Beowulf Society Essay - 1717 Words

Beowulf Society The earliest known manuscript of Beowulf is thought to have been written in the tenth century, however, the poem had most likely been told as an oral tradition for centuries before that. In fact, the poem’s events date back to the sixth century. However, because there is only one manuscript of Beowulf still in tact very little is known about the poem or its author. The poem does, however, give us great insight into the culture of the people who composed and told this epic tale. Because the poem was performed orally mainly between the eighth and tenth centuries, but dealt with subject matter of centuries earlier, it is difficult to decipher and separate the cultural context involved in the poem from one century to the†¦show more content†¦Only because Beowulf displayed no fear and used no weapon was he able to destroy this wicked force of destruction. The hero, Beowulf, is glorified more for his virtue than for his strength in defeating the monster. For those who displayed no virtue, despite their valor, the consequence was quite different. Ecgtheow’s son, who displayed no bravery, for example, amp;quot;had been despised for a long while, for the Geats saw no spark of bravery in himamp;quot; (75). The true hero of the middle ages managed to maintain a balance between his personal glory and maintaining the good of his people. As we see in later stories of this period, like the Arthur stories, this is a very delicate balance. Beowulf became a folklore hero because he maintained this balance well. He displayed personal heroism while at the same time keeping his priorities towards the safety of his people. Beowulf’s first attack on the monster Grendel displayed many qualities that were significant in a hero of that time. First of all, Beowulf was not called upon to save the Danes from Grendel. Instead, he came on his own accord, out of duty and principle. He took responsibility upon himself in a situation that required n one. The individualistic society did not require that an person remain part of the tribe, but rather encouraged them to seek adventure while doing good. Beowulf recognized his physical strengths and he utilized them for personal gain andShow MoreRelatedBeowulf Society1744 Words   |  7 PagesBeowulf Society The earliest known manuscript of Beowulf is thought to have been written in the tenth century, however, the poem had most likely been told as an oral tradition for centuries before that. In fact, the poems events date back to the sixth century. However, because there is only one manuscript of Beowulf still in tact very little is known about the poem or its author. The poem does, however, give us great insight into the culture of the people who composed and told this epic tale. BecauseRead More Epic Poem, Beowulf - Women in Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon Society971 Words   |  4 PagesWomen in Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon Society       Beowulf, one of the most translated and reproduced epics of all time, is literature that concerns characters. While Beowulf himself is the obvious hero of this Anglo-Saxon epic, many companions and fellow travelers are mentioned throughout the text. Some of these secondary characters are almost as noble and courageous as Beowulf himself, while others are lowly cowards. Be what they may, all are captured in this timeless tale of adventure. Women,Read MoreBeowulf : Portrait Of Anglo Saxon Society Essay2057 Words   |  9 Pages Beowulf: Portrait of Anglo-Saxon Society The Middle Ages in England began with the withdrawal of the Romans and the arrival of various Germanic tribes (the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes), during the mid-fifth century. These tribes, which became known as the Anglo-Saxons, were composed of people from North Germany, Denmark and northern Holland, and took control of most of Britain, except for lands such as Scotland, Wales or Cornwall (Hindley 23). They brought with them the tradition of oralRead MoreThe Values of a Warrior Society as Seen in Beowulf Essay551 Words   |  3 PagesValues of a Warrior Society As Seen in Beowulf When Nelson Mandela, the president of South Africa died, thousands of people gathered to say their goodbyes. It was not a happy and joyous occasion but rather one where people were mourning of the loss of a great man. They may not have personal known him but they know of the great things that he has done to make the world a better place. To them, it is what made his death difficult and sad. However, if we lived in a warrior society his death would notRead MoreEssay On Shakespeare s Beowulf And Anglo Saxon Society944 Words   |  4 PagesRole of Women in Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon Society Beowulf, the hero of Anglo-Saxon epic, had many adventures, and many companions and fellow-warriors are mentioned throughout his story. Some of them seem noble and courageous, truly living up to the standards of their culture; some seem cowardly. But all have gained immortality in the words, many times transcribed and translated, of the famous epic. However, the women of the time are rarely mentioned in Beowulf. Still, even from those few womenRead More Role of Women in the Epic of Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon Society932 Words   |  4 PagesRole of Women in Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon Society  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Beowulf, the hero of Anglo-Saxon epic, had many adventures, and many companions and fellow-warriors are mentioned throughout his story. Some of them seem noble and courageous, truly living up to the standards of their culture; some seem cowardly. But all have gained immortality in the words, many times transcribed and translated, of the famous epic. However, the women of the time are rarely mentioned in Beowulf. Still, even from those fewRead MoreThe Role Of Government In Beowulf And King Arthurs Society1629 Words   |  7 Pages Although the role of the government found in Beowulf and in King Arthurs societies had basically the same functions (to protect the people from invasion and provide safety and order within the community), each government was set up with some drastically different ideologies. The ideologies that perhaps governed the formation of each government were defined easily by the time periods in which each work was written. Both governments describe leaders (Kings) who are honorable and kind to their peopleRead MoreViolence and Societal Change in Beowulf Essay1305 Words   |  6 Pagesbuilding block of society. A tool even; it helps shape and evolve society. For example, the Napoleonic Wars are described on the Canadian Encyclopedia website as having â€Å"greatly stimulated the export economy of the Canadas (Upper and Lower) and the Maritimes†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and that the result (of the wars) was responsible for the â€Å"development of the Canadian forest industry...† Violence (conflict) is necessary to producing social change and an improved society. The theme of violence in Beowulf is portrayed by theRead MoreAnalysis Of Grendel And The Novel The Land Of Stories 1051 Words   |  5 Pagescreated by the anglo-saxon society is removed the main antagonist in the classic Beowulf, Grendel, is revealed to be a tortured beast who is targeted by a religion crazed society. As stated by Chris Colfer in his novel The Land of Stories: The W ishing Spell â€Å"A villain is just a victim whose story hasn’t been told,† yet for many this lesson falls on deaf ears (9). For many Grendel is a thing of nightmares, a beast straight from hell that no villain can match. But when the society that villainizes GrendelRead MoreCulture And Values : The Epic Of Beowulf And Beowulf1260 Words   |  6 PagesAnalyzation of the Beowulf Epic and the Beowulf and Grendel Film The epic tale of Beowulf was written sometime after his death. In other words, a long time ago during the Anglo-Saxon period. Today, directors in Hollywood did not keep from creating their own rendition of this epic poem As a result, plenty of modern interpretations of Beowulf, such as Sturla Gunnarsson’s Beowulf and Grendel, have been released. Naturally, the cultural values that might be reflected in modern Beowulf renditions will