Monday, December 23, 2019
Anglo Saxon Culture as Reflected in Beowulf Essay - 943 Words
Anglo Saxon Culture as reflected in Beowulf Every culture has its own set of beliefs values and customs. Cultural beliefs, values, and assumptions are directly and indirectly acquired throughout a lifetime. A culture is the sum of a group’s way of life and this is no different with the ancient Anglo Saxon culture. Cultures usually have distinct figures that reflect their culture as a whole. The importance of religion, values, and heroes are reflected a great deal in the epic poem of Beowulf accurately showing the Anglo Saxon culture as a whole. Men dominated the Anglo Saxon society and the people loved a great hero like that of Beowulf. They believed a hero should be a keeper of his promises, be boastful and produce†¦show more content†¦The spear was the most common weapon of choice and could be used as a missile or used in hand-to-hand combat. The sword was not a common weapon used at all because it was very expensive to produce. The sword was usually given to a gre at warrior who has demonstrated courageous acts in battle. All warriors had a shield that was made of wood and usually lined together by metal. A seaxe was a single bladed knife that was carried on the belt on the warrior and was used more as a tool than an actual weapon (Beowulf 112-113). Anglo-Saxons valued religion very highly. There is much controversy over Beowulf in dealing with pagan and Christian beliefs because historians believe both were integrated although Christianity seems to be more prevalent. Religion was the center of people’s life at this time and is demonstrated in Beowulf when Beowulf calling for God exclaims †¦ â€Å"the almighty the maker of the earth†. Up until the 6th century it is back and forth between Christianity and Paganism. The greatest sources of information on the pagan period of religion are from the 7th to 8th century testimonies, such as Beowulf (Orchard 25). Paganism dealt with the worshiping of many gods. The celebration of g lory has such emphasis in Beowulf because human praise is the highest goal of the pagan characters. . Anglo Saxon warriors wore helmets for battle with a pagan god on them named Freyr. Those who grewShow MoreRelatedCharacteristics Of Beowulf936 Words  | 4 PagesThroughout history, cultures have been developed to reflect the people and time they reside. As people change and develop so do their cultural ideas. Most cultural traits are carried down and become traditions which are reflected in stories such as epics. The Anglo-Saxons encompassed a people group consumed by fighting and war. Often times the epics and traditional stories passed down are centered around battles where the hero represents strong leadership characteristics. The story of Beowulf was commonlyRead MoreJudith- Compare and Contrast1431 Words  | 6 Pagescatch a glimpse of how culture was during the time they were written by comparing and contrasting the elements of the story that are presented and modifie d. The distinct differences that can be found between the Old English and the vulgate versions of Judith provide a clear view of what the Anglo-Saxons considered to be important, and what they felt required respect. When comparing and contrasting these two versions, one can utilize other Old English works such as Beowulf and The Wanderer to clearlyRead MoreBeowulf : Portrait Of Anglo Saxon Society Essay2057 Words  | 9 Pages Beowulf: Portrait of Anglo-Saxon Society The Middle Ages in England began with the withdrawal of the Romans and the arrival of various Germanic tribes (the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes), during the mid-fifth century. These tribes, which became known as the Anglo-Saxons, were composed of people from North Germany, Denmark and northern Holland, and took control of most of Britain, except for lands such as Scotland, Wales or Cornwall (Hindley 23). They brought with them the tradition of oralRead MoreBeowulf : An Anglo Saxon Epic Essay1111 Words  | 5 PagesThomas May Mrs. Purcell ENGL 12H September 12, 2016 Beowulf is an Anglo-Saxon epic that depicts the tales of the great hero Beowulf who fights valiantly and wins every battle he ever fights in. One day he gets word of a terrible monster named Grendel who is terrorizing the Danes and they can’t kill the beast himself, so Beowulf takes off to help the Danes. Upon arrival he is led to Heorot, the mead hall where Grendel does a lot of his killings. 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To begin with, Beowulf was composed in Old English by an anonymous writer between the sixth and seventhRead MoreTrace the Development of English Lit During Any One Period...as Part of Your Discussion Highlight How Significant Events in the Influence the Writing...Additionally Show How Characteristics of the Genre the Writer Uses3085 Words  | 13 Pagesno limitations to where you can go. This quotation may apply to the span of the Anglo-Saxon period because of the coherent linkage to the origination of the English dialect and the modernization of English Literature. Over the years English literature has evolved greatly. There have been diverse changes to the structure and development of English language since the advent of Old English dialect during the Anglo-Saxon period to what we now speak and consider to be English language. â€Å"Old English isRead MoreBooks Are Humanity in Print Essay1364 Words  | 6 Pagesdemocracies, and dictatorships. With each passing year, there ar e technological advancements, changing political platforms, and a progressively mobile worldwide population. Each literary era reflects the human feats, lifestyles, and changing times: Anglo-Saxon epics consist of glory battle scenes, bloodied warriors, and feuding countries; Middle English works consist of glorified knights, the chivalric code, and a greedy, materialistic court; and, modern literary classics depict worlds of which the humanRead More An Analysis of the Epic Poem, Beowulf - Anglo-Saxon Customs and Values Reflected in Beowulf1791 Words  | 8 PagesAnglo-Saxon Customs and Values Reflected in Beowulf      Readers today approach the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf with cultural preconceptions very different from those expressed by the author of this poem. This essay hopes to enlighten the modern reader regarding the customs and values from the time of the poem’s composition.   Beowulf makes reference to Ingeld and his wife and the coming Heathobard feud:                                                             in
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