The Dark Ages was a time of immense violence and corruption, but it is also a time that very little is known. It started around the time of the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 A.D. and lasted until about 1000 A.D. During these five hundred years, very little information was written down which makes it hard for historians to conclude anything about this time period. However the few pieces of literature that made it out of the Dark Ages provide a more insightful understanding as to what this murky gap in history was really like-one of these pieces is the heroic epic of "Beowulf". Throughout "Beowulf" the reader is given a more in depth view into what life was like back then, especially life for the Anglo-Saxons. Even though it is a work of fiction, the role of women, warriors, and mead halls in Anglo-Saxon culture is reflected in "Beowulf" through Wealhtheow, Beowulf, and Heorot.
Despite the fact that "Beowulf" revolves around the accomplished male hero Beowulf, women actually were seen as almost equal to men in the extremely patriarchal Anglo-Saxon culture. Not only were they seen as equals, they also held very important "roles which, while far from the equality sought today, are invested with more importance and capability than more modern texts" (Harris). It is a common theme seen throughout literature that women are nothing more than pretty objects for men to acquire and possess-"Beowulf" and Anglo-Saxon society tell a different story, however. There are quite a few models of powerful women in this epic-Grendel's mother, for example-but none is more expressive of true Anglo-Saxon culture than Wealhtheow. One of the most common duties given to women was that of "peaceweaver". This is done "either biologically through her marital ties with foreign kings as a peace-pledge or mother of sons, or socially and psychologically as a cup-passing and peace-weaving queen within a hall" (Chance 108).
In the epic "Beowulf," the protagonist embodies the important values of the culture in which it was written. ... Beowulf shows no signs of retreat and accepts death as it may come. ... Another quality exhibited by Beowulf is his bravery. ... Beowulf displays a sense of strength throughout his life. ... The hero, Beowulf, represents the highest values and ideals of his culture. ...
However, the story is about Pagan people and certain aspects of their culture are even glorified. ... I do not think that Pagan culture is completely celebrated in Beowulf though. ... The culture that produced this story was a blend of Pagan and Christian beliefs. ... Beowulf is a success in that it must have captured something innately human to transcend the massive changes in our culture over time. ... The mixing of the ideas of Paganism and Christianity greatly added to the story itself and our understanding of the morals and values of the culture that created it....
Beowulf is an epic poem that has been told from generation to generation in the Anglo-Saxon culture. ... Beowulf has many traits that make him a hero. ... Beowulf is able to kill her with a giant's sword that can only be lifted by a person as strong as Beowulf. ... This would lead to Beowulf's last battle. ... Beowulf's injuries turn out to be fatal. ...
Beowulf and Lanval; Heroes of their Time There are many differences in Beowulf and Lanval. ... Beowulf is centered on an epic hero. Beowulf is a hero who embodies the ideal characteristics of his culture; these characteristics all come together to make up an epic tale. He possesses the virtues, traits and beliefs that were respected in the culture of his time period. ... Lanval's battle can not be compared to Beowulf. ...
Beowulf Beowulf is the first surviving epic written in the English language. ... Yet he is obviously aware of his culture's pagan past and attempts to describe it in great detail through rituals, such as the elaborate Germanic sea-burials and the grand feasts in the mead-halls, and the ever-present belief in fate. ... Following Grendel's death, there is a second major conflict between Grendel's mother and Beowulf for vengeance over Grendel's death, where Beowulf inevitably defeats Grendel's mother as well. ... The attack on Heorot by Grendel, Beowulf's def...
It is my intention to use "Beowulf" as a zeitgeist for just that purpose. ... Although likely composed within the eighth century, the action of the poem is set somewhere around five hundred A.D. this gives Beowulf the dual aspect of both focusing upon an era and a later cultures reflection upon that time period. ... This warrior culture fully believed in vengeance and even goes so far as to use this retribution as a replacement for the mourning of a loved ones death. ... Nevertheless, it is possible to view the epic of Beowulf as a Christian parable, with Beowulf as a Jesus Christ figure and t...
The warrior code in Beowulf emphasizes on fame, material gain, and conquest. ... Beowulf's warrior code is portrayed today through society's pop culture and media. In today's society fame is gained through the media and in pop culture while people in Beowulf received their fame by protecting their people and fighting monsters. ... Britney Spears is a pop culture icon, who tries to gain as much fame as she can. ... In both Beowulf and in our world today, with fame comes material gain. ...
In Beowulf, a heroic warrior, Beowulf, takes on monsters and demons. ... Lam states that "in Anglo-Saxon culture and literatures, the characteristics of a hero are to be bold, strong, fearless, loyal and [show] indifference to pain" (Yee Ling Lam). ... During the Anglo-Saxon time period heroes were more than just characters in stories, but, in a way, reflected the Anglo-Saxon culture. Anglo-Saxon heroes are bold, strong, fearless warriors, that reflect the Anglo-Saxon culture. ... In Beowulf, Beowulf is the hero and is a well known warrior. ...
Grendel's mother longs for revenge against Beowulf. ... She may be a "natural" mother, but she represents the opposite of what that culture seems to have valued in women (Perrello p 2). ... Beowulf comes forth to fight Grendel's mother and this fight initiates the change of Beowulf into this monster. ... As he opens up this topic, he elaborates of a meaning of what the power of hoarding the treasure holds in comparison to the cultures way of thinking. In other words, worldly prizes and awards such as revenge cannot make a culture a content place. ...
The poem Beowulf, both a piece of literature and an historical artifact, documents the values of early Germanic culture: the values of wisdom, courage, and pride directly relate to the material conditions of early Germanic society. ... Besides wisdom, a strong degree of courage also perpetuates through Beowulf's character. ... Hrothgar warns Beowulf of the seductive dangers of success after Beowulf comes back from the battle against Grendel's mother: O flower of warriors, beware of that trap. Choose, dear Beowulf, the better part, eternal rewards. ... However, Hrothgar's a...
