Anglo-Saxon Culture in Beowulf: Reflecting Anglo-Saxon Ideals
Anglo-Saxon culture in Beowulf is pricisely represented and portrayed in the famous poem through its main character and his respected actions. Beowulf, in its thrilling tale of a warrior, portraying what was important to the Anglo-Saxon culture during that time, which was ideally the warrior culture.
Read this to find out how Beowulf reflected Anglo-Saxon culture, society, and ideals.
How Does Beowulf Reflect the Ideals of the Anglo-Saxon Society?
The Anglo-Saxons were part of a warrior culture, and as warriors they reflected their values through heroic acts just as Anglo-Saxon traditions in Beowulf. Similar to many other cultures, The Anglo-Saxon was tribal in structure, which grew and changed over time to an extent, but there was always a hierarchy. Kings and lords ruled over the people with lower status, and warriors had a sense of pride in fighting and dying for their king and their land.
Beowulf sought nobility in urging to help the Danes. He traveled there aiming to help them as they were struggling against a murderous monster named Grendel. Beowulf offered to kill the monster as a way to gain honor, nobility and a reward. He also displayed The Anglo-Saxon culture through his skill, fighting with his sword, being strong and courageous.
This poem shows a battle between good and evil, and signifying the culture by making Beowulf the hero because he was able to eliminate evil. Adding to this, how he himself, wanting to fight the monsters alone to keep others from death. His skill and courage become legendary, hence he fights not one, nor two, but three monsters in his lifetime, and he is successful each time.
Examples of Anglo-Saxon Culture in Beowulf
The examples of Anglo-Saxon culture in Beowulf range from traditional to warlike examples. Other parts of Anglo-Saxon culture include loyalty, refusal to be humiliated, physical strength and earning what you work for.
Some examples of the culture include: (from Seamus Heaney’s translation)
- Beowulf displays loyalty in the poem by honoring an alliance his uncle had with King Hrothgar of the Danes. He goes to the Danes to help them fight the monster, and in one version of the poem, it states, “Then news of Grendel, Hard to ignore, reached me at home…So every elder and experienced councilman Among my people supported my resolve To come here to you, King Hrothgar”
- He shows pride in his abilities along with courage and strength: “Because all knew of my awesome strength. They had seen me boltered in the blood of enemies”
- He refused to be humiliated, even by those envious of his skills. When one man tries to remind him of past foolishness, Beowulf replies with “Now, I cannot recall any fight you entered, Unferth, That bears comparison. I don’t boast when I say That neither you nor Breca ever were much Celebrated for swordsmanship Or for facing danger in the battlefield”
- To our modern ears, Beowulf might sound like a boaster. But he was very much beloved for his acts.“his people counted on Beowulf, On the warrior’s steadfastness and his word” It is a definite part of Anglo-Saxon culture.
- Beowulf eventually becomes king of his land, and his kinsman shows loyalty by following him into his final battle when no one else would. Showing honor, the young men say, “I would rather my body were robbed in the same Burning blaze as my gold-giver’s body Than go back home bearing arms”
Words and Phrases That Portray Anglo-Saxon Characteristics in Beowulf
Even if you won’t read the whole poem or maybe read whole stanzas, you can see Anglo-Saxon society in Beowulf just by simply glossing over it.
These words throughout the poem showcase what’s important to the culture:
- “steadfast”
- “bravery”
- “fixed purpose”
- “fight with the fiend”
- “swoop without fear”
- “lament”
- “gruesome”
- “favor us with help and fight for us”
- “celebrated for swordsmanship”
- “graciously saluted”
- “knows your ancestry”
All of the givens above highlight some important aspect of the Anglo-Saxon culture and their characteristics. There was a constant focus on gaining honor, nobility, fighting, showing no fear, and acknowledging ancestry, connections and loyalty. On the same token, Beowulf is such a good representation of the culture that, it almost makes him very flat as a character, having a stark, focused and strong foundation.
Women’s Role in the Anglo-Saxon Society
Women, on the other hand, also play a crucial role in the Anglo-Saxon society, tradition and culture in Beowulf. They are meant to be peacemakers and support the men they are tied to.
The women in the poem only do that, and these phrases show their individuality effectively:
- “Her mind was thoughtful and her manners sure”
- “Queenly and dignified”
- “Offering the goblet to all ranks”
- “Observing the courtesies”
What Is Beowulf? Background to the Famous Story and the Anglo-Saxons
Beowulf is a very famous epic poem written between 975 and 1025 AD about a warrior fighting and killing a monster named Grendel. It was written in Old English by an anonymous author, and likely told orally and passed down through generations.
It is one of the most important poems to the English language for many reasons. One of them is that it gives us a look into the past and shows us what was important to Anglo-Saxon Culture.
“The Anglo-Saxons” is the term used to describe the people who were part of any Germanic tribe. Until the Norman conquest in 1066, the Anglo-Saxons lived and ruled in the areas of England and Wales. It was a mixed group of people in terms of their origins, and some believe they descended from the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes. They were not just from those in England and Wales but also parts of Scandinavia.
They spoke many dialects which eventually came together to form Old English. Anglo-Saxon was used to differentiate between the English people of Britain and those in Europe. After a while, the term was used interchangeably with the word ‘English.’ Even though Beowulf’s events take place in Scandinavia, the poem was both written in Old English and represents Anglo-Saxon values of the time.
Anglo-Saxon Culture in Beowulf: Minor Points You Should Remember:
- The Anglo-Saxons lived and reigned between the 5th century till 1066, when the Normans invaded
- Beowulf takes place in Scandinavia, the poem talking about a warrior coming to offer help to the king of the Danes
- The Danes were struggling with a murderous monster called Grendel who was attacking them
- He also offers out his loyalty because in the past his uncle had an old alliance with the Danes
- While he shows loyalty to the King of the Danes, his kinsman, Wiglaf, shows loyalty to him at his final battle, and is rewarded for it
- Anglo-Saxon Culture was a warrior culture, which means courageous and brave people fought in order to preserve their loyalty and bring honor, serving their Kings and Lords.
Conclusion
Take a look at the main points about Anglo-Saxon culture in Beowulf as they were covered in the article above.
- Beowulf is an epic poem written by an anonymous author in 975 -1025, but it was an orally told story before being written down
- The poem is a perfect reflection of Anglo-Saxon culture, a mix of Britains, Germanic tribes, and some part of Scandinavians, who lived between the 5th century till 1066.
- Their culture was warrior culture, focuses on heroic acts, traditions, nobility, loyalty, refusal to be humiliated, physical strength and skill, honor and courage
- Beowulf, in search of honor, an Anglo-Saxon culture characteristic offers to help the Danes from the monster, doing so, he also kills the monster’s mother
- He is awarded both honor and treasure, hence becomes king and later fights the third and final monster
- But his confidence in his skill is not wrong, fighting against evil, he stated “Because all knew of my awesome strength. They had seen me boltered in the blood of enemies”
- Different words/phrases stated in the poem taken by themselves showcase the Anglo-Saxon ideals throughout the poem: the perfect example are “steadfast,” “bravery,” “celebrated for swordsmanship” and “swoop without fear”
- The women in Beowulf also exhibit characteristics of Anglo-Saxon culture through their acts of making peace, greeting warriors, being dignified, etc.
Beowulf is an ideal example of the true Anglo-Saxon culture, society and tradition.
He is all-good, fighting for what’s right and noble, in search of honor, and he wants to be both loyal to a king and to his people. And yet, even though we can relate to many of these aspects of culture, is Beowulf the man all that interesting besides his skills?
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