Tiffany Chen
Melody Sue
Xi Zhao (Lucy)
Team 2
Period 5
Anglo-Saxon culture was once quite pagan and life often quite dangerous, and this historic environment compelled the Anglo-Saxons to favor the idea of preserving an earthly reminder of an individual after death. As Beowulf reveals, Anglo-Saxon religion in conjunction with its cultural values stressed burial rituals and other traditions served to immortalize the human being beyond death.
The Greeks provided sacrifices, created festivals, and changed their lives to please their many gods, living constantly in fear of intangible gods and punishments. However, Anglo-Saxons lived their pagan lives with chutzpah under the code of honor, which stressed heroic triumph in the face of danger and risk – glory in one’s mortal life rather than glory the very Christianity-based afterlife. This was necessary due to the perpetually dangerous, war-laced environment of Anglo-Saxon life, which sharply contrasted with Greek/Roman stability of life. With danger (sometimes in the form of demonic monsters and their mothers) lurking in every corner and bodily harm (and thus loss of physical strength and heroism) and death abounding even in the safety of mead-halls (as in Beowulf), the Anglo-Saxons needed to be ready for death at any time. Lacking a belief in the afterlife, Anglo-Saxons believed that when the body died and the human being seemed gone forever, the legend of the person can be sustained on Earth. Thus, a deceased hero can live on in oral traditions and therefore preside as a mighty force over the brave heartstrings of posterity. If only he can accomplish a grand feat, such as Beowulf’s boastful and powerful defeat of Grendel and thus assurance of safety in Hrothgar’s kingdom, he will not soon be forgotten – his memory will live on forever.
With this in mind, the Anglo-Saxons buried their great hero Beowulf in a huge funeral pyre, cremating him on a huge mound while others sang his praise to remember his accomplishments and keep a remembrance of him for the future. His mortal, physical existence is gone, symbolized by the burning of his body, but his spirit, his influence, his heroics live on, symbolized by the great praises sung at and continued after his burial.
Our group also discussed and researched further on the religion of the Anglo-Saxons. We found that they believed in Paganism and then switched their beliefs to Christianity after they felt danger and risks. We focused more on religion and further discussed about how although the Anglo-Saxons belived in Christianity, they still praised Paganism.
ReplyDeleteTo me, it's a bit curious that they didn't have believe in an afterlife. I know for many religions, the notion of the "afterlife" supposedly keeps their people in check, morally and ethically. While yes, I suppose there is merit in living on through a memory, the fact that the Anglo-Saxons did not recognize a second lifetime is very perplexing to me.
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