Saxons

Beowulf is an epic poem by an unknown author, written in England between the eighth and eleventh centuries and whose deeds take place in the lands of Denmark and Sweden. His 3182 verses were found for the first time in Nowel codex, a manuscript of the eleventh century, but later the work was renamed as the main protagonist, Beowulf. The manuscript and the poem are considered national treasures British despite the fact that the story is about a Scandinavian hero who fights monsters in Denmark.…

The question of Beowulf's structure can be debated as having three parts or having two parts. Beowulf's three parts can be considered of when Beowulf is fighting with Grendel, when Beowulf fights Grendel's mother, and Beowulf’s fight with the Dragon. Beowulf’s two parts can be described as when he was young and fought grendal along with his mother and when Beowulf is old and fighting the Dragon. The three part structure of beowulf is appropriate for Beowulf. In the first part of Beowulf where he…

In modern ages, a hero could have the slightest bit of reason pertaining their cause for fighting and risking their lives for the greater good of society. However, in Anglo-Saxon poetry, a hero’s actions result from their own selfless generosity or from their loyalty to a person or God. Nearing the end of the Anglo-Saxon period dating the late 1400s AD, Christianity had nearly replaced Paganism in morality and law. Hence, an incredibly possible reason for a hero such as Beowulf to fight for…

Reputation is a key theme of the English poem Beowulf and is really important to the main character. Through the entire poem we see how important it is, even at an old age his reputation is everything to him and it’s all connected to him wanting to be the leader and warrior his dad was. Gail Ashton (writer of the Medieval English Romance in Context) said, “These stories only focus on family, kinship, marriage, lineage, and property, all social and political structures.” And it’s true in medieval…

The Anglo-Saxon Era was one of transition from pagan beliefs to Christianity, which can be see interwoven in the literature of the period. By the time “Beowulf” was transcribed, pagan mythology and Christian truths were viewed as mutually exclusive ideals, but to many people these tales coexisted within their hearts and minds as is revealed by the story of “Beowulf” as the author transitions seamlessly between the two warring worldviews. The relationship of Christianity and pagan legends is…

this, it emphasizes that Beowulf let the psychological wound of pride lead to his demise. Furthermore, one can conclude that over time the cultural value of humility has been altered to one seen as a loss of innocence within the times of the Anglo-Saxons and one of pure physical attributes as soldiers wear the green girdle to protect themselves from the evil of the…

Anglo Saxon weapons and armour In this research paper you will be reading about the history of a few weapons and armour such as axes, swords, spears, shields, maces, and armour. Anglo saxon means the people who lived in the general vicinity of england and some of the germanic areas and Im pretty sure you know what armour and weapons are, so I will just get to it. The first subject will be swords or “sweord” in old english it originated during the bronze age which is around 1600 B.C., the sword…

The epic Beowulf represents the Anglo-Saxon culture and writing by displaying the warrior culture and Christian values during the battles of the three monsters that Beowulf faces. Grendel, the first monster Beowulf faces, sets the warrior culture through Beowulf’s bravery and boasting. Grendel’s mother, the monster at the second battle, shows Beowulf’s fearlessness and conveys symbolism throughout the battle. The dragon, the third and final battle of Beowulf, expresses pagan views as well as…

History of English language and Its Influence in Classic Literature English is a unique and modern language. In fact, according to the United States Census Bureau, “For most people residing in the United States, English is the only language spoken in the home” (2015). The Bureau further reports, that although English is the primary language of choice for most U.S. citizens, however, there are many languages besides English, spoken in homes across the nation. What is fascinating about English, is…

In both modern and ancient times, gold is a versatile, tangible symbol of wealth and power, and a standard on which monetary and symbolic value is placed. In Anglo-Saxon England, many connotations of gold are represented in the poem Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney. John Gardner's novel Grendel presents gold in a modern literary context. Although both literary works focus on relatively the same characters and context, gold plays a different role in each. The meaning of gold in Beowulf…