Argumentive Essay

The epic poem, Beowulf, a work of fiction, offers more insight into Ancient Anglo-Saxon English culture than the work of Bede, who wrote, A History of the English Church and People. The epic poem Beowulf gives an enhanced illustration and clearer understanding of the culture of the Ancient Anglo-Saxon’s. The epic poem gives the audience a picture of what the Ancient Anglo-Saxon English valued; seafaring, warriors, heroes, and paganism.
Beowulf highlights descriptions of pagan religious rituals and the warrior culture the epic poem Beowulf reveals different accounts of paganism, a tradition of the Anglo-Saxon English. When Grendel is attacking Herot, the people and warriors think that they are in danger, so they call to “old stone gods” (175-178). This showed that the people still sacrificed and worshiped the gods of pagan traditions, even though they might have been converted to Christianity. In Beowulf, the author refers to Grendel as a monster, who represents the ultimate evil in this culture because he's the product and sin, of a man who killed his brother. The recurring theme of good vs. evil was a part of paganism because it’s common for a hero (the good) to battle a monster (the evil) in pagan views. Beowulf expresses this but showing the battle between Grendel and the hero Beowulf. The epic poem clearly highlights the beliefs and traditions of paganism, a tradition in which the Anglo Saxons believed in. In the nonfictional text of A History of the English Church and its People, by Bede, no reference is made about paganism
Another tradition in which the Ancient Anglo Saxons practiced was the seafaring tradition. The epic Beowulf expresses this tradition with great details to illustrate the life of a seafarer. Beowulf ...

... middle of paper ...

...ristianity, and not paganism. Though Bede touches on small aspects of the Anglo Saxon English culture, his work lacks vital information in the understanding of the major characteristics in the Anglo Saxon English culture.
Seafaring, paganism, and the hero’s code were all imperative traditions of the ancient Anglo Saxon English culture. Bede's fictional work A History of the English Church and People clearly doesn't help in the audiences’ understanding of these traditions although it expresses the general idea of the culture. Ultimately, the epic poem Beowulf reveals and ties these traditions together to make it easier to understand, while enjoying the tale of the epic hero Beowulf. This fictional piece is best suited in understanding the culture of the Ancient Anglo-Saxon English, because overall, the epic poem Beowulf sheds more light on the Ancient Anglo Saxons.