warrior by telling the watchman about his past exploits, such as the time he killed
five nicors at sea. All of this helps convince the watchman that Beowulf and his men are
trustworthy and deserve to be welcomed into the kingdom.
 4. The watchman responds to Beowulf’s statement by saying: “A soldier should know the
difference between words/And deeds, and keep that knowledge clear/In his brain. I
believe your words, I trust in/Your friendship.” What does the watchman mean by this
response?

The sentinel is saying that while he believes in Beowulf's words and trusts in his friendship, he
also knows that words can be deceitful and that it is important for warriors to back up their words
with actions. The sentinel is saying that although he has accepted the explanation of Beowulf and
his men, he will remain cautious and watch for any signs that they may be a threat to the
kingdom.

What is Wulfgar’s assessment of Beowulf and his men? Upon what information does
Wulfgar base this assessment?

Wulfgar, the chief of the Wendles, evaluates Beowulf and his men positively and presents them
to King Hrothgar as brave and trustworthy warriors. Wulfgar bases this assessment on the
information Beowulf has provided him about his mission and his loyalty to King Hygelac. In
addition, Wulfgar has witnessed the arrival of Beowulf and his men in their battle gear and has
seen their readiness to face any challenge. All of this leads Wulfgar to believe that Beowulf and
his men are brave and honorable warriors who can help King Hrothgar defeat the monster
Grendel.

5. How does Hrothgar respond to Wulfgar’s request to meet with Beowulf? What do we
learn about Hrothgar through his response?

Hrothgar responds positively to Wulfgar's request to meet with Beowulf and his men. Hrothgar
shows his hospitality and respect for warriors by inviting them into his hall and offering his
protection. In addition, Hrothgar shows his wisdom and his ability to recognize the courage of
warriors by praising Beowulf for his bravery and skills as a warrior. Through his answer, we learn
that Hrothgar is a wise and generous king who values loyalty and bravery in his warriors. We also
learn that Hrothgar is willing to accept the help of others to protect his realm and is grateful to
those who are willing to risk their lives for his cause.
 6. How does Beowulf brag about himself when he speaks to Hrothgar for the first time? Why
does Beowulf do this?

When Beowulf speaks to Hrothgar for the first time, he brags about himself by telling the king
about his past exploits, such as the time he killed five nicors at sea and his willingness to face the
monster Grendel without weapons or shields. Beowulf does this to demonstrate his bravery and
skills as a warrior, and to gain the trust and respect of King Hrothgar. Beowulf knows that his
mission is dangerous and that he needs the help and support of the king and his people to
succeed. By boasting about himself, Beowulf hopes to impress the king and gain his trust and
support for his mission. In addition, Beowulf believes that it is important for warriors to
demonstrate their bravery and skills in order to earn the respect and admiration of others.

7. What device is contained in the line, “O shelterer of warriors and your people’s loved
friend”? Why does Beowulf address Hrothgar with these words?

The line "O shelterer of the warriors and the beloved friend of his people" contains a literary
device known as "kenning". A kenning is a common figure of speech in Germanic epic poetry, in
which compound metaphors are used to describe something in a poetic and figurative way. In
this case, "shelterer of warriors" and "beloved friend of his people" are kennings that refer to
Hrothgar as a protective and beloved leader of his people.

Beowulf addresses Hrothgar with these words to show his respect and admiration for the king.
By using kennings to describe Hrothgar, Beowulf praises the king's position and role as the
protector and beloved leader of his people. This form of poetic expression highlights Hrothgar's
importance as a valuable and beloved leader, and shows Beowulf's respect and deference to him.

8. Why does Beowulf decide not to use weapons against the monster, Grendel?

Beowulf decides not to use weapons against the monster Grendel in order to demonstrate his
bravery, skill, and supernatural strength. Facing Grendel unarmed, Beowulf seeks to show his
prowess and bravery as a warrior, as well as his confidence in his own abilities. This decision also
highlights the heroic nature of Beowulf, as he is willing to face such a formidable challenge
without relying on conventional weapons. In addition, by facing each other unarmed, Beowulf
seeks to level the playing field and prove that he is capable of defeating Grendel with his own
physical abilities, which would increase his fame and reputation as a brave and powerful hero.
 9. Why does Hrothgar agree to allow Beowulf to fight the evil monster, Grendel?

Hrothgar agrees to allow Beowulf to fight the evil monster Grendel, because he has heard of
Beowulf's bravery and skills as a warrior. Furthermore, Hrothgar is desperate to find a solution
to the problem Grendel poses to his kingdom, as the monster has been terrorizing his people for
a long time. Upon learning of Beowulf's bravery and abilities, Hrothgar sees in him the hope of
ridding his kingdom of Grendel's threat. Therefore, Hrothgar agrees to allow Beowulf to fight
Grendel because he sees in him the potential to end the monster's reign of terror and protect his
people.