Discussion Topic
The historical context and era reflected in Beowulf
Summary:
Beowulf reflects the historical context and era of early medieval Scandinavia, specifically the 6th century. The poem portrays a warrior society with values such as bravery, honor, and loyalty. The narrative includes references to historical events and figures, blending myth and history, and provides insight into the social structure, beliefs, and practices of the time.
What is the historical context of Beowulf?
Beowulf is an Old English poem from the Anglo-Saxon days of literature. Historically, the Anglo-Saxons did not have much in ways of entertainment (outside of battling and feasting). That said, epic tales, like Beowulf, were used to do a few things.
First, the tales were normally sung by scops in order to entertain the gatherers at celebrations or feasts. The tales were heroic in nature and highlighted the characteristics of a person who possessed the specific qualities (like honor, loyalty, and courage) revered by the society.
Second, tales such as Beowulf were meant to energize and bring out the characteristics in the younger generations who wished to go forth in battle and be fierce and successful warriors. By telling the tales of epic heroes, others would see the characteristics needed to be renowned in their own right.
Lastly, some epics (like Beowulf) may have been grounded in real stories...
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about true heroes. As the stories were passed along and down, the stories tended to become embellished. Therefore, the story of Beowulf may be real, but altered enough to hide the identity of the real warrior with specific elements added for entertainment purposes.
The most striking element of Beowulf is how it depicts the cultural transition from a pagan worldview and set of ethics to Christian ones. The narrator telling the story of Beowulf is clearly Christian, while the characters within the narrative are pagans.
Interestingly, the characters sometimes espouse Christian beliefs themselves. King Hrothgar's fatherly speech to the young Beowulf, rather than pointing to the traditional Norse pantheon of deities, only acknowledges one god, likely the Christian God. Biblical characters are also mentioned or evoked within the text. Grendel is described as a descendant of Cain, the biblical murderer forced to wander the world as punishment. Beowulf himself takes on the form of a Christ figure when he dies saving his people from a dragon in the poem's final third. However, his death is more ironic, since his people seem to see his death as a seal on their eventual destruction rather than an assurance of salvation.
Ultimately, knowing about this blend of cultures enriches the poem for the informed reader. During its initial spread, Christianity often blended with the pagan cultures it came into contact with rather than eradicated them entirely, and Beowulf is one such poem that shows how this was the case for the Anglo-Saxons.