Question

The pagan Germans, Greeks, and other ancient peoples believed that fame and glory are the only things that survive a person’s death. What elements in Beowulf show the value of a person's fame and reputation for the Anglo-Saxon society?

Answer 1

In Beowulf, it was often repeated that young men should make a name for themselves.  As compared to the era of the Anglo-Saxon, they do not believe in an afterlife. They thought that eternity is referred to the honor and great deeds that they have done in their time on earth. It was often acclaimed not just in Beowulf but in other literary pieces like the Trojan War and the Odyssey.