Beowulf And The Germanic Heroic Code Of Values, Traditions, And Customs

Beowulf: A 1000 B.C. Poem This poem takes place in 6th century Denmark and Sweden. The Geats, which the tribe of Beowulf, inhabited the southern part of Sweden and Hrothgar, whom is the son of Healfdene. Hrothgar built this glorious mead-hall called Heorot. Hrothgar won many riches due to a war that he won and was crowned King. Beowulf doesn’t come into the story until after some time. Due to Hrothgar partying it up in his mead-hall the monster Grendel became very agitated. This aggravated

Around the time Beowulf was put to paper, the Anglo-Saxon culture in Britain was beginning its transformation into a unified society. During the Early Middle Ages Charlemagne, the Frankish Emperor, initiated a widespread campaign intended to convert the masses to Christianity. As Thomas Noble explains, in an article published by Church History, “The Carolingian period, roughly the eighth and ninth centuries, was dynamic and decisive in European religious history. The ruling dynasty and the clerical

The epic poem Beowulf, was written sometime in the eighth century by an unknown author. It was based on legend passed down over time. Prior to the time the poem was written, Anglo Saxons had converted from Germanic Paganism to Christianity. Some people argue that it was a Pagan poem rewritten by a person or persons educated in Christianity. “ has come down from heathen times and acquired its Christian character gradually and piecemeal from a succession of minstrels.” ( Hector Monro Chadwick as

Wife’s Lament” The Old English, or Anglo-Saxon, era of England lasted from about 450-1066 A.D. The tribes from Germany that conquered Britain in the fifth century carried with them both the Old English language and a detailed poetic tradition. The tradition included alliteration, stressed and unstressed syllables, but more importantly, the poetry was usually mournful, reflecting on suffering and loss.1These sorrowful poems from the Anglo Saxon time period are mimetic to the Anglo-Saxons themselves;

was no real concept of patriotism or loyalty to a cause. “Kings could not, except in exceptional circumstances, make new laws. Their role instead was to uphold and clarify previous custom. The first act of a conquering king was often to assure his subjects that he would uphold their ancient privileges, laws, and customs” (David Ross.) One of the most famous kings during the

story about heroes and villains, the monsters involved are often characterized as the evil ones and, consequently, receive no justice under the law. Throughout the epic story Beowulf, the hero of the story encounters three monsters that are threats to society: Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. The monsters in Beowulf are quickly targeted and destroyed because of the harm they cause to society. However, upon further examination of the monsters and the motives for their actions, the reader

Each of these four texts represents a distinct period of history, with Beowulf depicting the Norse and Anglo-Saxon heroes of the Early Middle Ages (500-1000 AD), before the Norman Conquest of Britain in 1066. In this era, England and northern Europe were in the process of becoming Christianized and Beowulf was originally the story of a pagan hero with supernatural powers who had been turned into a Christian knight and holy warrior by the time the story was written down in the 9th Century. His mission