FREE ESSAY ON REFLECTIONS ON ANGLO-SAXON LIFE

REFLECTIONS ON ANGLO-SAXON LIFE

The Anglo-Saxons set the foundations on which the English nation developed. In spite of
continual internal warfare, they built upon those foundations and developed a high degree
of civilization. In Beowulf, Burton Raffel portrays many aspects of Anglo-Saxon
lifestyle, especially the importance of weaponry, women's role in society, and the
significance of Christianity.
There was not a single object that mattered to Anglo-Saxons more than their weapons. The
Anglo-Saxons delighted in beautiful weapons (Crossley-Holland 19). They associated
usefulness with beauty. Anglo-Saxons decorated their swords with ornamental patterning.
These warlike people considered the sword to be the king of weapons (Crossley-Holland
20). The gift of a sword was a symbol of the bond between a lord and his follower.
Warriors remained prepared behind [their] high shield (Raffel 35). Shields were the most
common forms of defense. They decorated the shields as well, which declared the wealth of
its owner. It was an Anglo-Saxon warrior's practice to be ready for battle incessantly.
Women had a well-defined role in Anglo-Saxon society. A thane's wife had responsibilities
that she fulfilled on a daily basis. Her primary chores consisted of looking after the
family and supervising the household. Other duties included overseeing the brewing of
ale, and managing the weaving and dyeing of clothing for her family. She had a public
persona, such as when Welthow went from warrior to warrior, pouring a portion from the
jeweled cup for each (Raffel 24). Presumably, a thane's wife was the mistress of
ceremonies in the mead halls. Women also had their own rights that were quite independent
of [their] husbands (Crossley-Holland 68). A woman had the right to own land, defend
herself in court, to inherit money, and use it at her own discretion. The role of women
in that time period was truly extraordinary.
Christianity was also an aspect of Anglo-Saxon life along with the old pagan beliefs. Old
English literature shows that the glories of Christ are great [but] fate is [the]
strongest (Crossley-Holland 103). Fate was a key element in their day-to-day lives, but
it gradually faded away as they learned about Christianity. Welthow thanked God for
answering her prayers, thus demonstrating monotheism (Raffel 24). She believed in one
supreme being, rather than in many gods, as the majority of the pagan Anglo-Saxons did.
The epic Beowulf portrays Grendel as having been conceived by a pair of those monsters
born of Cain (14). This biblical description reflects the assimilation of Christian
themes. Christianity appealed to the Anglo-Saxons for one simple reason: it offered
hope.
Beowulf is the initial piece of literature that depicts a portion of English
civilization. Anglo-Saxon culture is not much different from society today. Thanes were
punished for being disloyal, just as there are consequences for breaking laws. They also
had religion in their lives, which is even more apparent today. Their focus in life was
to gain fame from their bravery, just as every young child today wants to be famous. The
Anglo-Saxons laid foundations that have been built upon over time and are now edifices.
Bibliography
Crossley-Holland, Kevin. Green Blades Rising. New York: The Seabury Press, 1975.
Levick, Ben. The Religion of the Pagan Anglo-Saxons. Angelcynn: Anglo-Saxon 
Living History 400-900AD. 25 
August, 1997. 24 January, 2000.
Raffel, Burton, trans. from Beowulf. Elements of Literature: Literature of Britain. Eds.

Robert Anderson, et al. Austin: Holt, 1989. 14-37.