Anglo Saxon Traditions In Beowulf

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The Society of 8th Century Germanic Warrior Culture

The Historical Setting of Beowulf

Germanic warrior culture is the main backdrop of the Beowulf. The epic begins with Beowulf, the king of the Geats, as he comes to the aid of the aging male monarch of the Danes, Hrothgar. It follows the titular hero from this point through to his crowning as the leader of the Geats and ends with his untimely death defending his people from a terrible dragon. Although the hubris of Beowulf is undoubtedly the most of import aspect of the story, the progression of the ballsy relies heavily on the aspects of the Germanic warrior civilization in which the epic takes place. Thus, understanding this social club is essential to the story's analysis.

Germanic Civilization

There are iv major parts of Germanic culture that will be discussed:

Bards
Paganism
The warrior-king
Christianization

This list is by no means an extensive description of the time period. Simply these topics are the near basic for an analysis of the properties of Beowulf; pervasive in the civilisation, interconnected by definition, and influential to the direction of the story.

The Geography of 8th century Germanic tribes

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The Historical Setting of Beowulf

Germanic vs. Anglo Saxon

The term Anglo Saxon volition exist used almost exclusively in this article from at present on unless referring to a specific Germanic tribe. Anglo Saxon is a typical blanket term for Germanic tribes, like the Geats or the Danes, who arrived from modern-solar day Denmark and Sweden to conquer much of southeast England in the early 5th century and is the most advisable term for this article because it best describes both the people from where Beowulf( the epic, not the character) originated and the characters of the epic.

Origins of the Epic

Beowulf was originally written in Old English, a language that developed later on the Anglo Saxons conquered southeastern England. Scholars debate the exact date of the conquest, but it is rather reliably placed effectually the 5th or 6th century. Former English language is the forerunner of modern English spoken today throughout much of the world. Not surprisingly, it is much more closely related to the Germanic languages of the conquering Anglo-Saxons than to modern English, which in later on centuries was bailiwick to increasingly heavy influence from French and Latin. In the time that Beowulf was written, it was a fledgling language that was seldom written down and came from Anglo-Saxon languages that were rarely recorded orthographically. This gave Old English little literary clout compared to surrounding languages.

Area conquered by the Anglo-Saxons. — Expanse conquered by the Anglo-Saxons.

Wikipedia

Anglo-Saxon Culture

The Bard

Stories from Anglo-Saxon languages were not written down in this period because they were originally passed orally through Bards. These great speakers were an integral role of Anglo-Saxon social club, responsible for preserving and reciting the heroic legends of their ancestors: great warriors, noble kings, and familial lineage. Bards would tell tales with such prowess that their subjects would often gain mythical qualities. They functioned as the tribes' historians in that the history of their people was a vital theme in a Bard'south poetry.

Bards also had a connectedness with the social club's infidel gods. As professor Kenneth W. Harl of Tulane University writes in his guidebook to the Vikings, "the Germanic gods were closely associated with the veneration of the ancestors . . . social customs and perpetuation of family unit traditions". Bards required an intimate connection with their pagan gods to tell their mythical tales.

Paganism

At least in this context, Paganism refers to the native pre-Christian Anglo Saxon gods. As with whatsoever other polytheistic religion, the Anglo-Saxon gods represented specific phenomena observed by the tribes. Without the advent of scientific inquiry, they created stories to explain the seeming randomness of their world. Many Bards undoubtedly wove these myths into beautiful prose that the tribe would invoke whenever they required exterior assistance in their brutal, hostile, and uncertain world. Thus enchanting stories almost the gods moving the moon or creating thunder enthralled the tribesmen who gathered at the feet of the bards who told tales.

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Literary critics of the epic Beowulf, for example, cite elements of the god Ragnarok in Beowulf's actions. Ragnarok represents the finish of the world in which all gods and warriors fought and died for their faith. Although Beowulf fights for the Christian God, something that will be discussed afterwards in the commodity, the theme of finding glory in fighting to one's death for your religion is evident in how Beowulf fights Grendel, Grendel's female parent, and the dragon.

I can even find aspects of Paganism in Beowulf's expiry.

Warrior Culture and the Warrior Male monarch

Beowulf besides fights these monsters considering he is part of a warrior culture. In Anglo Saxon bureaucracy, warrior kings reigned supreme. The leaders of Anglo-Saxon tribes, similar Hrothgar, male monarch of the Danes; and Beowulf, king of the Geats, were exalted to mythical status past their people because of their unmatched bravery, strength, and vigor. The warrior king protected his people. He too served the important function of uniting the tribe into a cohesive family as a god-like figure. Therefore, Bards would speak of current and former warrior-kings with an exalted status.

The Norton Album of English Literature notes in its introduction to the ballsy notes that the virtually important human relationship to a warrior king was a matrimony with the gods. The gods imbued the warrior king with the skills to win in a battle and rewarded the king with riches upon victory. This union was purportedly the ultimate endowment of the warrior king's status. Elements of this pagan idea are replete in Beowulf. There are continuous allusions to Beowulf'due south mythical abilities, similar his swimming match with Breca, his hubris (which would lead Beowulf to his death), and the riches that the gods will bestow upon the warriors after winning hard-fought battles alongside their warrior king. The companionship between fellow warriors and the gods was among the most vital attributes of a tribe's military prowess.

Christianization

Beowulf was written in a unique time period in Anglo-Saxon history. By the 8th century, coinciding with the authorship of the epic, Anglo Saxons had largely converted to Christianity, casting away the polytheistic gods of their ancestors. But equally previously mentioned, bards had been telling tales, the tale of Beowulf included, since earlier the masses were converted to Christianity. So the stories of onetime had to exist fitted into the teachings of the new religion. The effect is a blend of both religions. References are made to Christian teachings, Beowulf invokes the monotheistic God of Christians, notwithstanding aspects of the infidel warrior culture remain as described in a higher place.

The Setting of "Beowulf": Modern-day

Beowulf Today

Beowulf in Modern-Twenty-four hour period Scandinavia

Interestingly, the pagan warrior culture that made the area known as Scandinavia possible is a far weep from its culture today. Modern-day Scandinavia is known for being among the most socially equal areas in the globe. Furthermore, Denmark pioneers design that focuses on simplicity and functionality known equally functional design, something that is the exact opposite of the hubris of a warrior-king.

The epic has been recognized for its brilliance by modernistic scholars throughout the world. It abounds in linguistic, historical, and artistic significance. The documentary beneath provides proof of its importance to posterity. Only the first office has been provided, just the other 3 parts can be found at the finish of the video

Ryan Buda (author) from Windsor, Connecticut on April 25, 2013:

Norse and germanic civilisation is very fascinating indeed! Sometimes I feel that Anglo saxon history and culture doesn't become its proper respect. I became Very interested in it after being diddled away by Beowulf. I but had to know more almost the historical time period from which the volume came. Thanks for the comment!

Jake Ed from Canada on April 04, 2013:

A very nice read. I'm well educated in Norse history and mythology, mainly fueled by my intense interest in Scandinavian languages and their Germanic origins in relation to the origins of mod English, German language, and Dutch... Every bit a onetime English language lit major, I never took up the opportunity to report anything earlier than the Early on Mod Period. I would really similar to delve deeper into older Anglo-Saxon tradition! I'grand currently learning Icelandic and Faeroese, which should make Old English a piece of cake ;P

LA Elsen from Chicago, IL on September 24, 2012:

This is very useful data. Beowulf can be disruptive if you practice non know the backround. Will share with my husband. He loves Beowulf. Voted upward!