READING GUIDE, WEEK THREE: The Germanic Heritage
A. Beowulf
Beowulf was written in England by an unknown poet at some time in the
8th century (or so we think). It describes the legendary ancestors
of the 8th century Anglo-Saxons and depicts the customs, values, and beliefs
of the early Germanic successors to the Roman Empire. We are
using this text (a bit artificially) to gain some notions about pre-Roman,
pre-Christian Germanic culture. I say it is a bit artificial because
the text is actually from the 8th century; because 3rd and 4th century
Germans produced no written works, we are left trying to decode their beliefs
and customs from the legendary tales they told a few centuries later.
Note: "mead" is an alcoholic beverage like beer.
1. What is Germanic society like? What values seem to characterize
it?
2. How is Germanic society organized? What is the social structure?
3. Do you find any mention of money in the text? What economic
activities replace money as a form of exchange?
4. Note carefully the purpose assigned to Heorot (the mead-hall) by
the poet (cf. page 5).
5. Hrothgar seems sort of weak in this story - yet he is constantly
described as a great king - why?
6. Think about the different roles - both in literature and in society
- of kings and heroes. What were heroes expected to do? What responsibilities
did they have (and not have)? What were kings expected to do?
7. What is the role of vengeance in Germanic society? Is vengeance
a good thing? Why? What does vengeance achieve, and what does
it say about the avenger?
8. What bonds keep a war-band together? In other words, why do Hrothgar's
thanes stick around? Why do Beowulf's men follow him? What are the valued
characteristics of this warrior society?
9. Hrothgar gives Beowulf a particular circlet - why is this a particularly
impressive gift? What is its provenance?
10. In Chapters 28-29, the poet digresses to suggest the possible (or
likely) results of Hrothgar's attempts to make peace with the Heathobards
by marrying his daughter Freawaru to Ingeld, chief of the Heathobards.
Why was Hrothgar making this marriage? What does Beowulf (and the
poet) think will really happen? Note what Beowulf imagines that the
"old warrior" in chapter 29 will say about this - here we are presented
with the circumstances and explanations of feuds. What reasons do
feuds start? How are law and order maintained in Germanic society?
11. What is a feud? Identify some in the text. What place did
feuds have in Germanic society?
12. Despite the fact that the world the poet describes was most probably
pagan, the poet injects Christianity into the story. What are the
characteristics of this Christian world? Remember that Christianity
adapts to its social environment - given this, how can we reconcile Beowulf
and Christianity?
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT (Due Friday September 8): write about a page
on 1 of the following:
1. What is the meaning of loyalty and fidelity to Germanic culture?
How do these values govern German culture?
2. Explain the importance of gift-giving to Germanic culture. Be sure
to give some examples.