Women in Anglo-Saxon England Essay - 1685 Words

Women in Anglo-Saxon England Anglo-Saxon literature was based on Germanic myths about battles, heroes, diseases, dragons and religion. Writers did not pay much attention to female issues, and there are only few poems that talk about them. Beowulf and â€Å"The Wife’s Lament† are two examples that briefly consider women’s lives in that time. Anglo-Saxon history and poetry portray women’s lives as uneasy and dependent on their husbands’ positions. Women had to endure arranged marriages, abuse and male dominance. Marriage meant very much to women particularly for their status and economic security. In the medieval era, people wed within their class and only a slave could sometimes find his match†¦show more content†¦Slavery was common in medieval England. Slave-women were treated with much less respect than the free ones, and their wergild was smaller: â€Å"If a man raped a virgin who was the king’s property, he had to pay fifty shillings to the king, while if she were a grinding-slave it would be twenty-five shillings. And at last if the girl were a third class (no one knows what that meant) it would be only twelve shillings† (Fell 107). This system was very easy on rich men. They were untouchable as long as they had the money to pay wergild. Ironically, abuse was accepted, and the king became richer from it. GRAPH On the other hand, in the kingdom the king respected his queen and she played an important role. In the poem Beowulf, Wealhtheow is a Danish queen and Hrothgar’s wife. She is mentioned as Hrothgar’s lover and sexual partner: â€Å"The lord of the Shieldings, their shelter in war, left the mead-hall to lie with Wealhtheow, his queen and bedmate†(46). In the hall, Wealhtheow serves alcoholic drinks to all the guests (only women were allowed to serve alcohol). She is a cup-bearer during the celebration: â€Å"So the Helming woman went on her rounds, queenly and dignified, decked out in rings, offering the goblet to all ranks† (45). Since women were meant to stay out of trouble, they never got an opportunity to learn how to defend themselves. When Beowulf dies, one Geat woman screams in grief, and she fears theShow MoreRelated Epic Poem, Beowulf - Women in Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon Society971 Words   |  4 PagesWomen in Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon Society       Beowulf, one of the most translated and reproduced epics of all time, is literature that concerns characters. While Beowulf himself is the obvious hero of this Anglo-Saxon epic, many companions and fellow travelers are mentioned throughout the text. Some of these secondary characters are almost as noble and courageous as Beowulf himself, while others are lowly cowards. Be what they may, all are captured in this timeless tale of adventure. Women,Read MoreEssay On Shakespeare s Beowulf And Anglo Saxon Society944 Words   |  4 PagesRole of Women in Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon Society Beowulf, the hero of Anglo-Saxon epic, had many adventures, and many companions and fellow-warriors are mentioned throughout his story. Some of them seem noble and courageous, truly living up to the standards of their culture; some seem cowardly. But all have gained immortality in the words, many times transcribed and translated, of the famous epic. However, the women of the time are rarely mentioned in Beowulf. Still, even from those few womenRead More Role of Women in the Epic of Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon Society932 Words   |  4 PagesRole of Women in Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon Society  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Beowulf, the hero of Anglo-Saxon epic, had many adventures, and many companions and fellow-warriors are mentioned throughout his story. Some of them seem noble and courageous, truly living up to the standards of their culture; some seem cowardly. But all have gained immortality in the words, many times transcribed and translated, of the famous epic. However, the women of the time are rarely mentioned in Beowulf. Still, even from those fewRead MoreHeroic Values In Beowulf731 Words   |  3 Pageswritten by an unknown Anglo-Saxon poet, displays heroic and demonic behaviors. Taking place in the Anglo-Saxon era between 449-1066 A.D. Within this era, three civilizations arose; The Anglos, The Saxons, and The Jutes. Anglo-Saxon Invaders took control over most of England, becoming the earliest civilizations to settle on England. The Anglo-Saxons relished and honored four main values; courage, strength, glory, and loyalty. Beowulf, an epic poem, denotes the important Anglo-Saxon values thr ough theRead MoreEssay on The Age of Chaucer567 Words   |  3 Pagesthat England, at that time, went through and their intimate relations with the Age of Chaucer in order to understand fully the background of this age. Great Britain is divided into England, Wales and Scotland. Its inhabitants, the Britons, spoke Celtic. From the first to the fifth century, England was a province of the Roman Empire and was named Britannia. In addition to this change, the Roman invaders brought Christianity, thus, the entire island converted to it gradually. The Anglo-Saxon invadersRead MoreWomen During The Anglo Saxon Time Periods1301 Words   |  6 PagesWomen during the Anglo-Saxon time periods had very few choices when it came to how to live their lives. If one were actually given an option, it would be restricted to either having to take austere oaths, or marriage. Marriages back then were seen as business propositions between men or families, where a man â€Å"buys† a wife. Marriages also played an important role regarding the advancement of Christianity to England s irreligious kingdoms, when commonly an aristocratic woman who comes from a ChristianRead MoreHarold Godwinson : A Powerful Anglo Saxon Family2028 Words   |  9 Pages Introduction Harold Godwinson was born in the 1022s to a powerful Anglo-Saxon family in Wessex, United Kingdom. Throughout his life, he achieved many great things, including being the last Anglo-Saxon to be crowned King of England and being the Earl of Wessex. He was at the top of the social structure from the 6th of January 1066 until his death fighting the Norman Invaders on the 14th of October at the Battle of Hastings. The Battle of the Hastings was a majorRead MoreTrace the Development of English Lit During Any One Period...as Part of Your Discussion Highlight How Significant Events in the Influence the Writing...Additionally Show How Characteristics of the Genre the Writer Uses3085 Words   |  13 Pagesno limitations to where you can go. This quotation may apply to the span of the Anglo-Saxon period because of the coherent linkage to the origination of the English dialect and the modernization of English Literature. Over the years English literature has evolved g reatly. There have been diverse changes to the structure and development of English language since the advent of Old English dialect during the Anglo-Saxon period to what we now speak and consider to be English language. â€Å"Old English isRead MoreAnglo-Saxon Literature Was Composed Between The Years 6501510 Words   |  7 PagesAnglo-Saxon literature was composed between the years 650 and 1110. Beowulf is one of the most famous epics written during this time. It’s also known as the oldest surviving Germanic epic and the longest Old English poem. Most stories written during this time were about the deeds of warriors, heroic acts, and religion. Beowulf is a warrior from the Geats who is asked to come protect king Hrothgar from an attack by a sea monster named Grendel. All of these characters are men. There are very few epicsRead MoreDragon as a Metaphor1646 Words   |  7 Pageswere trying to rewrite history. It was mainly written in an attempt to convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity and change the governing style to Feudalism, among other things. Examples of this are their use of the Forest as a metaphor for Hell. Anglo-Saxon Paganism made the forest the home of their Gods, and the Bards needed to change that. Another element, is the role women play in society. The Bards made women out to be servants, rather than equal. Finally, the bards added Irony to improve the