Authority and power are two of the most important reasons why boasting in Beowulf was so vital. When the characters in Beowulf are constantly acting in a bombastic manner, it is because they want to brag about their family lineage and large achievements they have accomplished. Oral tradition is a large component that keeps bragging relevant. Beowulf practically tells a resume of all the monsters he has slain and how he has never been defeated by them. In the epic poem, Beowulf competes in a swimming competition with his friend Brecca. Halfway through the competition, dangerous sea monsters come to attack them but Beowulf decides to stop and defeat them so his competitor can swim safely. In result, he loses the race but compensates by vaunting how he acted so bravely and with valor. This technique is what gets Beowulf climbing up the social ladder. Listeners of boastful oral tradition are to take it with a grain of salt. These stories are exaggerated but it does not mean that acts of heroism did not happen. In order to make ones achievements more important, they had to be exaggerated or else they would have been forgotten. It is easier to remember incredible stories rather than small insignificant ones. In result, oral tradition is easier to pass down because the stories are easier to remember. Oral tradition is popular in cultures and are verbally transmitted through songs, folktales, chants, or in this case, a poem. Traditions in culture are passed down through art. During this time, history was not recorded in large amounts of texts due to a low literacy rate. Instead, art was used because the less educated members of society could understand it. The outcome was that history was found in all parts of culture such as songs to dance. Tales of heroism, battles and wars were also expressed through oral tradition. To this day, contemporary public figures still