Beowulf Cultural Significance

Zill Patel
Ms. Scanlon
British and World Literature
12/1/10

Cultural Significance in Beowulf and it’s Time Period

1) Beowulf had a significant amount of history revealed throughout the text allowing the reader to imagine the cultural life style back in the seventh through tenth centuries. a) BackgroundBefore the British lived in Britain, the Celts had settled in Britain. Around 55BC, The Romans deiced to begin and attack Britain. The invasion was successful around A.D. 43 when the Romans managed to take over small islands where they established settlements. Over the next 400 years, Britain became apart of the Roman Empire. The Romans Then the Romans had to withdraw. The Roman regression had begun as many Germanic tribes took
A kings' destiny was to gain dignity and respect throughout his realm. He achieved this through various ways, such as through battle, through bringing peace into the city, town, or countryside, and keeping company of thanes. The king was bound to uphold ancestral law as well as new laws. There were royal standards that everyone had to abide by. This is true even during the death of a king. Horothgar engaged in battle and “The fortunes of war favored Horothgar. Friends and Kinsmen flocked to his ranks, young followers a force that grew to be a mighty army.” (Beowulf 64-67) By engaging and winning in battle Horothgar was fulfilling his position as king that he inherited. The funeral custom for a king was very extravagant. The opening of Beowulf gives a very poetic and accurate description of the custom used during a king’s funeral. Shield Sheafson was the previous beloved king in Beowulf that the people put in a boat filled with jewelry. “They stretched their beloved lord in his boat, laid out by the most, amidships the great ring-giver. Far-fetched treasures were piled upon him, and precious
Although women weren’t mention much in Beowuf, they also had important roles in the Germanic world. As shown in Beowulf women in the aristocratic society had all the dignity standing as menQueen Wealhtheow They believe that there resides in women an element of holiness and prophecy, and so they do not scorn to ask their advice or lightly disregard their replies. Wealtheow and other female characters all have a legit standing weather in court or in everyday life. Sometimes women served as “peace weavers” or daughters given off in marriage to another country to erase enemy tribes. This was considered a diplomatic marriage but as shown in Beowulf, these marriages don’t always go over smoothly. As in the cases of Finn’s queen, Hildeburn; and Hrothgar’s daughter’s situation. Women probably had an even larger role in the day-to-day life of the core class than they do in Beowulf since Beowulf focuses on creating an impression of splendid civility and heroic paths.“Adorned in her gold, she graciously saluted the men in hall, then handed the cup first to Hrothgar, their homeland’s guardian, urging him to drink deep and enjoy it because he was dear to them. And he drank it down like the warlard he was, with festive cheer so the Helming woman went on her rounds, queenly and dignified, decked out in rings, offering the goblet to all ranks