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The Anglo-Saxon Culture Values

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In the fight with Grendel’s mother, the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf culture values physical strength above all else. During the fight with grendel 's mother, Beowulf was giving a sword that was suppose to protect him from the wrath of the beast but the sword had failed him. However, that could not stop him. To Beowulf, “If weapons were useless he’d use his hands” (506-507). This shows Beowulf 's strength and want for frame and glory empowered him. If a steel sword couldn’t defeat the monster then his bare hands would once again has his life. Another example that the Anglo-Saxon culture values strength the most is towards the end of the fight when Beowulf identifies a magical sword, ``made from gaints, suck in solid stone. It was “the best of
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456 Words | 2 Pages

In Beowulf’s first battle he battles a half man half beast, he was a little naïve with the strength of Grendel, because he uses his bare hands but in the end he ends up defeating the beast with his bare hands by ripping off his arm

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950 Words | 4 Pages

Beowulf first demonstrates his strength when Grendel “was overwhelmed, manacled tight by the man who of all men was foremost and strongest in the days of his life,” causing him to scream a scream described as “a God-cursed scream and strain of catastrophe, the howl of the loser, the lament of the hell-serf keening his wound”(785-789). The poet indicatively calls Beowulf the “strongest” and reiterates Beowulf’s strength with the juxtaposition of “hell-serf” to “catastrophe,” “loser,” and “keening.” This juxtaposition shows that Beowulf turns an inherently strong “hell-serf” into a “keening” “loser” suffering his own “catastrophe,” exemplifying the magnitude of strength Beowulf has. Later Beowulf’s demonstrates his strength again in the battle with the dragon when “the war-king threw his whole strength behind a sword-stroke and connected with the skull. And Naegling snapped… he wielded a sword, no matter how blooded and hard-edged the blade his hand was too strong, the stroke he dealt (I have heard) would ruin it” (2678-2680, 2685-2688).

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Compare with his encounter with the dragon. Beowulf treated Grendel as an equal by facing him his bare strength alone. “The prince of the Geats was putting his trust in his great strength and in God's favor. Off came the hero's iron mailcoat and hard helmet; he handed over his trusty sword to an attendant thane and asked him to safekeep all that war-gear (X)”. Beowulf’s confidence comes from his belief that he not matters how monstrous Grendel was, he isn’t invincible.

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Thesis: The role of the Anglo-Saxon Hero in Beowulf represents and defines the values of strength, intelligence, selfness, and courage. Beowulf himself models the culture of the Anglo-Saxon hero, as he is willing to face any odds, and fight to the death for their glory and people I. Strength and physical appearance A. Strength is clearly an important characteristic of heroes in Anglo-Saxon culture and heroic code. 1. The beginning of the story Beowulf is described as having the strength of "thirty men" in just one of his arms. 2.

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Beowulf sets sail with fourteen of the Geats to battle Grendel. Grendel is so powerful that mere steel cannot injure him. Despite knowing this, Beowulf still chooses to fight him. Not with a sword and a shield, but with his bare hands. “ My lord Higlac might think less of me if I let my sword go where my feet were afraid to, if I hid behind some broad linen shield: my hands alone shall fight for me,” (166-174).

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1854 Words | 8 Pages

When again his sword snapped in the fight with the dragon, it was said, “It was never his fortune/ to be helped in combat by the cutting edge/of weapons made of iron” (Beowulf 2681-2684). This mindset that Beowulf can achieve as much as Sigmund without the aid of a magical weapon helps to establish the English hero’s dominance over his Nordic

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1189 Words | 5 Pages

Do the Anglo Saxons belief’s had to do in how religion came about? The Anglo Saxon Era was one of the most important times period occurred; this era gave rise to important history in to how Anglo Saxon was established and most importantly in how their religion came to developed and the change they had face over their beliefs. The Anglo Saxons were known to be pagans, polytheistic meaning they believed in many gods, all their kings were pagan also their lands were the largest part of the Roman Empire as it had been in c.400 to remain pagan so long (Campbell 22). The changes they faced had to do with their way of practicing their religion, questioning this beliefs that they had for centuries in to a new religion that is Christianism. It wasn’t

