The Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf is ancient legend that was performed by bards. While the poem itself defies logic, it does a wonderful job of unlocking the secrets behind Anglo-Saxon culture. Analysis of the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf reveals that the Mead Hall served important roles in Anglo-Saxon culture as a place for governing, celebration, and ceremony.
The first and possibly most important role of the Mead Hall was its role as the main government building in Anglo-Saxon culture. This quote from the poem, “The sturdy shieldsman showed that bright burg-of-the-boldest; bade them go straightway thither”(Beowulf, Chapter IV) indicates that the Mead Hall, in this case Heorot, would have been the first stop for foreign visitors. Greeting visitors properly was an important governmental task as it would have been paramount that a chief did not show weakness to potential enemies. Additionally, this quote, Hied then in haste to where Hrothgar sat white-haired and …show more content…
For Example, the morning after Grendel’s defeat at the hands of Beowulf, Hrothgar gave a speech praising Beowulf for having finally rid them of this monster and rewarding him for his heroic deeds. This suggests that brave warriors were greatly rewarded by their chieftains in Anglo-Saxon culture. Additionally this quote from the aftermath of Beowulf’s fight with Grendel’s mother, “For now prone he saw Grendel stretched there, spent with war, spoiled of life, so scathed had left him Heorot's battle. The body sprang far when after death it endured the blow, sword-stroke savage, that severed its head” (Beowulf, Chapter XIII) indicates that Anglo-Saxon culture valued taking trophies from battle. The high reward for bravery as well as the practice of taking trophies to be displayed in their honor shows bravery to be one of the most important pillars of Anglo-Saxon
The first and possibly most important role of the Mead Hall was its role as the main government building in Anglo-Saxon culture. This quote from the poem, “The sturdy shieldsman showed that bright burg-of-the-boldest; bade them go straightway thither”(Beowulf, Chapter IV) indicates that the Mead Hall, in this case Heorot, would have been the first stop for foreign visitors. Greeting visitors properly was an important governmental task as it would have been paramount that a chief did not show weakness to potential enemies. Additionally, this quote, Hied then in haste to where Hrothgar sat white-haired and …show more content…
For Example, the morning after Grendel’s defeat at the hands of Beowulf, Hrothgar gave a speech praising Beowulf for having finally rid them of this monster and rewarding him for his heroic deeds. This suggests that brave warriors were greatly rewarded by their chieftains in Anglo-Saxon culture. Additionally this quote from the aftermath of Beowulf’s fight with Grendel’s mother, “For now prone he saw Grendel stretched there, spent with war, spoiled of life, so scathed had left him Heorot's battle. The body sprang far when after death it endured the blow, sword-stroke savage, that severed its head” (Beowulf, Chapter XIII) indicates that Anglo-Saxon culture valued taking trophies from battle. The high reward for bravery as well as the practice of taking trophies to be displayed in their honor shows bravery to be one of the most important pillars of Anglo-Saxon