Essay: Beowulf – a unique insight into Anglo-Saxon society and way of life

Beowulf is a poem, which to scholars provides unique insight into the Anglo-Saxon society and way of life. Historian David James Griffiths describes Beowulf as one of the ‘archetypal texts of the medieval heroic age’. This is down to being unrivalled in importance, due to vast literary gaps in the early medieval world. Dating the source however, is an issue. There are two major theories about when the poem was written. The first being that it was written in the timeframe around 1100 AD, which disregards the poem’s oral history. Kiernan and Fulk, argue that it was composed in the 11th century and was likely written about the Viking King Cnut. This theory is based around links between Beowulf and King Cnut, who at the time of this theory controlled a extensive empire covering Denmark, Danelaw, Norway and regions of Sweden. The other argument is that the poem was composed later on from around 1000 AD, but was a major epic throughout oral history ranging from 700 AD to 800 AD. This argument is supported by Newton, who states it was written in the later part of the 7th century, due to factors such as the use of Latin words and the appearance of Kaluza’s law. This hotly debated topic of the dating is crucial when analysing the poem, as it depends if the evidence is more applicable to different centuries. The influence of Danelaw would be different in 1000 AD and 700-800 AD.
This essay will analyse the key concepts of the Beowulf poem and assess what it tells us about life in the early medieval world. The poem shows that Pagan heritage is still an important feature in Anglo-Saxon lifestyle, this being shown by the poem revolving around their pagan heritage. There is a constant reminder of the struggle between Christianity and Paganism, with the poem highlighting the fear of Paganism in areas of the medieval world. The Anglo-Saxon culture was extremely militaristic, with a strong ‘warrior culture’ in their ideals. Beowulf has references to secular warfare and comitatus. Both of which are renown for being prominent in Pagan military traditions. Another point that will be analysed is the evident change from tribal settlements towards garrisoned settlements, an occurrence under Alfred the Great. This was the start of Theodosian code being implemented in England. One must look at how the text is written, with the poem being written in vernacular. This shows that there was a sense of education and literacy. This essay will look at each factor in turn and come to the conclusion that there was a struggle between Christianity and Paganism in the early medieval world.
Beowulf appears to replicate numerous aspects of life from the Anglo-Saxon time, specifically showing there was a interest in Paganism and Paganistic society. This is evident in the poem as it is based around their Pagan heritage. This can be seen in many places in the poem using the language. Wording such as ‘Hrothgar’ and ‘Aelthings Vessel’ are linked extremely closely to that of the Germanic Pagans. Howe argues that ‘by setting this memory of the Pagan past with Christian history, Bede and others transformed it into a myth.’ . This indicates that the Anglo-Saxons, were interested in studying and respecting their heritage. However, they wanted to do this from afar as their society was a deeply rooted Christian one. This meant they didn’t have the freedom to look at Paganism in way that portrayed Pagans, but they had to refer it back to Christianity and God. This is recognised by Earl, who states that Anglo-Saxons and other Europeans “couldn’t have accepted the poem’s non-Christian ideals, so…the poems heroic warrior virtues are metaphors for Christian ones.” Anglo-Saxon society was still in an adjusting period to Christianity when the poem was composed, which suggests there are still some affiliations with the Paganistic way of life. This could be contextual to one of the periods where the poem was composed. In the 7th century there were still Pagan kings, such as Penda King of Mercia who was defeated in 655 AD by Owusi. If Bede is trusted then Penda was a key figure in this period. Howe goes onto further argue that Beowulf served to reveal the ‘enlarging Christendom’. This was an event that was ongoing throughout the 6th and 7th centuries, creating a divide in society. With Beowulf highlighting that the majority of society was fearful of Paganism and Christian. This is evident when looking at cases such as Northumbrian succession in the 7th century, where there was a back and forth between Paganism and Christianity depending on the ruler. Roberta Franks distinguishes that the poet has a deep ‘sense of history’, this is shown by how they bind Christianity with the Anglo-Saxon Pagan history.
