24 Important Beowulf Quotes You Must Read
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We are here with a collection of the best and most important 'Beowulf' quotes that you must read, displaying the act of bravery and courageous deeds.
'Beowulf' is one of the oldest scripts of British literature and famous for being one of the earliest European Vernacular epic of the sixth century. Beowulf is a heroic tale in the form of a poem (that's also a book) that revolves mostly around king Beowulf and the portrayal of his courageous and brave acts.
It is an epic English poem book revolving around legendary Anglo-Saxon kings and many other real-life characters that make it challenging to understand whether the poem is fact or fiction. Beowulf is a story about a hero of Geats, who comes to aid Danes’ king, Hrothgar, whose mead hall in Heorot is attacked by the monster Grendel.
The poem is a brief description of the bravery displayed by Beowulf in his fights with Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and a dragon. Such a masterpiece does not have an author or who it was written by, especially since it is so old.
Let’s take a look at some of the essential Beowulf quotes that you must read. This is perfect for students!
If you enjoy this article, make sure to check out Chaucer quotes and John Milton quotes.
Important Beowulf Book Quotes
Beowulf, an epic poem book, revolves around the theme of courage and bravery that displays how it is better to die young with heroism than to grow old avoiding cowardly responsibilities. Let’s take a look at some of the critical 'Beowulf' quotes about Grendel, strength, God, and power.
1. “No, we two in dark of night shall forego the sword, if he dares to seek war without weapon, and then may wise God, the holy Lord, judge which side will succeed, which one will win glory, as to him seems right.”
- 'Beowulf'.
2. “Endure your troubles. Bear up and be the man I expect you to be.”
- 'Beowulf'.
3. “Till the monster stirred, that demon, that fiend / Grendel who haunted the moors, the wild / Marshes, and made his home in a hell. / Not hell but hell on earth. He was spawned in that slime / Of Cain, murderous creatures banished / By God, punished forever for the crime / Of Abel’s death.”
- 'Beowulf'.
4. “Twelve winters of grief for Hrothgar, king / Of the Danes, sorrow heaped at his door / By hell-forged hands, His misery leaped / The seas, was told and sung in all / Men’s ears.”
- 'Beowulf'.
5. “Wise sir, do not grieve. It is always better to avenge dear ones than to indulge in mourning. For every one of us, living in this world means waiting for our end. Let whoever can win glory before death. When a warrior is gone, that will be his best and only bulwark.”
- 'Beowulf'.
6. “Now I am old, but as king of people I shall pursue this fight for the glory of winning, if the evil one will only abandon his earth fort and face me in the open.”
- 'Beowulf'.
7. “That was their way, their heathenish hope; deep in their hearts they remembered hell.”
- 'Beowulf'.
8. “Now is the time i would have wanted to bestow this armor on my own son, had it been my fortune to have fathered an heir and live in his flesh.”
- 'Beowulf'.
9. “Your deeds are famous, so stay resolute, my lord, defend your life now with the whole of your strength. I shall stand by you.”
- Wiglaf, 'Beowulf'.
10. “Let whoever can win glory before death. When a warrior is gone, that will be his best and only bulwark.”
- 'Beowulf'.
Famous Quotes From 'Beowulf'
Beowulf is an epic poem from years ago, displaying the courage and bravery of a young prince. Let’s take a look at some of the best quotes from Beowolf/Beowulf.
11. “Do not grieve, wise warrior! It is better for each man That he avenge his friend than to mourn him much. Each of us must accept the end of life here in this world—so we must work while we can to earn fame before death.”
- 'Beowulf'.
12. “I give thanks to God / for all this gold and treasure that I see before me / and for the opportunity to give it / to my countrymen on this, my last day. / I have traded my life for this treasure / so be sure to use it for the good of our country.”
- 'Beowulf'.
13. “And if death does take me, send the hammered / Mail of my armor to Higlac, return / The inheritance I had from Hrethel, and he / From Wayland. Fate will unwind as it must!”
- 'Beowulf'.
14. “I don’t boast when I say that neither you or Breca were ever much celebrated for swordsmanship or for facing danger of the field of battle.”
- 'Beowulf'.
15. “Do not lament, wise sire! It seems better that each man avenge his friends than to mourn them to no end.
Each of us must await the end of his path in this world, and he who can, should achieve renown before death! That is the best memorial when life is past and a warrior’s days are recounted. Rise up, oh warden of the realm!
We ride forth promptly to catch the trail of Grendel’s mother. Mark my words—she shall find no shelter, neither in the earth of the fields, nor the mountainous woods, nor the ocean’s depths—wherever she may flee! Have patience and endure your woes this day, as I suspect you shall.”
- 'Beowulf'.
16. “I have wrested the hilt
from the enemies’ hand, avenged the evil
done to the Danes; it is what was due.”
- 'Beowulf'.
17. “His father’s warrior were wound round his heart / With golden rings, bound to their prince / By his father’s treasure. So young men build / The future, wisely open-handed in peace, / Protected in war; so warriors earn / Their fame, and wealth is shaped with a sword.”
- 'Beowulf'.
18. “In the time I was given I lived in my own land, ruling my people well, never turning to treachery, or swearing to oaths contrary to right. In this I take comfort and joy when now I am stricken with death-dealing wounds.”
- 'Beowulf'.
19. “And now the youth was about to enter the line of battle with his lord, his first time to be tested as a fighter. His spirit did not break and the ancestral blade would keep its edge, as the dragon discovered as soon as they came together in combat.”
- 'Beowulf'.
20. “The man whose name was known for courage,
the Great leader, resolute in his helmet,
answered in return: ‘We are retainers
from Hygelac’s band.’ Beowulf is my name.”
- 'Beowulf'.
Famous 'Beowulf' Quotes
Beowulf is a heroic tale ofa king, his brave acts and courage fighting the evil. Let’s look at some of the most famous Beowulf quotes about strength, character, race, blood, and much more that it's famous for, from one of the oldest surviving British literature masterpieces.
21. “Anyone with gumption and a sharp mind will take the measure of two things: what’s said and what’s done.”
- 'Beowulf'.
22. “I drove / five great giants into chains. ... I swam / in the blackness of night, hunting monsters.”
- 'Beowulf'.
23. “When it comes to fighting, I count myself / as dangerous any day as Grendel.”
- 'Beowulf'.
24. “I shall act, my lord with alacrity. If I ever hear from across the ocean that people on your borders are threatening battle as attackers have done from time to time, I shall land with a thousand thanes at my back to help your cause.”
- 'Beowulf'.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for important 'Beowulf' quotes, then why not take a look at classic literature quotes or ['Iliad' quotes].
Second image credit: K.N.Y / Shutterstock.com
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Bachelor of Arts specializing in English and Drama, Master of Arts specializing in Performance: Design and Practice
Luca DemetriouBachelor of Arts specializing in English and Drama, Master of Arts specializing in Performance: Design and Practice
Experienced in writing and sub-editing, Luca holds a Bachelor's in English Literature and Drama from the University of Birmingham, where he served as the culture editor at Redbrick Paper. He is currently pursuing a Master's in Performance: Design and Practice at the University of the Arts in London, showcasing his passion for the arts, performance, and history. With a keen interest in traveling, Luca enjoys exploring new cultures and experiencing diverse perspectives.
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