Community in Beowulf

A detailed Summary of Community in Beowulf

The Middle Ages were a very difficult time for individuals to try to live and succeed on their own. Most people did not live life this way, most lived in large communities. The same is true in the epic poem Beowulf. In fact, community is such a major theme of the poem that it almost seems like there is a constant reminder on every page. Every aspect of life is engulfed in communal affairs; every meal, every gathering, every celebration is done as a whole. The good times as well as the bad times are shared within the walls of the kingdom, together as one municipality. Community is extremely important to the populations every day life in so many ways. The place of gathering in the story is Heorot, a magnificent mead-hall constructed by the King and Ruler, Hrothgar. Hrothgar was a very powerful ruler of the Danes; he was successful in many battles and therefore had grown to become a great emperor. He decided to build Heorot so he could have the most splendid hall in all the land, as the author says: "he handed down orders/ for men to work on a great mead-hall/ meant to be a wonder of the world forever;" (68-70). This became, according to the story, the wonderful gathering place for the Danes and all their people.

To have one place you could call home where you were well respected and well known during the Middle Ages was difficult enough of a task, but Beowulf managed to have two lands in which he could call home. Beowulf was a Geat, he came from far away and after defeating Grendel's Mother he decided it was time to go back home. Upon arriving to his homeland, Beowulf is warmly greeted and welcomed back. Hygelac, the King of the Geats was very anxious to here all of Beowulf's stories of triumph, and Beowulf was just as eager to tell his stories. He then proceeded to show his loyalty to his King by giving him a bounty of the presents and treasure he had received while in Denmark. When Hygelac fell, Beowulf became ruler of the kingdom he called home, "He ruled it well/ for fifty winters, grew old and wise/ as warden of the land" (2208-10). He was rewarded for his heroics and it showed well because his kingdom was prosperous. Beowulf had successfully become the single-most important person in two communities, in two different kingdoms, in two different roles. In Denmark he saved the great mead-hall Heorot from countless attacks, and in his homeland of Geatland he ruled as a powerful and successful King for fifty years. He saved one civilization and revitalized another.

Community is defined as a group of people living in the same locality and under the same government; similarity or identity: a community of interests; sharing, participation, and fellowship; society as a whole; the publi

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1007
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English