Anglo Saxon Culture In Beowulf

Anglo-Saxon Culture Found in Beowulf and Present Day Beowulf is the oldest epic in the English language and provides substantial evidence on many early Anglo-Saxon cultural beliefs. The story is filled with numerous examples of values and views of people during this time. Although the majority of these aspects are based around heroic deeds, battle, or loyalty to a royal leader, some of them can still be found in present-day society. Beliefs such as memento mori, wyrd, and comitatus shaped Anglo-Saxon culture, and memento mori is just one that can still be found widely throughout the 21st century. The first aspect displayed in Beowulf is memento mori, the belief that one’s soul is preserved through fame and that immortality is reached through …show more content…
In an age where online and electronic media allow an easier opportunity for fame, many people seek this type of notoriety in belief that it will give them remembrance after death. According to psychoanalyst Carlo Stenger, in the 21st century, “Celebrity, fame, and fortune are sought as symbolic immortality.” In present day society, the worth of an individual is often marked by quantitative rankings such as global fame, fortune, likes, views, and followers (Stenger). This ideal is also found in many television shows aimed at a preteen audience, who are easily influenced by the desire for fame and social immortality. Reality T.V. is often an influencer on this as well, and a 2004 study showed that the more reality shows a person liked, the more status oriented they were (Uhls, Yalda T., et al.). In shows and media like these, three popular and recurring values are fame, fortune, and image/reputation. They oftentimes persuade vulnerable viewers that living a life nobody will remember is pointless. When people feel that life has become meaningless, they look to popularity and status to give them a purpose, as well as reassurance that they matter enough to be remembered when they are gone. While this can be overdone today, it is still an important and common meaning that many people give their lives in order to find a sense of purpose. Memento mori was a popular and valued …show more content…
Trans. Burton Raffel. New York: New American Library, 1999. Print.
Stolorow, Robert D. “Review of The Fear of Insignificance: Searching for Meaning in the Twenty-First Century.” The Huffington Post, 25 May 2011, www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-d-stolorow/the-fear-of-insignificanc_b_825140.html. Accessed 26 September 2017.
Uhls, Yalda T., et al. “21st Century Media, Fame, and Other Future Aspirations: A National Survey of 9-15 Year Olds.” Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, Masaryk University, 1 Dec. 2014, cyberpsychology.eu/article/view/4322/3372. Accessed 26 September