Anglo-Saxon beliefs

The Anglo-Saxon culture held protection of it's people and it's allies very important. This culture focused on having great warriors that were loyal to their king, heritage, people, and country. Loyalty was important because it was what made warriors want to defend their home. As long as warriors were loyal to their country and everything in it, all was secure. Beowulf illustrates the beliefs of the Anglo-Saxons in many aspects.


Protection was probably the most important thing in Anglo-Saxon culture. All other essentials of importance came underneath the protection of their country. This was demonstrated in the story when Beowulf left even in his old age to fight a dragon that was terrorizing his people. "Beowulf scorned a host, a large army, when he sought the dragon; he didn't fear the dragon's war; he trusted his strength and courage since he had survived many battles, the flashings of battle gleams, since the time he'd cleared Hrothgar's wine-hall of Grendel's family, that hateful race." Beowulf was ready for anything dispite his age. He protected his people no matter what. He was their king and that was his duty. He protected his people and put his own life in danger before anyone. He even put his own life first even when it came to his own warriors, who's sole occupation is is to risk their lives to protect. Beowulf tries to fight on his own first so that if he can win a battle on his own no other lives will be lost.


The second most important thing to the Anglo-Saxons underneath protection was loyalty. Loyalty comes from a love of something. A person would not have true loyalty of to something if this person did not care for it. If a warrior did have loyalty to his king, country, or his people, he would have no desire to protect it. Beowulf fights the dragon to protect his people because he loves and cares for the Geats. He defends and fights for them because of his loyalty to the people. Beowulf does the same for people who live across an ocean to help. In the story it says, "But a warrior of Hygelac's heard of Grendel's doings; he was the strongest of men alive in that day, mighty and noble. That man called for a ship, said he would cross the ocean and help the king who needed help. Wise men urged him to that adventure though he was dear to them. They examined omens and whetted him on." He crosses and ocean to defend a people and king that are not even his own. Beowulf shows loyalty to the king of Danes because he is an ally. He fights Grendel and his mother to protect the king and his people from the monster's terror. Loyalty is a crucial factor in the desire to protect.


Loyalty is what, in Anglo-Saxon perspective, made a warrior great. It was the emotion inside him that drove him to do the great things he did. Had not a warrior loyalty for for his king and country he would be a poor warrior. Warriors have to have a passion for what they are fighting for. This works in the same way for kings and their people as well as people for their kings. Beowulf shows how loyal he was to his people when he fights and kills a terrible dragon, dying to protect his people and warriors. The warriors were not very loyal to Beowulf in return and abandoned their king in his time of need. This story teaches the importance of loyalty and the repercussions of not being loyal to your word. These men suffered the death of their great protector as a consequence if their actions. They lost the king that they loved as a result of their broken promises to protect and fight beside him. Beowulf is a story that outlines the beliefs of the Anglo-Saxons and the repercussions of what could happen if these morals are ignored. The Geat people learned these lessons in the loss of their great king who did so much trying to protect them.