Anglo Saxon Worldview In Beowulf

Throughout history, literature has been a gateway to give us a better look into how society used to view the world. A worldview is developed through one's experiences: their pains, losses, joys and successes. The worldview of Anglo-Saxon England from the 8th to 11th century was melancholy and somber based off their values, fears, and beliefs. They had their own values with fame and loyalty, but also betrayal, their own fears with humiliation and loneliness, and, arguably most important, their own beliefs with God and fate in control of everything. In Anglo- Saxon England, courage and loyalty were valued (Janet, 101). A man with valor and loyalty was expected to be rewarded by their king (Janet, 103). Furthermore, above anything, everyone battled for fame because fame is the only thing that lasts. In Beowulf, Beowulf is a renowned Geatish warrior and hero (Beowulf, 153-156). His

In The Seafarer, the speaker is torn between a longing for the sea and a longing for comfort (The Seafarer, 39-57) . While on land, the speaker wants to be at sea and while at sea, the speaker wants to be on land. This is due to the belief of having no purpose in life. In Anglo- Saxon England, it was believed that God and fate controlled everything and their own life was insignificant (The Seafarer, 68-71) . It was believed that honor and virtue had no value and the only thing left in the world was corruptness of man. In The Wanderer, it stressed the point of real men bottling up grief and not letting it disturb them; however, that is why the worldview was melancholy and somber (The Wanderer, 12-20). If a man keeps everything to himself, bottles everything up, and hides his emotions, he will become indignant and bitter. He will turn into his own worse enemy. He will push everyone out of his life and will end up alone. The belief of having no purpose in life is what sparks the view of darkness in the