Election Day: Which Anglo-Saxon for President?

In spirit of the upcoming Election Day (and to celebrate the ending of our reading of Beowulf), vote for our new president: Beowulf, the Slayer of Monsters, or Wiglaf, the (Only) Loyal Geat. We have analyzed Beowulf's convincing speech to gain Hrothgar's trust and to defame Unferth, and have taken a closer look at Wiglaf's speech to Beowulf's troops. Although Wiglaf fails where Beowulf succeeds, Wiglaf does prove himself -- unselfishly -- by being "the one left standing" at the end of the epic. Make sure you examine character, past accomplishments (military experience included), and mastery at persuading an audience, all essential qualities the American people look for in a reputable president. Cast your ballot -- Beowulf or Wiglaf for President? And...what would this mean for the American people (Obama and McCain -- look out!)?

Grendel's Villiany

Beowulf's Grendel is a monster who repeatedly attacks Herot in a murderous rage. Since you have read Gardner's Grendel, however, you should be approaching Grendel's "monstrosity" with an altered perspective. Is Grendel a monster who mindlessly destroys Herot and its courageous warriors, or is he simply a misunderstood and unloved creature searching for approbation?

The Values of a Hero

Beowulf is the archetypal epic hero -- he is the embodiment of the Anglo-Saxon ideals of bravery, loyalty, and self-sacrifice. Today we have our own brand of heroes. A firefighter, a Holocaust survivor, a mother are merely a few examples of today's heroes. One could argue that these heroes are the embodiment of our societal values. Do you think, however, that societal values determine heroes, or is it our heroes who determine societal values?