Asher.P4.T5 Anglo-Saxon Synthesis Question

Cultural conflict between the Anglo-Saxons and the ancient Greeks is reflected in the stories of Beowulf and Oedipus, respectively. Beowulf portrays the Anglo-Saxon belief that fate could be controlled by ones own will, many of times through violence. As a warrior, Beowulf chooses to command his own fate and fight for the protection of his country. However, in ancient Greek culture, fate is viewed as predetermined, and no course of action may change the destined actions of an individual. This is evident Oedipus, for although he made an effort to avoid his fate, it was by doing so that he fulfilled it when he killed his father and married his mother.
The idea of Anglo-Saxon national pride and the compelling notion to defend ones nation can be related back to the Anglo-Saxon's war history. the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings were constantly at war with each other around mid to late 800AD. The Anglo-Saxons became accustomed to the violence that stemmed from the battles fought on their land. This resulted in the incorporation of fighting, violence, and defending into their culture, which was then portrayed in literature pieces such as Beowulf. With violence and combat come death, and the culture's rituals to honor the life of the deceased. the Anglo-Saxons would burn the lifeless bodies, but the Greeks insisted that the dead be buried in the ground. In accordance to the Anglo Saxon tradition, key characters in Beowulf are burned on a funeral pyre after their death.

Sara Jan, Lia Lohr, Joanna Tung, Tiffany Yin

Period 4, Team 5