A Man Of His Word(Beowulf)

A Man of his Word

The heroic boast is an important theme shown in Beowulf. Back in the a days in which

Beowulf takes place; the only way a man can show how big and strong he is, is by having big

talk. Since communication of information between tribes and clans is slow and unreliable, there

is not a way to prove of what a man says is false. Beowulf, a mighty Geat warrior, arrives with

some men in Herorot, to slay the beast Grendel. Beowulf boasts that he, "singlehandedly defeated

more than a hundred men in [his] time,"(316). Hrothgar and his people are already familiar with

the reputation that proceeds Beowulf. Even though his reputation is in such high regard, he still

gives a heroic boast to show that what they believe him to be is true. His boast raises the people's

spirit. Another reason why he boasts is to build the pride of the befallen people of Herorot. They

suffer because of Grendel's endless attacks. They felt that there was nothing they could do to stop

the beast, and Beowulf's boast is what gives the people hope. Merriam Webster defines "boast"

as "a cause for pride". He boasts to give the people of Herorot pride, enough pride to believe in

Beowulf's skill. It seems necessary to build their confidence, so that they will trust Beowulf to

slay