Anglo-Saxon Vs. Modern American Sororities

Cecelia Hurt
Mrs. Coleman
English IV
28 August 2014
Anglo-Saxon vs. Modern American Sororities
While they may be different in their contrasting views of their outlook on women, economic issues, and social values, the Anglo-Saxon culture of ancient England is surprisingly similar to the sorority culture of modern American colleges. Though the cultures are hundreds of years apart in time, they have remarkably similar characteristics.
Anglo-Saxons and Sororities both put a heavy emphasis on fame or popularity. The Anglo-Saxons wanted to be remembered or talked about before and after they died. In “Beowulf”, at the very last second of the fight between Beowulf and the dragon, Beowulf told Wiglaf that he just wanted to make sure his legacy is

remembered: “Have the brave Geats build me a tomb, when the funeral flames have burned me, and build it here, at the waters edge, high on this spit of the land, so sailors can see this tower, and remember my name, and call it Beowulf’s tower, and boats in the darkness and mist, crossing the sea, will know it.” (“Beowulf” lines 809-816) Like the Anglo-Saxons, Sororities compete against one another to gain popularity on campus by throwing formals or parties, or doing competitions. Being involved in sorority life at a college puts a student in an automatic position of popularity because they represent that social club. However in the Anglo-Saxon culture, a warrior gained fame by showing loyalty and courage, while sorority members individually gain fame in the house by running for executive positions.
While partying may be the most clique idea of sorority members, it plays a major influence in their culture and that of the Anglo-Saxons. The Anglo-Saxons had huge mead halls used for drinking, feasting, and socializing, similar to the American sorority house. The mead halls would get rowdy and noisy, disturbing others. Several examples of these great halls were used in “Beowulf”: “And now the warriors sang of their pleasure: So Hrothgar’s men lived happy in his hall…” (“Beowulf” lines 14 and 15) Sororities, on the other hand, will throw huge parties in their houses that are filled with loud college students visiting with one another. The students mingle, drink, and have a good time with each other, as seen in the attached picture. The parties however can get out of hand and even cause bad situations like fights and violence. The Anglo-Saxons also were violent sometimes, whether it was mainly in war or arguments. The degree of violence was loads higher than that of sorority parties, however.
Another important characteristic both of the groups have is loyalty.

In order to be an honest member in a sorority, a student has to be loyal. Members keep secrets within their own sorority houses and are proud of the organization they are part of. Legacies, which are siblings or children of former sorority members, are especially entitled to be loyal to the sorority they are sworn in. They have a duty as a sister of the sorority to be loyal to their fellow sisters. Anglo-Saxons were very loyal to each other as warriors and as friends. Like in Beowulf when Wiglaf was the only warrior that was loyal to Beowulf as their leader: “And only one of them remained, stood there, miserable, remembering, as a good man must, what kinship should mean…His name was Wiglaf…He could see how his king was suffering, burning. Remembering everything his lord and cousin had given him.” (“Beowulf” lines 749-756) When they would be involved in a fight or war, they would always fight to their death and honor their

leader.
Although Anglo-Saxons have beliefs of their own, Christianity played a part in their lives. They believed in the idea that your fate was set and that was it. The warriors believed that they controlled how their lives turned out, not God. This conflicted with the majority religious beliefs at this time. On the other hand, some sororities are Christian-based. They believe in fellowship of the girls in the sorority in order for their Christianity and bond with God to become stronger. These sororities, however, do refrain from the behaviors of regular houses. Instead of throwing parties, they try to teach other students about Christianity.
Although there are a number of similarities of the two cultures, there are some differences too.

The Anglo-Saxon’s had a habit of treating women as inferior to men. However, sororities are women fraternities, so they are all-girl. They believe in helping young women become just as successful as men. The Anglo-Saxon’s value music and poetry, whereas sororities do not put any value, as a whole group, on those. In college sorority life, a student is pledged in as a member and pays a monthly fee in order to stay in the sorority. One of the main goals of sororities is community service. The sororities want to give back to the community in order to play a positive role in society. The Anglo-Saxon’s were not a private

group.
In conclusion, the similarities and differences between the Anglo-Saxon culture and modern American sororities are easily identifiable. Even though the cultures are a great length of time apart, their values, although different, go back to the same simple roots of the Anglo-Saxons. This will continue to be debated comparison for years to come.