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200 Words | 1 Pages

The Anglo-Saxon social structure was divided into various social classes, which can vary from place to place. At the top was always the king. We know that the King is always ruling over the order of society and that if there any crime against him he essentially has the power to grant what he sees a fit punishment. In the Laws of King Alfred it states that “ If any one fight in the king’s hall, or draw his weapon, and he be taken; be it in the king’s doom, either death, or life, as he may be willing to grant him.” (Alfred, line 7)

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He did carry the ways of a Anglo-Saxon which were honesty, kindness,loyalty, and honor. But all of that was soon covered up with his prideful thinking. Beowulf came to the aid of the king Hrothgar and his people willingly, knowing he could solve the king’s problem. Beowulf succeed in killing the monster getting fame , glory, and riches. Although Beowulf brought along his mighty warriors he persisted that they stay and watch him defeat the monster named “Grendel’’ all alone.

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621 Words | 3 Pages

“No weapons, therefore, for either this night: unarmed he shall face me of face me he dares” (683-685). This quote shows that he will face Grendel without weapons and just his hands. This makes him very courageous because he's sacrificing his life going against Grendel let alone without weapons things like this in what make people envy him. “If we want to figure out what a symbol might mean you have to use a variety of tools on it: questions, experience, preexisting knowledge” (Foster 107). When reading Beowulf you

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821 Words | 4 Pages

The epic poem “Beowulf”, translated by Burton Raffel, focuses on a hero by the name of Beowulf who goes on a quest to rescue King Hrothgar and his people from an egregious monster by the name of Grendel. This Anglo-Saxon tale gives insight into the values and beliefs of the people from whom the story originated. Their war-centered ideology and views on loyalty and courage were the principles that the Anglo-Saxon culture was founded upon. While warfare was a focal point in their lifestyle, it was far from a savage, barbaric state of fighting. Honor and prestige were bestowed upon those who died during battle and selflessness for fellow warriors was a fundamental belief.

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948 Words | 4 Pages

This proves that he is strong and brave because no one else could kill Grendel let alone face him. Beowulf kills Grendel with his bare hands and without armor on. Other warriors could not even kill him with a sword and armor. “Beowulf’s intention to fight Grendel with only his strength proves that he carries the characteristics of a true hero”(Hailey).

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845 Words | 4 Pages

Anglo-Saxon Culture The Anglo-Saxon Culture is based on kinship,courage,and honor. Kinship in the Anglo-Saxon culture was the respect of social standards and the hierarchy and in turn helped the society to run relatively smoothly. Courage to the Anglo saxons was very important because it showed how high your social status should be and how much of a “man” you are and weather you deserve the honor given to you . Honor is arguably one of the most important things to the Anglo-Saxons seeing as if you earned enough honor you could move up in society and accand to positions such as a high ranking soldier or even at times under some conditions the king.

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941 Words | 4 Pages

Heroes need weapons to defeat their enemies, and it is no different for the hero Beowulf in the epic poem Beowulf. Beowulf uses all sorts of weapons throughout his many battles with monsters. Each weapon that he uses there is attached a cultural significance. There is a cultural significance attached to each weapon that he uses, ultimately aiding him in his survival and his killing of the beats. As he grows older, he needs to wear more armor and fight with stronger weapons to be able to kill his enemies.

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775 Words | 4 Pages

It is often assumed that literature is simply a book but it is any written piece of work. Culture is also defined loosely being the beliefs, social forms, and traits of a racial, religious, or social group. Literature is an important part in most cultures and culture is essential in almost all literary works. The two relate closing to one another as they influence and illuminate each other. Different cultures read books to help them understand who and what they came from.

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