The Anglo-Saxons were a Germanic tribe who occupied Britain from the 6th century to the 11th century, leaving a lasting imprint on English language and culture. They were known for their bravery in battle, loyalty to their lords, and fidelity to their word. The excerpt below from Beowulf, an epic poem attributed to an Anglo-Saxon author, illustrates the importance of these values in Anglo-Saxon culture:

So Beowulf chose the mightiest men
he could find, the bravest and best,
those strongest at heart, to join him
on that adventure.

The excerpt reveals a feature of Anglo-Saxon culture—the importance of courage, fidelity, and loyalty in battle. These qualities were highly valued by the Anglo-Saxons, and they believed that having strong and brave warriors was essential to their success in battle. In Beowulf, the protagonist is determined to find the strongest and bravest men to fight alongside him, indicating the importance of courage and loyalty in achieving victory. This mythical figure is held up as an example of an ideal Anglo-Saxon warrior.

Loyalty to one’s lord was also an important part of Anglo-Saxon culture. Those who defied their lord were seen as dishonorable and were punished severely. The bonds of loyalty were strong and unbreakable, and the bonds of kinship created through marriage and adoption were also highly valued. This is reflected in Beowulf when the protagonist proves his loyalty to his lord and his kinsmen and defeats the enemy. In this excerpt, the protagonist is determined to find the strongest and bravest warriors to fight alongside him, which reflects the importance of loyalty in Anglo-Saxon culture.

Fidelity to one’s word was also an important part of Anglo-Saxon culture. Keeping one’s word was seen as a sign of honor, and breaking one’s word was seen as a sign of dishonor. This is reflected in Beowulf when the protagonist proves his loyalty to his lord and his kinsmen and defeats the enemy. Despite the danger, the protagonist is determined to fulfill his promise to his lord, and by doing so reflects the importance of fidelity in Anglo-Saxon culture.

In conclusion, the excerpt from Beowulf reveals an important feature of Anglo-Saxon culture—the importance of courage, loyalty, and fidelity in achieving victory in battle. These values were highly valued by the Anglo-Saxons, and they believed that having strong and brave warriors was essential to their success in battle. The protagonist in Beowulf proves his loyalty to his lord and his kinsmen, and by doing so reflects the importance of loyalty, courage, and fidelity in Anglo-Saxon culture.