Reflective Journal Entry: The Heroic Code and Personal Values

Course Context

Course: ENG  – Heroism and Ethics in Early English Literature , English department)
Assignment type: Individual reflective journal entry (low‑stakes writing)
Length: 400–500 words
Weight: 5% of final course grade
Due: Week 4, Monday 11:59 p.m. (submit via LMS journal tool)

Assignment Overview

Many common Beowulf assignments from college and high‑school settings ask writers to reflect on what the heroic code means and how Anglo‑Saxon values compare to present‑day beliefs and choices. The activity below adapts that pattern for a second‑year literature course with a stronger focus on personal reflection and ethical awareness.

You will write a brief reflective journal entry that connects Beowulf’s heroic code to your own thinking about courage, loyalty, and responsibility. The goal is to show that you can describe values in the poem with some precision and then think carefully about where you see echoes or tensions in your own experience or in contemporary culture.

Journal Prompt

Write a 400–500 word reflective entry that responds to all of the points below:

• Identify one moment in Beowulf where the heroic code is especially visible. Examples include Beowulf’s pledge to help Hrothgar because of a past favour, the emphasis on vengeance after a death, or the praise for fearless boasting before a dangerous fight.

• Describe what specific values appear in that moment (for example, loyalty to a lord, willingness to die for honour, commitment to revenge, generosity with treasure).

• Explain how those values shape what “good” behaviour looks like in the poem and how the narrator or other characters signal approval or disapproval.

• Reflect on how your own values or the values of communities you know compare to the heroic code. Point out at least one place where you feel close to the poem’s ideals and one place where you feel some discomfort or disagreement.

Writing and Citation Guidelines

• Use the first person where it helps you reflect clearly, but keep the tone academic and respectful.

• Give brief, concrete references to scenes or lines in Beowulf rather than general statements.

• Include at least one reference to a critical or instructional source on the heroic code or reflection, such as a study guide, lesson, or short article, and respond to it in your own words.

• Use MLA in‑text citation for quotations or paraphrases and add a short Works Cited list at the end of your entry.

Reflective Journal Rubric (20 points)

1. Engagement with the Heroic Code in Beowulf (8 points)

i. Excellent (7–8): Chooses a clear, specific moment from the poem; accurately describes the heroic values at stake; shows how the text signals approval or criticism of those values.
ii. Good (5–6): Identifies a relevant scene and values; explanation is mostly accurate but may stay at a general level.
iii. Satisfactory (3–4): Refers to the heroic code in broad terms; limited or vague reference to particular moments in the poem.
iv. Limited (0–2): Minimal or inaccurate engagement with the heroic code; very little connection to the actual text.

2. Depth of Personal and Ethical Reflection (8 points)

i. Excellent (7–8): Offers thoughtful reflection on similarities and differences between the writer’s values (or contemporary values) and those in the poem; acknowledges complexity and possible tension or ambivalence.
ii. Good (5–6): Provides clear personal or contemporary connections; some complexity, but reflection may be brief in places.
iii. Satisfactory (3–4): Basic statement of agreement or disagreement with the poem’s values; limited exploration of reasons.
iv. Limited (0–2): Very general or superficial reflection; little sense of personal or ethical engagement.

3. Use of Supporting Sources and MLA (4 points)

i. Excellent (4): Integrates at least one external source effectively (for example, a lesson on the heroic code or a brief reflection on Beowulf); summary is accurate and response is clear; MLA is correct for in‑text and Works Cited.
ii. Good (3): Uses a source and cites it; minor issues with summary or MLA format.
iii. Satisfactory (2): Mentions a source without much detail; MLA incomplete.
iv. Limited (0–1): No clear use of outside sources; citation missing or incorrect.

Sample Reflective Entry (Model Content, Excerpt)

Beowulf’s decision to help Hrothgar because of a favour once shown to his father offers a concentrated view of the heroic code in action. The poem presents the journey to Denmark as more than a personal challenge, since Beowulf frames his choice as repayment of a debt and as a chance to show loyalty across generations. Courage, obligation, and the wish for lasting praise all come together in the speeches he gives before and after the fight with Grendel, and the surrounding characters praise him for qualities that place honour above safety.

A modern reflection on the poem observes that the code of glory in Beowulf rests heavily on loyalty, bravery, and the readiness to seek vengeance for wrongs, and that pattern still feels powerful because many people admire those who stand up for their friends and communities. My own experience includes deep respect for people who keep their commitments and accept risk to protect others, yet the strong pull toward revenge in the poem sits less comfortably with current ideas about justice and long‑term peace. Part of me responds to the energy of Beowulf’s world, where choices are clear and praise is loud, while another part recognises that strict honour systems can make it hard to break cycles of harm or admit vulnerability.

In addition, reflecting on Beowulf’s heroic code reveals how values evolve over time and across cultures. While courage and loyalty remain admired traits, the emphasis on vengeance or public glory may conflict with modern ethical frameworks that prioritize restorative justice and collective well‑being. Comparing these systems helps illustrate both the universality and the historical specificity of heroic ideals (Heaney, Beowulf).

Sample Works Cited (MLA – 5 items)

• Beowulf. Translated by Seamus Heaney, W. W. Norton, 2000.

• “Heroic Code in Beowulf.” Study.com, 22 Dec. 2020, viewed 2 Feb. 2026, https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-heroic-code-in-beowulf.html.

• “Beowulf Reflection.” Scribd, 31 July 2025, viewed 2 Feb. 2026, https://www.scribd.com/document/407610583/beowulf-reflection.

• “Reflection on Beowulf.” Her Campus – Oxford Emory, 6 Apr. 2018, viewed 2 Feb. 2026, https://www.hercampus.com/school/oxford-emory/reflection-beowulf/.

• Prestwick House 2019, ‘Beowulf – Response Journal Sample’, viewed 2 Feb. 2026, https://www.tpet.com/content/PHSamples/BeowulfRJs.pdf.

 Academic / Learning Resources

• Study.com 2020, ‘Heroic Code in Beowulf’, viewed 2 February 2026, https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-heroic-code-in-beowulf.html.

• Scribd 2025, ‘Beowulf Reflection’, viewed 2 February 2026, https://www.scribd.com/document/407610583/beowulf-reflection.

• Her Campus 2018, ‘Reflection on Beowulf’, Oxford Emory, viewed 2 February 2026, https://www.hercampus.com/school/oxford-emory/reflection-beowulf/.

• Prestwick House 2019, ‘Beowulf – Response Journal Sample’, viewed 2 February 2026, https://www.tpet.com/content/PHSamples/BeowulfRJs.pdf.

• M. Seffie 2021, ‘Beowulf Response Journal Guide’, viewed 2 February 2026, https://mseffie.com/assignments/beowulf/Beowulf%20Response%20Journal.pdf.