Three of Beowulf’s virtues make sense. The fourth seems more like a vice. He was the man
most gracious and fair-minded / Kindest to his people and keenest to win fame. Q Gracious,
fair, kind. But also: more eager than anyone to see his name in torchlights. “Keenest to win
fame” is one translation of lofgeornost—lof is “glory,” geornost is “gladdest for.” Some also
translate lofgeornost as “praise-yearnest.” Q We English speakers are praise-yearners from
the outset. The signature warrior hero of English literature, Beowulf, was, if not “famous
for being famous” (in the 1960s phrase), something weirder still: famous for wanting
to be famous. Beowulf’s strengths are not chiefly bravery or even victories in battle; he is
renowned precisely for his thirst for fame.Q A bit of a blow. Fame in our time is often styled
as an unwholesome aspiration, shorthanded “Kardashian” and identified with assorted
MYTHIC
PROPORTIONS
As more people play the fame game, the prize starts to look less real.
BY VIRGINIA HEFFERNAN
0 1 5
MIND GRENADES
LETTERING / SIMOUL ALVA
