(Research Part 1) Anglo-Saxon Culture in the Time of Beowulf
(1) Although Beowulf was not written down until around AD 750, it describes events that are set in the early sixth century. The work's hero, Beowulf, is not a historical figure, but some aspects of the poem, such as the warrior society it depicts, are rooted in fact. This society was based on a mutually beneficial relationship between a king or lord and his thanes, or free retainers. The thanes defended the king and his land; the king provided his men with armor, weapons, valuables, food, drink, and shelter.

(2) The mead hall (in Beowulf, the splendid Herot) served as a crucial anchor and center of security for the Anglo-Saxon king and warriors. It was the great hall of the king where feasting and celebrations occurred. Since it was generally the most protected place, it was also the safest place in the kingdom.

(3) The king's hall, in fact, was both an actual and a symbolic refuge in a dangerous world. Emblematic of the very heart of the Anglo-Saxon value system, it provided heat and light, human unity and companionship. Here, veterans and young would-be warriors mingled and heard stories and poems. This oral literature expressed their pride in defending their king and the honor of the bond between king and warriors.

(4) Anglo-Saxon society placed great value on kinship, courage, and honor. When a kinsman was killed, the remaining relatives were honor-bound to make the killer pay—either by literally taking the life of the killer or by forcing the killer to pay a legally stipulated compensation called wergild ("man price").

Research Part 1 - These sources provide information about Anglo-Saxon values and culture as reflected in Beowulf. Read the sources and take notes.

(Research Part 2)

Beowulf's Monsters and the Germanic Heroic Tradition
(1) The Germanic peoples whose culture is enshrined in the epic Beowulf believed in fate and courage. According to Anglo-Saxon belief, fate or destiny, known as wyrd, controlled whether one would live or die. While wyrd came to every man in the course of events (and in this sense, all were doomed), a courageous warrior whose doom was not yet upon him could still fight for lasting recognition. Through acts of valor—and even though he could not control life and death—the hero could live on in the memory of those who remained.

(2) In Beowulf, when the hero Beowulf defeats the monsters Grendel and Grendel's mother, he is a young man seeking fame and glory. He leaves his homeland (Geatland, in what is now southern Sweden) to seek out and confront Grendel in Hrothgar's realm (now Denmark). The fierce monsters are worthy trophies, and in defeating them, Beowulf establishes his extraordinary prowess as a warrior. In a sense, the monsters exist as a device to serve his purpose of proving himself worthy to be a ruler of Geats.

(3) By contrast, the dragon that Beowulf feels honor-bound to face as an old man, after fifty years of rule, dwells in Beowulf's kingdom. This monster lies in wait for him; and as the hero resolutely advances to meet it—and the code of honor requires no less—he senses that death is inevitable. Here, the ultimate power of wyrd is in evidence.

Research Part 2 - Using your notes, write a rough draft of a short story involving Wiglaf, the young warrior who helps Beowulf in his final battle. Within the story, have the young man express the values of his culture as he praises Beowulf and mourns his passing. Use well-chosen details and narrative techniques such as dialogue and description in your short story.

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