Anglo Saxon Culture In Beowulf

Anglo Saxon’s culture
Primarily, Anglo-Saxon culture is thought to be dominated by “I shall fulfill that purpose, /prove my self with a proud deed /or meet my death here in the mead-hall” (Beowulf 636-638). One of the most influential literature works in Anglo-Saxon period is Beowulf, which is translated by Seamus Heaney several millenniums later. The author of Beowulf records some oral stories passed along among Anglo Saxons. In Beowulf, the author narrates two heroic stories happened to Beowulf, a courageous warrior, in two kingdoms, Geatland and Denmark, during Anglo-Saxon period. In the stories, Beowulf defeats a manlike beast and a dragon, receives treasures from two kings, and finally reaches his goal of being a heroic figure and a king

Beowulf has once defeated a manlike beast, Grendel, for assistance to the Danish king Hrothgar. His fight ends with “Beowulf was granted /the glory of winning; Grendel was driven /under the fen-banks, fatally hurt, /to his desolate lair … he was happy with his nightwork /and the courage he had shown … he had healed and relieved a huge distress, /unremitting humiliations” (Beowulf 817-830). In Anglo-Saxon culture, warriors are expected to voluntarily give kings a hand to get over their difficulties they cannot handle efficiently because of their positional situation. Beowulf, as a dedicated warrior, is concerned to King Hrothgar’s intense necessity of finding a brave man to kill Grendel without announcing his request publically or making himself feel humiliated. He hurts Grendel until he cannot attack or eat civilians anymore. Consequently, warriors helping kings is prevalent during Anglo-Saxons’ time on account to kings’ pride and authority over their

One of the most significant reflections to oral tradition in Beowulf is the song about other heroes’ exploits when Danes are celebrating Beowulf’s success of killing Grendel in Heorot, the mead hall. The song is sung when “a thane /of the king’s household, a carrier of tales, /a traditional singer deeply schooled /in the lore of the past, linked a new theme /to a strict metre. The man started /to recite with skill, rehearsing Beowulf’s /triumphs and feats in well-fashioned lines, /entwining his words” (Beowulf 866-873). Anglo Saxon people like to practice storytelling orally. They memorize great hero stories long ago and turn those stories into praising songs to appreciate new-risen heroes, just like the singer in the quote singing songs to “rehearse Beowulf’s /triumphs” by “linking a new theme” to “the lore of the past”. The widespread stories are taught and passed along from one generation to the next so people can keep remembering the greatness of each accomplished hero in musical form. Throughout Beowulf, songs for congratulation appear several times in mead halls and among random Anglo-Saxon people. Hence, oral tradition is considered one of the most adopted cultural truths during Anglo-Saxon