Research Paper On Beowulf By Seamus Heaney

The short work “Beowulf” by Seamus Heaney derived from the cultural and historical context of Anglo-Saxon. The time of the Anglo-Saxon lasted for about 600 years and is mainly known as the dark ages because it is a time of war and continuous battles against sets of invaders (Sullivan). Their kings should “ display the heroic ideal and be known for an extraordinary and courageous feat or for success in war... must be a generous "ring-giver" too -- that is, he must dish out the spoils of war to his thanes rather than hoard the treasures won in tribal warfare (Delahoyde). Within this quote, the king is to gain the trust of his people and not keep the award won in battle but share it within the nation. The king’s thanes freely agree to join a king in battle. They valued the chivalry code because they desire a king
Everyday life of the Anglo-Saxon England was rough and hard for the rich. Their society was divided into three classes: the thanes were at the top, Anglo-Saxon were upper class, and the churls were below them. The men would wear a shirt, tunic and wool leggings, while women wear long linen garment with a long tunic over it (Daily Life In Anglo-Saxon England). Also, the Anglo-Saxon enjoys hunting and feasting and they were expected to give their followers gifts like weapons. They were, also, very fond of fish and meat. Each village needed no outside help in satisfying their need. The people needed only a few things from outside like salt and iron. They grew their own food and made their own clothes (Daily Life In Anglo-Saxon England). They would live in wooden huts with thatched roofs and there was only one room that was shared by everyone. Animals’ skins were used, during the winter, to keep the huts warm. Anglo-Saxon’s toilets were pits dug in the ground surrounded by walls of strips of wood woven together (Daily Life In