Explain Word- Beowulf Essay

Explain Word- Beowulf
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How did this English word come to be? What are its origins? What did it mean during the Anglo-Saxon period? Is this the same meaning as today? How does the poet use the word in Beowulf? So, this is a combination of explaining the meaning of the word and a close reading of the word in the poem.
Beowulf is an epic and heroic poem focusing on Beowulf the hero who battles against Grendel the monster, Grendel’s mother, and a dragon. The chosen word is warrior, which is related to war where there are people who fight with weapons and battle while serving for a militia, unit or community. The poem highlights that “He was the dearest of heroes to Hrothgar among his comrades between the two seas, mighty shield-warrior, whom she snatched from his rest” (1295). Warriors fight for the benefit of their people and they are considered brave and fierce soldiers who defend the people. Typically, they have moral convictions for why they are fighting. The closest synonym for warriors is soldiers or fighters. The word warrior is used for the fighting men and these soldier-kinsmen are heroes who defend and protect the people.
The Oxford English dictionary defines a “warrior” as a brave or experienced soldier or ...