All about history book of myths and legends. ( PDFDrive )

BEOWULF

BURIAL TREASURE
Anglo-Saxon poetry mentions treasures such as rings
and jewels, which a king would bestow on his bravest
warriors. Also, when great Anglo-Saxon kings died,
they were buried with some of their treasures. The
largest such collection of precious items was unearthed
at a ship burial at Sutton Hoo in eastern England in

1939. This was the grave of an unknown East Anglian
      king (possibly Redwald, who died c.627), and the
      collection had both Christian and
      non-Christian items, showing
      a mixture of beliefs.

MONSTERS

The monsters in Beowulf and in other Northern European myths are creatures whose

strength exceeds that of ordinary human warriors. They lurk in dark places, such as

the bottom of the lake where Grendel’s mother had her lair, and their very

appearance is hideous enough to frighten most people.

Dragons have a thick, scaly skin, which is invulnerable to

most weapons, and they breathe fire, which is poisonous

and hot. Their form is often described as serpent-like,

but some also have wings. In general, these creatures

were conceived to emphasize the heroism of the

valiant warriors who defeated them. But in

Beowulf, there is also a Christian tone to the

poem; the monsters are seen as heathen or

non-Christian creatures that fight the

heroes, who are godly and righteous.

Gruesome Grendel

The monster Grendel is often portrayed as a hideous

beast that would carry off its Danish victims to an

underwater lair and subsequently feed on them.

Slaying the dragon

It took two heroes, Beowulf and Wiglaf, to kill the

dragon that attacked the Geats. By staying by his

leader’s side, Wiglaf showed that he was a true hero,

brave and loyal enough to inherit the Geatish throne.

THE ANGLO-SAXONS

After the Romans left Britain in the 5th century ce,

the southern part of the country was ruled by invaders

from northern Germany and Denmark, who came to

be called the Anglo-Saxons. Their language, known

as Anglo-Saxon or Old

English, was a Germanic

tongue that later evolved

into modern English.

Anglo-Saxon monks

and scholars used Old

English to compose

works of prose, riddles,

a history book called the

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle,

and poems on heroic and

religious subject matter.

Beowulf manuscript
(10th century)
Anglo-Saxon coins Anglo-Saxon helmet

Sutton Hoo treasure

Besides the gilt bronze

helmet, coins, and gold buckle

(above), the Sutton Hoo burial

contained a jewelled sword, a

royal sceptre, silver dishes,

and drinking vessels.

WIDE WAS THE DRAGON’S WARRING

SEEN, ITS FIENDISH FURY FAR AND

NEAR, AS THE GRIM DESTROYER

THOSE GEATISH PEOPLE HATED

AND HOUNDED. Beowulf, c.11th century

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