Anglo-Saxons

Beowulf by unknown is a great example of the work from the Anglo-Saxon period. This period was one that lasted for six hundred years lasting from four ten to one thousand sixty six. This time period existed mainly in Britain and brought on new religious beliefs. Many things stemmed from the Anglo-Saxon period such as the concept of respect or Christianity. The text Beowulf is a great representation of all of these ideas from the Anglo-Saxon time period. The main character of this epic is Beowulf who is a mighty hero who wins over the hearts of many by defeating three major monsters: Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. Beowulf was set in Northern Europe near the land of Denmark and Sweden and was said to be wrote by many Christian men,…

A mighty warrior must battle with evil until the end of his life to show his honor. This warrior, Beowulf, is a hero from the epic poem Beowulf. It was written by an anonymous author, referred to as the Beowulf-poet, around 725 A.D. in an area of Anglo-Saxon influence. In this cultural environment, there was a certain emphasis on the belief that it was a man’s duty to earn honor throughout his life. Honor was only earned through a strict set of morals and duties. The epic depicts Beowulf as a…

Old English literature is also referred to Anglo-Saxon literature. The Anglo-Saxons were settlers from Germany that originate from the names Angeln and Saxony. The Anglo-Saxon period lasted for 600 years, from 410 to 1066. They went to Britain after the fall of The Roman Empire, around AD 410. Roman armies were needed, so they left Britain in the fifth-century to fight for their land. The Anglo-Saxons were basically their own leaders in the new land and did not contribute much, or anything to…

Anglo-Saxon, once called Old English, was a language spoke under King Alfred and continued to be a common language of England. Some of the most common literary works of Old English include genres such as epic poetry, sermons, bible translations, and others. Beowulf was one of the most famous works from this period. Beowulf illuminated many different Anglo-Saxon beliefs. First and foremost, to be a hero, he or she must possess the characteristics their society holds up as most important and…

Warriors have physical and personal connections with their swords; but no supernatural connection that is usually exaggerated in stories. Between the sixth century and the ninth century, Europe-along with many other countries- were occupied by two well-known types of people: the Anglo-Saxon and the Vikings. Most of the lands were rules and/or protected by Anglo-Saxon kings and their knight. They fought against the barbaric Vikings, who pillage and destroy villages along the coast. In the heat of…

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…

Beowulf, a man of legend, was this biggest and baddest guy of his time. He was greatly respected by the people who surrounded him. Stories of his amazing feats still last to this day. He fought against vicious demons that were cast out of Heaven, and that wasn’t even the most amazing thing he did. In Anglo-Saxon culture, Beowulf was considered a hero, but that is not the case in modern culture. The Anglo-Saxons took huge pride in their heroes. The Anglo-Saxons’ hero had to have been amazingly…

“Beowulf- The Anglo-Saxon Hero” The Anglo-Saxon culture embraces virtues such as courage, strength, loyalty, cunning, and generosity. These virtues are exemplified by the epic hero Beowulf. Beowulf possesses each of these characteristics. Throughout the epic tale of Beowulf, the hero displays each of these virtues through his actions and adventures. The first of these characteristics is Beowulf’s strength. He is often referred to as “the strongest of the Geats”. Beowulf…

Anglo-Saxon vs. Modern Era: A Contrast of Religion Now and Then The cultural values of the Anglo-Saxons from the early Middle Ages reflect a somewhat different mindset than those we possess today. We tend to see more mockery towards religion and beliefs now, as opposed to how they portrayed such perspectives in the Middle Ages. The Danes and Geats in the epic Beowulf, considered God as an Almighty Lord worthy of man’s respect and worship. However, in the movie Beowulf and Grendel…

The Anglo-Saxons lived around the belief that you had to be courageous and strong in battle. Humans had the power to manipulate individuals through spells. The importance of family was also present. If someone were to be killed in battle, it was up to the family to find means to cope with the loss, through revenge and even payment from the killer. The Anglo-Saxons also believed in the idea of “fate” but try to eliminate their own fate by means of force and pride. The Greek views toward the…