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Anglo-Saxon Culture And The Poem


            The aspects of Anglo-Saxon culture are reflected in the poem Beowulf. In 449, the first band of people from the great North German plain crossed the country of Kent. They were the Jutes. Following the Jutes came .
             Angles and Saxons. These Germanic tribes brought with them a common language and created the Anglo-Saxon England that lasted until 1066. The elements of the Anglo-Saxon culture, such as a fierce life of a warrior or seaman, a heroic ideal, the boisterous and ritualized customs of the mead house, and the importance of both Pagan Germanic and Christian beliefs are all portrayed in the poem Beowulf.
             The fierce hardy life of the Anglo-Saxon warrior or seaman were depicted in Beowulf. In the poem, warfare is as ordinary as common life. Beowulf himself serves as the fierce warrior. The way of the warrior is to gain respect from fellow countrymen and kings. Without battle, a warrior's life could never be fulfilled. People of Anglo-Saxon civilization admired men of outstanding courage.
             Besides a common language, Anglo-Saxons shared a heroic ideal and a set of traditional heroes. In the epic poem Beowulf, Beowulf is the epic hero. He embodies the ideals and virtues valued by the Anglo-Saxon culture. Beowulf is a confident warrior. He is sure of himself and boasts frequently. An example would be in lines 253-254 when Beowulf claims, "no man swims in the sea as I can, no strengith is a match for mine." In addition to being confident, Beowulf is also brave and loyal. He shows his loyalty in lines 312-314 where it is written, "Edgetho's brave son, then assured the Danish queen that his heart was firm and his hands Ready." .
             Also, the boisterous customs of the mead house played a major role in Anglo-Saxon culture. The mead house was built to celebrate victories. In Beowulf, the mead hall was called Herot. Mead was a popular liquor that people drank during the banquets. In the poem, a monster named Grendel murdered thirty men.


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