TASK
“Enter analysis documents on Epic Poetry as the expression of Anglo-Saxon Culture, the idea of the hero, its qualities and the setting and environment where he could express his ideals.”
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Anglo-Saxon culture was conditioned by natural cycles, so the first aim of people was to survive in front of a dangerous nature.
It is obvious that the hero had to be a very strong man, able to fight dangers, help others and guarantee social peace.
This figure is clearly expressed in the poem “Beowulf”, the hero is described as “the mightiest men on earth, high-born and powerful”. Beowulf’s ideals are the ones required by that ancient society: power, courage, generosity and loyalty.
Reading the poem these values appear in all their importance. Further values were also family origins (Beowulf is “high-born” and characters are regularly named as the sons of their fathers: Beowulf is Ecgtheow’s son), the conquests (the first king, Shield Sheafson, was a good king because he conquered a lot of clans and ensured the peace) and eloquence (“he ordered a boat”, “he announced his plan”). The poem is situated in Sweden and Denmark, the lands of the Geats.