This supports the argument that the poem was originated from Denmark and Geatland regions and came to England through emigration. These Danes were subsequently Christianised, meaning that the Beowulf poem moved towards a Christian narrative. Popular historical belief that the poem is an attempt from Anglo-Saxons to connect with their heritage of Paganism . This is shown though archaeologists such as Frank Casket and Rothwell Cross, who both depict Christianity alongside Paganism in the burial mounds the have undertaken research on. Showing that this isn’t an isolated event, but more of a change in lifestyle after the conversion to Christianity. Historian, Richard North argues that the poem is a Danish myth in a Christian form. This is supported by Newton who adds that the poem attempts to combined Christianity and Germanic legend. These arguments show Anglo-Saxon society as one stuck in a period of an in-between state of religion and way of life. The poem Beowulf shows that there is a clear identity crisis in Anglo-Saxon England in the time that it was written.
The theme of a struggle for identity is also shown in the terms of military. Beowulf portrays the early medieval world as extremely militarised, showing that warrior lifestyle is the normality amongst many Anglo-Saxons. Baker argues that the Anglo-Saxon society was one of sophistication , but also one ‘organized around war-making. This is supported in the poem as it highlights the ideal man as a warrior, suggesting that warfare being the imperative focus of their society. In the poem the pet states ‘A warrior would be ashamed to have been the only survivor of a battle. Your friends were really the ones who, after your death told your stories.’ The statement connotes the Anglo-Saxon men as war mongers, which fits in to the time period and the theory of the Anglo-Saxon invasion of England. This can be shown by the ongoing fighting between Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, for example between Mercia and Northumbria before the Viking invasion. Archaeology can be used when looking at the warrior culture of Anglo-Saxons, as in the Sutton Hoo burial ground there are many weapons such as spears and javelins buried. This portrays the early medieval as on of warrior culture. This is supported by further archaeological evidence, with the Staffordshire Hoard which showed how military focused they were. As well as looking into the amount of Christian artefacts that were present, putting stress onto the issue of the conversion from Paganism to Christianity.
Beowulf puts emphasis on the Viking tradition of plundering. This effectively funded their wars, in the poem this is mentioned where Beowulf is gets great rewards. Such as a ‘gold standard as a victory gift…that was both precious object and token of honour.’ This is secular warfare based on primarily a monetary motive. This is a Pagan style of warfare, which revolves around loyalty towards a Lord. Leyerle argues that this is a paganistic trait, because it derived from the success as a warrior and their ability plunder. This isn’t just a trait from Anglo-Saxon England, in Carolingian France the emperor Charlemagne used a system of plunder extremely effectively in the creation of his empire. This is the idea of ‘Economy of Honour’ that historian Baker discusses. As well as secular warfare, Beowulf also shows a code of Comitatus in Anglo-Saxon society. This is an old Pagan style of Germanic Lords ruling over their subjects in return for battlefield loyalty. This is further evidence showing that there is an Anglo-Saxon warrior culture, with loyalty to ones Lord or King being the centralised concept. This leads to the conclusion that the society was profoundly tribal. When looking at the change from Heptarchy, to the Four Kingdoms and the to the Kingdom of England this is evident, shown by the increasing power of Beowulf. The poem overall gives the reader a clear indication that the early medieval world has a militaristic society based around warriors loyalty to their Kingdom and a sense of honour.
As well as a strong warrior culture in Anglo-Saxon society, the poem Beowulf shows that there was a shift towards walled settlements with garrisons. “Far and wide through the world, I have heard,… orders for work to adorn that wallstead… were sent to many peoples.” The move to walled settlements in this extract, is shown using the Anglo-Saxon taxtation of Trinoda Necessitas. This being a taxation for rebuilding of bridges, forts and serving in a militia
However, this was already in place due to the Theodosian Code was implemented in the Late Antiquity, where settlements turned to more defensive.
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