Old English literature

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…

Beowulf is one of the oldest known Anglo-Saxon works of literature. The work is believed to have been told around the middle of the seventh century, and was only written hundreds of years later. The author of the work is unknown, however, it is believed that some sort of monk originally created the poem. In Beowulf, the protagonist idolizes gold and weaponry in the same way characters of other epic works and myths do. This almost holy representation of treasure can be seen in different cultures,…

In Anglo-Saxon times literature escalated as an oral tradition. It was past along generations including songs, ancient stories, and poems. The poems did not posses the expected rhyme, they particularly had a strong beat. These traditions all held unique types of alliteration. Anglo-Saxon traditions in Beowulf illustrate how the Anglo-Saxon traditions became a strong influencing focus in Beowulf. In Anglo-Saxon culture and literature, to be a hero was to be a warrior and ultimately a king. He…

The story of Beowulf is ancient. The first manuscript was penned sometime between the 8th and 11th centuries, but the poem itself dates back to 500 CE. What’s even more remarkable is the age of the stories and histories that comprise the interludes of the text. Arguably, the most famous of these interludes is the Finnsburg Episode. Another, lesser acknowledged interlude is Beowulf’s recount of Herebeald’s death and the Father’s Lament. When reading various translations of this interlude,…

Riley Powers Mrs. Crehan Language Arts November 7 2016 Compare and Contrast Norse Mythology Building the Wall and Eight Legged Steed are getting compared and contrasted in the essay. Building the Wall, a play was about a ruler named Odin. He and his family members wanted to build a wall around Asgard. The plot of Odin’s Eight Legged Steed is about how Loki turned into a horse and helped Asgard take away the mason builder of the wall with Freya, sun and moon. These were two stories going on…

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…

“plighted their troth to him, that they would be his fellow workers” but did not row him down the River Dee. However, the fact that in 1117 they thought it was plausible that Edgar could control eight other kings, and was the most powerful in the English kingdom, supports he had a valid claim in history to be the king of all England. It is also from a chronicle, which was meant to accurately portray history, which may indicate that they genuinely believed it to be true, which highlights the…

The English epic, Beowulf, though believed to be the story of the successes of one hero, really is a testament to the successes of the society that produced the hero. The ideals such as interlacing and comitatus that were so highly regarded by the society were the main factors in the successes of the Anglo Saxon people. The ideal of comitatus that permeates various aspects of Anglo Saxon society is indicative of the society in which a character such as Beowulf would have existed. Comitatus is a…

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…

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…