Beowulf Society - 1744 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 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. 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 next.†¦show more content†¦He is nearly beaten by the monsters mother until he wields the famous old sword of the giants which had magical power to save him. While he is not as heroic in his second battle, Beowulf still displays many of the virtue s essential for heroism and even survival. He was required to use ingenuity rather than strength in his battle and was required to go through an extremely difficult process in order to get to the monsters lair, almost like an initiation. However, he came out of the whole ordeal wiser and greatly rewarded. This first two battles also, surprisingly, represented what may have been an influence of Christian values on the culture. While the Christianity is not quite the same as we would expect in a more modern setting, it was just beginning to gain some influence in Europe at the time of this story. This was a period of a conversion of the paganistic beliefs into something that more closely resembled Christianity. Many of the principles and ideals of the two were combined to create a more familiar understanding view of Christianity for the predominantly pagan population. The Christianity in the story is more closely tied in with Moses Old Testament teachings of revenge and equality than Christs teachings of peace, love and forgiveness. Grendels mother attempts to avenge the death of her son while at the same time Beowulf isShow MoreRelated Beowulf Society Essay1717 Words   |  7 Pages 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.Read 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. 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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