Reflection Of Anglo-saxon Culture In Epic Poem: Beowulf Essay Example
Beowulf, an old English epic poem, has a plethora of text and phrases that reflect the author’s culture, Anglo-Saxon. Primarily, epic poems are tools of expression, reflecting and revealing distinctive traits embedded in a culture especially the heroic deeds. Anglo-Saxons are indeed compost of the Germanic tribes who migrated moreover settled in Great Britain. The Beowolf poem comprehensively explicates the rich culture of the Anglo-Saxons through depiction of the highly esteemed king, Beowulf.
The poem explicates one of the most valued traits in the society, heroism, which is a significant depiction of the Anglo-Saxon culture. Beowulf, the warrior, is manifested as brave courageous and intelligent. The poem also shows the reverence and loyalty to the royal family and King in the society, as kings were greatly honoured and adored. For instance, the mighty one rose
...then, with many a liegeman, was the expression to the king. Besides, in the field of war, Beowulf reveals another character of Anglo-Saxons, vengeance, as he is determined to kill Grendel and the episode ceases because there is no one to execute the retribution, “What horror unlooked-for, by hatred unceasing”.
In addition, another well-depicted culture in this poem is the chivalry code as well as kinghood code. It is common amid the Anglo-Saxons even back then to desire a chivalrous, daring and powerful king, as explicated in “Would fly to his covert, seek the Devils’ assembly”. In history, the Anglo-Saxons have been an unstable syndicate due to consistence displacement and tossed left and right by their enemies. The poem employs a monster in order to demonstrate the unstableness in the society. For instance, he refers to Grendel as a monster, “The monste
intended someone of earthmen”.
In conclusion, the poem thus explicates distinct traits and characters enshrined in the Anglo Saxon’s culture. For instance, they entail heroism, loyalty to kingship and revenge. The literal work concisely reflects and manifests the exclusive and rich culture of the Anglo-Saxons by depicting the highly honored king, Beowulf.
Work cited
- Archive.org., "Full Text Of "Beowulf: An Anglo-Saxon Epic Poem"". Archive.org. N.p., 2016. Retrieved from : http://archive.org/stream/beowulf16328gut/16328-8.txt Web. 12 Sept. 2016.
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