Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • My Term Papers • Get Free Essays • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - European History Beowulf and AngloSaxon life Beowulf and AngloSaxon life I find it amazing that the epic Beowulf has made it this far. The original poem exists as a single manuscript that resides in the British Library. It seems to have been hand written by two different monks, prior to whom it was most likely an oral story that was passed down from generation to generation. The date it was written is unknown. It’s possible that it was scribed anywhere between 650 and 1000 A.D. Between then and now it has survived a fire that scorched the last part of the poem. It has been revised into several versions and can now be downloaded from the internet for free. Perhaps Beowulf was meant to exist forever. I can easily understand why. Beowulf provides a valuable insight into Anglo-Saxon society, the living conditions, and the people themselves. Initially, Beowulf was interpreted as a guide to showcase the historical aspects of Anglo-Saxon life. It told of vast numbers of warriors who gathered in meadhalls, where soldiers would share their love of poetry, beverages, war, and the honoring of their own king. This meadhall was named after the popular alcoholic drink that was made of fermented honey. Each warrior was outfitted with swords, daggers, and shields. Some of the strongest and courageous wore flexible body armor made of woven metal called mail shirts. The kings of that time played a less assertive role in the political system. They did not have as much power or control that kings of later times had. Instead, the kings were more or less a governor to only the warriors who followed the king. According to Beowulf, the warriors lived a life through an ironic cycle. At first there was the death of all the warriors who inhabited Herot, the hall of the Danish king Hrothgar. The local terror Grendel would swoop up from the swamps and invade the hall at night when the people were asleep. Grendel would scoop them up in a single hand, eat them, and smear their blood throughout the hall. This savage act brought forth Beowulf who tricked the monster into thinking he was asleep one night. Beowulf goes to war with the monster and its mother. Once the beasts are killed, Beowulf is honored for his bravery with a huge party at Herot. Afterwards, Beowulf returns home and becomes king of Geatland after the death of his father. Some years later the process repeats itself. A dragon terrorizes his kingdom killing his men and once again Beowulf goes to war with a dragon. He is once again successful in killing the dragon with the help of Wiglaf, but is mortally wounded. This time the warriors gather to mourn the death of Beowulf and proceed to burn him in a funeral pyre. This brings up the point that Anglo-Saxon people gave much respect to the strong and courageous. Within the poem, the Danes provide services for Beowulf while he attempts to destroy Grendel. They vow to serve him “until that curving prow carries across the sea to Geatland a chosen warrior who bravely does battle with the creature haunting our people, who strives that horror unhurt, and goes home bearing our love.” This is also evident when the warriors throw the party for Beowulf upon his return to Herot, once Grendel and his mother are dead. At the end of the epic, Beowulf dies of a wound he earned while in battle with another creature. The people of his kingdom honor his bravery and strength by gathering together and burning his body, allowing his soul to live on. They then build a monument to remember him and to mourn “their beloved leader, crying that no better king had ever lived, no prince so mild, no man so open to his people, so deserving of praise.” Without a doubt, Beowulf allows readers to gain knowledge of the Anglo-Saxon society, the living conditions, and the people themselves. Up until J. R. R. Tolkien’s work relating to Beowulf, the poem was used to help solve the puzzle of Anglo-Saxon life. Now it can be read for historical significance as well as for adventurous knowledge into the story of an epic hero. Bibliography: Word Count: 692
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