Saxons

have been subject to the swarthy shackles of patriarchy throughout the vast majority of history, Anglo-Saxon literature suggests that they actually occupied roles extending beyond those relative to subservience. Both Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight demonstrate the extended importance of women. Such characters are crucial when it comes to maintaining the overall stability of Anglo-Saxon society, and, moreover, showcase far more power than many tend to give them credit for. Scholars…

Who is Beowulf? Beowulf was an epic hero during the Anglo-Saxon times. He was considered the most heroic man alive during the Anglo-Saxon times. Beowulf originated from an old poem written by an unknown author, and has been passed down for many centuries. Beowulf was a warrior of the Geats and had fought many monsters in his time. Beowulf had thus heard a rumor about a monster terrorizing King Hrothgar and his people, so Beowulf sets out this journey to hunt this monster, which is where his…

Values of a Hero Throughout the epic poem, Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, many values embodied by heroes in the Anglo Saxon culture are portrayed. The main character, Beowulf, is the perfect hero according to the culture in this time period. He has all of the traits that a true hero needs. Beowulf is loyal, brave, and he also has great physical strength. Above all of these traits, Beowulf’s pride is what makes him such a great hero. Many of his great accomplishments are because he wanted…

Symbolism As the cold winds grip England, Anglo-Saxon warriors huddle around the fire in their enormous meadhalls. A soothing stories drifts through the air. The warriors are engulfed in the story of Beowulf. As the bard entertains the crowd of warriors, he uses an arsenal full of literary tools. One of these tools is symbolism. Good vs. evil, the swamp and the monsters’ lair, Hrothgar’s throne, and Grendel are all prevalent as uses of symbolism throughout this oral art. As the story was told…

He is way more humble and honorable than most of the warriors around him. When Beowulf told Hrothgar and the Danes that he will kill Grendel without his sword, this showed the audience a portion of the honor that Beowulf had for himself (The Anglo-Saxon). Beowulf was also honorable to his father after he had died. “Then it fell to Beow to keep the forts. He was well regarded and ruled the Danes for a long time after his father took leave of his life on earth” (Beowulf). Beowulf was the type of…

surrender and also running the king’s son out of the kingdom and Italy. Charlemange then put his son Pepin in charge of the Lombards by making him the king (The Life of Charles the Great. 268-69, #6). Charlemange also went on to Start wars with the Saxons and restrained the Bretons before being in war with the Bavarian (The Life of Charles the Great. 270-71, #9-11). Charlemange was involved in…

low class war. African Americans and other minorities did not fall behind in the Vietnam War, African Americans were drafted by great numbers and they as United States soldiers still did not receive the same entitlements and respect as the Anglo-Saxon soldiers. The civil rights movement had a substantial affect in the United States, the civil right movement was based on equality to all, against racism and discrimination, but it also became involved in the anti-war effort regarding African…

Print. Turner, P. F. J. The Real King Arthur: A History of Post-Roman Britannia, A.D. 410-A.D. 593. Alaska: SKS Pub., 1993. Print. Turner, Sharon, Samuel John Neele, A. J. Dove, William D. Richardson, and Flora Richardson. The History of the Anglo-Saxons: Comprising the History of England, from the Earliest Period to the Norman Conquest. London: Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, Paternoster-row, 1820.…

This led to an array of scholars, like Clarence Streit, to hypothesize a world-federalist system that could eliminate inter-state war through a racialized hierarchy of Anglo-Saxon supremacy (649). Bell argues that “the racial peace thesis was an important element of the Anglo-Saxonist ideology” which guided self-identification and geopolitical alliances that manifested in the binaries of “civilized/uncivilized” and “right/wrong”…

Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, the qualities that would be most admired by his society included determination, confidence, and superhuman strength. As previously noted, Beowulf is a determined hero. Determination is a trait that the Anglo-Saxons admired because this offered a form of hope for the people. It is this determination that leads Beowulf to Heorot to help the Danes against Grendel. In this case, Beowulf came to the save the Danes and slaughtered Grendel in battle. In another…