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Mead Hall In Beowulf Essay

Decent Essays

INTRODUCTION
A Lots of great ideas are born and destroyed in a bar or tavern, leaving you to wonder how different our whole outlook and way of life would be if we did all our major planning and decision making there.
B This concept is interesting because of how the Anglo-Saxon warrior culture in the story Beowulf that was translated by Burton Raffel, actually uses the mead hall as their main political and party house.
C Would this be better than what we do today with separating the work from the play? Or was it just a thing of the times.
D The Anglo-Saxon warrior culture mead hall represents the clearest definition of equality you could ever think of. Under one roof the decisions by the king are told to the people while a giant party for the village is happening. By having this …show more content…

F By understanding this concept, the Danes created a system close to ours in how the king will provide protection for the people as they work for him.
G And this form of trade off is brought up when Beowulf shows up in the famed mead hall. “Hrothgar replied, protector of the Danes:” (456).
H as Hrothgar is referred to as the “protector” it shows that he's not just governing the people in from his castle, he’s interacting with them.
I Without the mead hall to act as a common ground for the people and their king to communicate in Lots of trust and understanding is lost.
J Having the great mead hall creates unity also, by bringing the king and his people closer together more of the people's problems become the king's and visa versa.
K So when Grendel comes around and starts killing off the people, instead of the king pushing it off he has to deal with it first and foremost. “My tongue grows heavy, and my heart, when i try and tell you what Grendel has brought us, the damage he has done, here in this hall”

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