Gift-Giving in Beowulf and the Odyssey

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Gift-Giving in Beowulf and the Odyssey

Literature has always been an immensely helpful resource when discerning cultural values in societies past and present. Through the study of noteworthy historic fictional and factual, texts we are able to distinguish parallel characteristics present through many different cultures and time periods. These distinguishing characteristics are one of the main things that help us to determine when and how a society, or world culture as a whole changes as time moves forward. When similarities are identified throughout many cultures in the same time period academics are able attach general titles to that specific time expanse. The “Heroic Age” is an example of a labeled span of time that generally maintains societal sameness throughout the period. The epic texts of Beowulf and The Odyssey are examples of culture revealing novels created during the heroic age. The texts help to prove the idea that societies maintain a basic status quo for many years because there is a 1500 year separation in the creation of the books. Despite this time difference in authorship, similar cultural ideals can be recognized throughout each novel. Both Greek and Germanic cultures emphasized the power and importance of receiving and giving gifts as a means of displaying and achieving power. Beowulf and The Odyssey share the general theme of giving, and when comparing the two, it is easy to conclude that giving and receiving is an integral part of both the Germanic and Grecian cultures of that time.

The circulation of treasure is a common element that is important to both Beowulf and the Odyssey’s plots. In the Odyssey, Odysseus is a revered and admired citizen of Greece. A great deal of his renown is due to ...

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... constant today. In earlier times the social purpose of a gift was to either solidify a military alliance or to secure protection from greater powers. Now the social purpose of a gift is to express thanks or, as in ancient times, to solidify a friendship. However, the transfer of wealth upon ones death to loved ones, friends and charities through a legal Will is almost identical to the bestowment of treasure Beowulf exercises upon his death. Andrew Carnegie one of the wealthiest men of the modern era mirrors the Anglo-Saxon gift giving sentiment in his quote, “The kept dollar is a stinking fish…the man who dies rich, dies thus disgraced.” It is interesting that the ideals employed many years ago are still such an important part of modern society. Ideals that transcend the barriers of history are those with the most validity and integration within society.

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