The Best Advice I Ever Got

The Best Advice I Ever Got

He hovered towards the room with only one motive. The sound of his footsteps would inject fear into anyone that heard, an injection so poisonous that it made the lucky run and hide. The memory from the night before drew horrific images under their eyelids. If he entered the room his lust for blood and flesh will penetrate deeper and deeper into his gut, leaving no room for sympathy or compassion. And if he didn’t he would have given up the delight of feeling that warm copper flavored juice heat up the back of his throat. Soon he would gorge himself with helpless drunken warriors, not picking anyone in particular, but for now his heart beats quietly in the shadows. This story would have terrified anyone that listened, but to one it was the opportunity for an interesting challenge. This is what separates him from those who surrender to the face of evil. In the epic poem Beowulf translated by Burton Raffel, the self-titled hero is this brave and loyal leader, who decides to confront the beast for the safety of his comrades. Beowulf’s choice to put the needs of others before himself and fight for those that are frightened are what makes him the epitome of what values an Anglo-Saxon should possess.
After Beowulf’s introduction into the story, he begins to prepare for his epic battle with Grendel. Beowulf’s sword is a part of his right hand. He knew every move before he swung his arm. Although his skills were at his peak Beowulf said,
“Behind some broad linden shield: my hands
Alone shall fight for me, struggle for life
Against the monster” (Raffel 48).
In order to achieve his victory with the up most satisfaction, he needed to be in a fair fight. A normal person just doesn’t dive into a situation that they don’t know the outcome for. But when they do it shows true bravery, something that the Anglo-Saxons valued greatly. Regardless of the chilling stories, Beowulf had the courage to confront Grendel without his familiar weapons. The struggle was extreme, but...

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