Anglo-Saxon Project

Reading Beowulf sent me through many ups and downs. There were many parts of the book that I did really like and some parts I got really into, but there were also a bunch of times were I would just get bored and wonder what was going on or why they put a certain section in the book.

The parts that stood out to me were the battles that Beowulf was in. The one I liked the most was the fight against Grendal’s mom. When I was reading that part I really got into the book. The biggest thing that stood out to me while reading Beowulf was the way the text flowed since it’s written as a poem. During the fight with Grendal’s mom the text was just flowing and flowing.

One thing I didn’t get about Beowulf was why the book had so many conflicts. I felt like they should have spent more time building up the conflicts rather than using multiple conflicts. I think that Beowulf should’ve been broken into two books. One that goes into Beowulf’s battles with Grendal and his mother and the other should include the battle with the dragon and Beowulf’s death.

When I think of Anglo-Saxon culture I imagine a crazy scary environment. Back then they were much more rugged than we are today. They lived in what I think of as a brutal world. Kings ruled over small territories all over Britain and had a lot of power and exercised it willingly. When I think of an Anglo-Saxon person, I picture a very dirty illiterate person with a short temper and ready to fight.

When looking for how Beowulf illustrates the Anglo-Saxons I first looked at their strong belief in god, "The battle would have ended quickly, if God had not protected me. " All through the story everything is about god, and how god is this almighty power that will strike you down if you do him wrong.

One thing I picked up on through the book was how they talked about the world as if it was much smaller. Many times in the book they would say stuff like this, "Poets sang sad songs throughout the world," I really doubt that Arabs were sympathizing with King Hrothgar, but back then I think they thought of the world as much smaller.

The biggest thing that illustrated the Anglo-Saxon culture to me was Beowulf’s bravery and how he was such a great warrior.

"They saw me come from battlesstained in the blood of my enemies, when I destroyed a family of giants,when I endured pain all night,killing water monsters,"

When I think of Anglo-Saxons I always thing of the big, brave, warrior and that is exactly what Beowulf is.

Beowulf is pretty much the same as any hero story. Beowulf is the typical modest hero. Though he has great strength he is still nice and only uses his strength for good."The battle would have ended quickly if God had not protected me. Nor could I accomplish anything with Hrunting, that strong weapon, but the ruler of mengranted me to seea beautiful old mighty swordhanging on the wall." The biggest thing that stands out to me is how Beowulf only kills his enemies with his bare hands instead of using weapons. "scorn to carry sword or shield,but I shall seize my enemy in my hand grip and fight,"

One difference between Beowulf and a modern day hero is that he doesn’t have super powers. A lot of modern day heroes have superpowers like superman and Spiderman. Another difference Beowulf has from modern day heroes is he died at the end of the story. Most of the time in a modern day hero stories the hero lives.

I thought the way Beowulf died was very appropriate for the story. I kind’ve saw it coming, but it was still good. "He bit Beowulf's neckwith sharp tusks--Beowulfwas wet with life's blood;blood gushed in waves." I thought this was a good way for Beowulf to take his final blow. The only problem with it was that is was a really serious blow. There’s no way Beowulf could’ve picked up his knife and stabbed the dragon after being bit by a fifty foot dragon, but that’s why it’s a story.

I thought that it was really pathetic that Beowulf’s men were too scared to go help him. Beowulf had given them the best of everything, and when it was there time to return the favor they wussied out. I thought it was good that one of Beowulf’s men was loyal, but I think they should’ve killed the cowards. It’s already a pretty gory book, might as well throw in some vengeance.

The last little bit of the book is good when the author is talking about death.

"It's a mystery wherea good man goeswhen he reaches his end,when he can no longerlive in the houses of men.So it was with Beowulfafter he'd soughtthe keeper of the cave.He himself couldn't knowhow he would leave the world."

This little bit of the story is good for the ending because it kind’ve makes you think of death, and putting yourself in Beowulf’s shoes. I really like the part when the author says, " He himself couldn't know, how he would leave the world," because you don’t know what happens on earth after you die.