Beowulf Character in Historical and Cultural Contexts Essay

Exclusively available on Available only on IvyPanda® Made by Human No AI

Beowulf is an epic poem written by an unknown poet between 700 C.E. and 1000 C.E. The story follows the legend of a pagan Scandinavian hero and his battles. After reading the poem, a lot can be learned about Beowulf as a warrior and his challenges, as well as the historical and cultural context of the literature of that period.

The poem depicts Beowulf as an ideal Scandinavian warrior. He is strong and able to defeat many great opponents, such as demons and dragons. He boasts about his victories, power, and courage, fully embodying the values of a heroic code. As time passes, Beowulf becomes a great king, adding the wisdom of a reliable ruler to the list of his qualities (Beowulf, 2012). He meets his end as befits a warrior in a fight with a dragon, defending his land (Beowulf, 2012).

The historical context and pretext are noticeably depicted in the poem; when it was written, England was converted to Christianity. It can be seen through the tension between Christian beliefs and pagan values in the poem. Although the plot is full of mythical creatures like dragons and demons, some of the characters can also be associated with historical figures alive at the time depicted in Beowulf, for example, Hrothgar.

Even though the author of Beowulf is supposedly Anglo-Saxon, the story is based in Scandinavia. Not only the names can be evidence of that, but also the character’s behavior. Boasting about battles is a part of Viking traditions that is present in Beowulf’s attitude. Mead-halls and feasts described in the poem also resemble Scandinavian warrior culture.

Beowulf is a renowned piece of literature that depicts the historical and cultural context of that period. The poem shelters both pagan and Christian values, demonstrating the religious tension of converted England. The attitude and values of the main character perfectly describe the spirit of Scandinavian warriors. The plot encompasses both mythical creatures and historical figures.

Reference

Beowulf. (2012). (R.K. Gordon, Trans.). Dover Publications.

More related papers Related Essay Examples
Cite This paper
You're welcome to use this sample in your assignment. Be sure to cite it correctly

Reference

IvyPanda. (2023, April 8). Beowulf Character in Historical and Cultural Contexts. https://ivypanda.com/essays/beowulf-character-in-historical-and-cultural-contexts/

Work Cited

"Beowulf Character in Historical and Cultural Contexts." IvyPanda, 8 Apr. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/beowulf-character-in-historical-and-cultural-contexts/.

References

IvyPanda. (2023) 'Beowulf Character in Historical and Cultural Contexts'. 8 April.

References

IvyPanda. 2023. "Beowulf Character in Historical and Cultural Contexts." April 8, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/beowulf-character-in-historical-and-cultural-contexts/.

1. IvyPanda. "Beowulf Character in Historical and Cultural Contexts." April 8, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/beowulf-character-in-historical-and-cultural-contexts/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. "Beowulf Character in Historical and Cultural Contexts." April 8, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/beowulf-character-in-historical-and-cultural-contexts/.

If, for any reason, you believe that this content should not be published on our website, please request its removal.
Updated:
This academic paper example has been carefully picked, checked and refined by our editorial team.
No AI was involved: only quilified experts contributed.
You are free to use it for the following purposes:
  • To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
  • As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
  • As a template for you assignment
Privacy Settings

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

  • Basic site functions
  • Ensuring secure, safe transactions
  • Secure account login
  • Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
  • Remembering privacy and security settings
  • Analyzing site traffic and usage
  • Personalized search, content, and recommendations
  • Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Required Cookies & Technologies
Always active

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Site Customization

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

  • Remembering general and regional preferences
  • Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy.

Personalized Advertising

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.

1 / 1