Anglo-Norman language

After defeating Grendel, the vicious monster that was terrorizing the Danes, Beowulf was rewarded with fame, glory, and treasure. Amidst the celebration, the point of view is flashed back to another time when Siegmund, a great warrior who killed the treasure-rich dragon, foundered as a result of his vanity and pride. In this passage, Siegmund and Beowulf are being juxtaposed because of their similar triumphs and because they both earned many gifts for their feats. However, through a reassured…

Common to ancient civilizations and even many countries today is the pitting of countries against each other in an arch rivalry. For the Anglo-Saxon people, this was the Viking raiders. During a time filled with Viking raids, the looming threat of the sea and impossibly quick Viking ships that could come at any moment would indeed seep into the lore of the time. Due to this perpetually overhanging fear, the Vikings’ defining presence left their brand through the stories of the time. The…

The reason why the Anglo-Saxons have a disdain for Grendel is because of his lineage. Grendel is a descendant of Cain. After Cain slayed his brother, Abel, God cursed him. According to the Anglo-Saxons, Grendel was in Cain’s lineage. That is why Grendel hated the God that he did not believe in. Yet, despite Grendel’s defiance against the Shaper and the Anglo-Saxon beliefs, he actually longs to be with the community. Grendel confesses…

While popular culture depicts Vikings as a very homogeneous warrior group, there were actually many layers and nuances to Norse culture and society. Given that the Viking period extended from 800 AD to 1050 AD, the Norse groups experienced multiple cultural shifts and political shifts that can be seen throughout their stories and cultural artifacts. Prior to the majority of Viking expansion, much of their culture was defined by closely knit kin groups and one’s honor was deeply tied to your…

The true values of Anglo-Saxon culture as found in Beowulf in The Wanderer The Anglo-Saxons were a rich and diverse culture. While it is true they were a warlike culture, they were a lot more than that. Warrior-like-ness was just an attribute of their culture. Two of the most well-known pieces of Anglo-Saxon literature, Beowulf and the Wanderer give a better understanding of this culture we know so little about. This paper will reveal the three foremost values of Anglo saxon…

In in exhausting yet thrilling journey, we follow a warrior named Beowulf as he encounters hellish monsters whilst maintaining strong relationships with the Danes and the Geats. Because of his gracious acts of kindness, fame has engulfed this hero throughout epic proportions. From fighting a vicious beast and his vengeful mother, to slaying a dragon, he’s capable of anything. Acts of fame and glory are explicitly highlighted throughout the text, giving our hero the respect he deserves. The…

A Hero in the Making Beowulf is a great epic of Anglo-Saxon society. Beowulf is a great example of a hero that acts out of selflessness. It is truly intriguing to see his transformation into a warrior. We see him make some incredible journeys throughout this amazing epic. Beowulf is a traditional epic hero from Anglo-Saxon society, because he is brave, represents selflessness, and has an enormous amount of strength. Beowulf is a very brave warrior. He is very clear on what he…

For ages people have been thieving. They steal from another’s ideas, build off of their genuine thoughts only to make their work of literature come together and then call it an original piece. This is just the case in Beowulf, the first piece of British literature. Beowulf was most likely created by a Christian between the 7th and 10th century anno domini. This long work of literature was not originally written down but rather told orally. Because of this fact, many different individuals could…

Beowulf is the longest surviving Old English poem. For many years the only way the story was told was orally, but sooner or later it was transcripted by monks during the eighth and ninth centuries. The epic poem is set in Scandinavia and mostly involves the Geats, Danes and Swedes, it was based on Christianity and Pagan beliefs. Beowulf was a Hero who fought many demons such as Grendel, Grendel’s mom and the treacherous fire breathing dragon. Beowulf was an honest and faithful King, and was well…

Exeter Book, an ancient Anglo-Saxon manuscript, remained intact through years of disregard and disdain. This composition contained several unauthored poems written in Old English that were completed in about A.D. 950 (Allen et. al, eds. 102). Three of these translated Anglo-Saxon poems incorporate remarkably comparable material. These poems demonstrate the difficulty of life at sea from multiple points of view. In "The Seafarer," "The Wanderer," and "The Wife's Lament," Anglo-Saxon poets reveal…