Saxons

“Beowulf ” is an epic poem that has been translated by Burton Raffel. It marks the beginning of English literature. This epic is filled with many amounts of action pack scenes. “Beowulf ” is set around the Anglo-Saxon period, also known as the Dark Ages. It tells the tale of a magnificent hero, Beowulf, who travels to another’s kingdom to conquer evil forces. As Beowulf gets older, he somewhat loses his luster and is defeated in his last standing battle. His death may have been tragic, but he…

earliest double entendres are found in the Exeter Book, or Codex exoniensis, at Exeter Cathedral in England. The book was copied around 975 AD. In addition to the various poems and stories found in the book, there are also numerous riddles. The Anglo-Saxons did not reveal the answers to the riddles, but they have been answered by scholars over the years. Some riddles were double-entendres, such as Riddle 25 ("I am a wondrous creature: to women a thing of joyful expectation, to close-lying…

Beowulf is considered the oldest epic poem in the English language, and the earliest piece of indigenous European literature. In the 19th century, Beowulf was written in Old English, the language of the Saxons. This epic did not have a title originally, but began to be referred to by the name of the Scandinavian hero, Beowulf, with heroic sources and virtues as the primary focus. Both the hero and the story are fiction even though historical elements run through the poem (Snell 1). There have…

Most of this poem has been known to exist since the middle of the fifth century; however, the poem was composed in the late tenth century in a dialect that is known today as the Midlands of England. As the majority of all old epics with an Anglo-Saxon origin, both the authors name and its real title are unknown due to the fact that most of these poems were passed from generation to generation through oral tradition before they are actually written down. Beowulf is a poem enriched with a lot of…

During the Anglo-Saxon period, men played a dominant role in society. They were seen as the central leaders, kings and rulers. Men held an image of a hero, as they also represent strength and wisdom to their society. Men’s role in the Anglo-Saxon era was so prevalent that much is written about them, so much so that they overshadow their counterpart – women. Women in this era, however, were seen as “peace weavers,” motivators, cupbearers and memory keepers. Peace Weavers were women who were…

one of the most prevalent themes throughout the entire epic. Beowulf is the story of a hero whose name is the title of the poem. In his world, a man is known as his father’s son, for the reason that lineage is a very virtuous thing among the Anglo-saxon culture. When Beowulf introduces himself to the Danes, Hrothgar recognizes Beowulf as Ecgtheow’s son. He then says to Wulfgar, “I used to…

Anglo-Saxon Literature How can someone be defined as an epic hero? During the Anglo-Saxon culture and literature, being a hero was like being a warrior. A hero had to be courageous, strong, and intelligent. They had to be willing to face the odds and even sacrifice death for glory and for their people as well. But, above all else, the Anglo-Saxon hero had to remain humble and kind throughout all of their triumph. Characteristics of what it means to be a hero are shown through the Anglo-Saxon…

Beowulf: A Reflection of Cultural Context. A society's culture and values are dependant on their standard of living. Anglo-Saxons in harsh winter weather constantly warred amongst the neighboring tribes for food, valuables, and territory. In a world where survival hinges on combat, rulers would extol the concept of glory in death. These people were not allowed the luxury of having compassion, not to say they were completely void of it, but it was not necessary. Conversely, we today live in a…

In the Anglo-Saxon culture, scops were known as poets and storytellers who kept tribal histories as well as influenced the writing itself. The scops were in high statuses and were well known throughout the Anglo-Saxon culture. It was an honor to be remembered by a scop or to have them sing for someone who has passed. They orally recorded historical events. If we were to think of a scop’s job right now, they would be similar to teachers, poets, or musicians except in a higher status. A mead…

Some people say that Anglo-Saxon and Medieval history had no impact on modern society; these people would be incorrect. Techniques and ideas in Anglo-Saxon and Medieval literature have evolved over time and continue to impact our society today. One example of an ideal that has changed or evolved is the view of women in the societies. The women in Anglo-Saxon culture had political power and rights. The women were allowed to inherit and own property. When a woman would be proposed to, the man…