Mead Hall Plays an Important Role in Essay

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document

Total Length: 1076 words ( 4 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 1

Page 1 of 4

Mead hall plays an important role in ancient Anglo-Saxon warrior culture. As we see in Beowulf, the mead hall functions as a meeting place, a place of refuge, and a place for socialization. The mead hall of Heorot also served as the seat of government. Thus, the mead hall is a place of critical importance both in the story and throughout Anglo-Saxon culture. We know, for example, from the Orkneyingasaga, that the mead hall would likely only be matched by the church in a given district (Cope, 2007).

When Beowulf arrives in Daneland, he and the warriors sleep at the mead hall, implying that the hall is more than simply a place for drinking. This is where Grendel first attacks the men, and where the conflict between Beowulf and Grendel takes place. One of the facets of the story is the transition that Beowulf makes from being an untested warrior with much to prove to being a warrior whose renown will live forever. The immortality of reputation is one of the highest ideals in Anglo-Saxon society. The journey that Beowulf makes from his status as a relatively unproven warrior at the outset of the poem is one that mirrors the optimal career arc of Anglo-Saxon warriors of the time (Bruce, 2001).

When the hall is introduced, several facets hint at its importance. The first is that it has a name. Hrothgar builds the great hall as a symbol of his wealth and power, and as place to host others for feasting. This hosting role again reinforces his status in society, as one powerful enough to have a great hall and wealthy enough to host feasts.

Stuck Writing Your "Mead Hall Plays an Important Role In" Essay?

View All Our Example Mead Hall Plays an Important Role in Essay

Have A Custom Example Essay Written

Thus, Hrothgar builds the greatest mead hall known to men of the era, as a means of cementing his status as a great king. Once Heorot is finished, Hrothgar lavishes warriors in feasts. The warriors are the object of Hrothgar's status, as the warriors in the violent Anglo-Saxon society were revered. Glory in battle was one of the only ways to attain immortality, which was valued in a society where life was hard and people died young.

The mead hall also represents civilization to the Anglo-Saxons. This is evident in a few ways. The first is that the mead hall is a great building, rivalling the church, so the building is associated with the highest level of human endeavor. The people who feast in the mead hall are the highest ranks of society -- royalty and warriors. Lines 50-60 of Part III also juxtapose the wilds where Grendel lives with the Bible, and it is Grendel's incursion into the meal hall -- a place full of God-fearing men -- that creates the impression of the mead hall as symbolic of a strong Christian civilization in a world full of barbarians. It is thus described in glorious terms, for example "The well-fashioned wassail-hall wondrous and gleaming." This is established with the line noting that "since God did oppose [Grendel], not the throne could he touch. This specifically excluded Grendel -- who as a man would….....

Show More ⇣

     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Mead Hall Plays An Important Role In" (2013, November 15) Retrieved May 14, 2025, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/mead-hall-plays-important-role-127265

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Mead Hall Plays An Important Role In" 15 November 2013. Web.14 May. 2025. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/mead-hall-plays-important-role-127265>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Mead Hall Plays An Important Role In", 15 November 2013, Accessed.14 May. 2025,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/mead-hall-plays-important-role-127265
   

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document
order custom essay example