Beowulf Courage Quotes

Then down the brave man lay with his bolster
under his head and his whole company
of sea-rovers at rest beside him.
None of them expected he would ever see
his homeland again or get back
to his native place and the people who reared him.
They knew too well the way it was before,
how often the Danes had fallen prey
to death in the mead-hall. But the Lord was weaving
a victory on His war-loom for the Weather-Geats.
Through the strength of one they all prevailed;
they would crush their enemy and come through
in triumph and gladness. The truth is clear:
Almighty God rules over mankind
and always has.

– Beowulf, Seamus Heaney (trans.)

Lines 688-702: This passage shows that Beowulf is an epic hero, and suggests he is guided by fate or some higher being – God.

Inspired again
by the thought of glory, the war-king threw
his whole strength behind a sword-stroke
and connected with the skull. And Naegling snapped.
Beowulf’s ancient iron-grey sword
let him down in the fight. It was never his fortune
to be helped in combat by the cutting edge
of weapons made in iron. When he wielded a sword,
no matter how blooded and hard-edged the blade
his hand was too strong, the stroke he dealt
(I have heard) would ruin it.

– Beowulf, Seamus Heaney (trans.)

Lines 2677-2687: In his final battle with the dragon Beowulf is able to act courageously by keeping thoughts of glory in mind.

‘As God is my witness,
I would rather my body were robbed in the same
Burning blaze as my gold-giver’s body
Than go back home bearing arms.
That is unthinkable, unless we have first
Slain the foe and defended the life
Of the prince of the Weather-Geats. I well know
That things he has done for us deserve better.
Should he alone be left exposed
To fall in battle? We must bond together,
Shield and helmet, mail-shirt and sword.’

– Beowulf, Seamus Heaney (trans.)

Lines 2650-2660: Wiglaf’s words manifests the code of the medieval warrior, a courageous act of loyalty is more important than your life. Thus it is better to lose your life than go back safe not trying to accomplish your mission.

Yet the prince of the rings was too proud
to line up with a large army
against the sky-plague. He had scant regard
for the dragon as a threat, no dread at all
of its courage or strength, for he had kept going
often in the past, through perils and ordeals
of every sort, after he had purged
Hrothgar’s hall, triumphed in Heorot
and beaten Grendel.

– Beowulf, Seamus Heaney (trans.)

Lines 2345-2353: Beowulf has no fear of the fire-breathing dragon. Though he commands skilled soldiers, the proud king thinks he can and should take on the dragon alone. A little too courageous for a king perhaps.

Before long
the battle-dodgers abandoned the wood,
the ones who had let down their lord earlier,
the tail-turners, ten of them together.
When he needed them most, they had made off.
now they were ashamed and came behind shields,
in their battle-outfits, to where the old man lay.

– Beowulf, Seamus Heaney (trans.)

Lines 2845-2851: As the fight with the dragon comes, the Gear warriors are as brave as they say they are. They run off, leaving Beowulf behind. The one courageous man who remains behind is Wiglaf.
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