Beowulf and the Anglo-Saxons

A detailed Summary of Beowulf and the Anglo-Saxons

"Beowulf" is the oldest known piece of English literature, written around 700 A.D. in Old English. It is an epic poem that is a tale of its namesake, Beowulf. We can date this poem easily, not only scientifically, but also culturally. There are certain characteristics in Old English (Anglo-Saxon) society that are evident throughout the poem. Among those traits are religion, the relationship between kin, thanes, and lords, and the way people dealt with their fate.

The Christian religion came to the English Isles as early as 314 A.D. and greatly influenced the literature there. The poet was believed to be a monk and a scop (bard) because of the prevalence of Christian allusions. One such allusion is from the first book of the Bible, Genesis. It is the story of how Cain "slew Abel." It explains how Grendel is descended from Cain,

The Anglo-Saxon civilization believed that fate determined life. They also believed in the human will; that courage allowed individuals to control their responses to fate. Fate (wyrd) is sometimes used as a substitute for "the will of God." They admired courage, loyalty, courtesy, generosity, and perseverance. In the poem, Beowulf says, "Fate often saves an undoomed man when his courage is good."

There is a distinct relationship between a lord (king) and his thanes. They received courtesy; protection, respect, and tribute, but they were expected to be generous to their thanes; protecting and housing them in turn. Their relationship is one of mutual trust and respect. Hrothgar is described as a "dispenser of treasure" and "ring giver", and Beowulf is portrayed as a "protector of warriors." The relationship between kin and friends also is of great importance to the

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 585
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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Beowulf and the Anglo-Saxons

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