Masculinity In Beowulf - 1745 Words

Masculinity Past vs. Present Did you know there is a great controversy with today’s society, putting men over women? It is sparking debates across the world on why men are thought to be stronger and be able to do more activities than women. There is an ongoing debate between men and women on equality. Beowulf and contemporary culture assert their masculinity through physical strength, financial wealth, honor, perseverance, reputation, and intelligence. In Beowulf’s Society, physical strength was thought of a man who could conquer anything that he would be faced with, such as a monster like Grendel. Another example from Beowulf, is when he says to Unferth â€Å"I was the strongest swimmer of all† (Heaney 534). This shows that Beowulf was†¦show more content†¦Another important thing is talking about how financial wealth plays a role in masculinity. Financial wealth played a vital role in Beowulf’s society, such as when Shield Sheafson had all of that treasure buried with him when he died, â€Å"Far-fetched treasures were piled upon him, and precious gear† (Heaney 36-37). In Biblical times, masculinity was also associated with having wealth in order to support his household, â€Å"But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.† (New International Version, 1 Tim. 5.8). Now in today’s culture, men are associated with having the most money in the household. This is most definitely true, because there have been studies that show there is a wage gap between men and women, â€Å"2016, women working full time in the United States typically were paid just 80 percent of what men were paid, a gap of 20 percent† (Miller, â€Å"The Simple Truth about the Gender Pay Gap†). There is a vast difference betwe en Beowulf’s culture and ours, it’s the fact that women now pursue a higher education to achieve a more successful life than just letting a man making more money stop them and women also work outside of the house now, â€Å"Women are graduating from college and attending graduate schools at higher rates than men† (Adamczyk 2016). Overall, men being put in charge of money have changed in a great deal over the years,Show MoreRelatedMasculinity In Beowulf1977 Words   |  8 Pages Competition and fear of emasculation (castration): two phrases commonly associated with men and their struggle for excellence even in today’s society; however, there is more to this absurd idea of masculinity than what one might accept at face-value. Back before 700 AD, the Jutes, Angles, and Saxons ruled small, individual kingdoms across a portion of what we call Europe. Their only uniting factor was a collective fear of invasion from foreign enemies which would usually result in massive bloodshedRead MoreBeowulf Is Not Your Average Viking Warrior1498 Words   |  6 Pagesimages in medieval literature capture masculinity as well as the sword. Its phallic shape and use of dealing harm by penetrating your foe make it the ultimate allusion to the male anatomy. However, in this battle between Grendel’s mother and Beowulf, our hero’s sword cannot seem to perform its intended function. This failed display of masculinity by Beowulf is only one of many that suggest that he is not your average Viking warrior. The Beowulf poet in, Beowulf, challenges the idea of a womanizingRead MoreEssay on Womens Role in Beowulf1707 Words   |  7 PagesWealhtheow: The Role of Women in Beowulf Beowulf is an epic tale written over twelve hundred years ago. In the poem, several different female characters are introduced, and each woman possesses detailed and unique characteristics. The women in Beowulf are portrayed as strong individuals, each of whom has a specific role within the poem. Some women are cast as the cup-bearers and gracious hostesses of the mead halls, such as Wealhtheow and Hygd, while others, Grendels mother, fulfill the roleRead MoreThe Religious Principles Of Beowulf1236 Words   |  5 PagesSyncretism is defined as the combination of different beliefs or practices. This term is an important topic within Beowulf, since the poem has obviously united two religious principles. Beowulf is dedicated to expressing and explaining the Germanic heroic code, but there are specific moments when Christianity and paganism over laps. Though Paganism focuses on victory, honor, and masculinity the author manages to add the act of forgiving your enemies, the significan ce of the monsters within the poem andRead MoreEssay on The Role of Women in Beowulf1640 Words   |  7 PagesThe Role of Women in Beowulf Beowulf is an epic tale written over twelve hundred years ago. In the poem, several different female characters are introduced, and each woman possesses detailed and unique characteristics. The women in Beowulf are portrayed as strong individuals, each of whom has a specific role within the poem. Some women are cast as the cup-bearers and gracious hostesses of the mead halls, such as Wealhtheow and Hygd, while others, Grendels mother, fulfill the role of a monstrousRead MoreAnglo Saxon Mother And Grendels Roles Of Anglo-Saxon Women922 Words   |  4 PagesAnglo-Saxon women had specific roles in society: mother, wife, hostess, mediator, and retainer. Any woman that did not fit in this societal mold was rejected and considered unfeminine, which, at the time, was synonymous with monstrous. In Beowulf, Grendel’s mother is characterized as a monster because of her defiance of Anglo-Saxon gender roles and failure to follow the social expectation of hospitality, which is enhanced by her juxtaposition to Wealhtheow. Grendel’s mother challenges the rolesRead MoreA Comparison Of Thor And Beowulf728 Words   |  3 Pages Beowulf has delighted and intrigued a wide array of people for centuries. The timeless nature is visible in modern-day extensions of this epic, through heroics and battles of good versus malevolent forces. Beowulf continues to appeal to sophisticated audiences because it tells the story of a great hero prevailing over evil, a timeless theme valued by society and portrayed by his counterparts in modern media, although these new heroes display more complex qualities. Beowulf can be compared to MarvelRead MoreBeowulf: An Intersection of Christian and Pagan Ideals688 Words   |  3 Pages Beowulf: An intersection of Christian and pagan ideals The epic poem Beowulf is the story of a great, ideal hero of Anglo-Saxon, pre-Christian culture transposed into Christian times. It stands on a crossroads of literature: on one hand, it is not written in conventional, standard English and unlike Chaucer it requires a modern translation for a contemporary reader to comprehend it. On the other hand, its essential themes reoccur time and time again in English literature. Its pagan roots areRead MoreMasculinity : Portrayal Of Masculinity2222 Words   |  9 Pages‘Masculinity refers to the social roles, behaviours, and meanings prescribed for men in any given society at any one time†¦ Although we experience gender to be an internal facet of identity, the concept of masculinity is produced within the institutions of society and through our daily interactions (Kimmel 2000)’ . As the type of behaviour and ideals that constitute as masculine vary depending on the social context of the time, the portrayal of masculinity in B eowulf and SGGK (Sir Gawain and theRead MoreAnalysis Of Anglo-Saxon Culture In Beowulf1031 Words   |  5 PagesAnglo-Saxon culture, as conceived through the context and writing of Beowulf, provides a clear glimpse into the lives, modes of function, and habits of the ancient society. In this, many aspects of their culture can be understood from reading the epic and analyzing the importance of it’s contents. However, certain details about large cultural ideologies, such as Anglo-Saxon beliefs concerning the universe and conduct, convey a deeper and more important understanding of Anglo-Saxon society. These