A Comparison of Medieval and A
A culture that evolves and changes through time is a healthy culture indeed. From the early pagan warriors to the artisans of the Renaissance, the European world dramatically reformed. The literature of each era indicates the profound cultural innovations. The Anglo-Saxon’s arguably most important literary piece, Beowulf, is a story of a brave warrior who fights Grendel. Grendel is described as, “A powerful monster, living down/ In the darkness…”(lines 1-2). This affray demonstrates the timeless battle of good versus evil. The universal struggle is maintained in the Medieval plight for an ideal of perfect chivalry. Knights were guarded with utmost respect and sincerity as Chaucer’s “The General Prologue” from The Canterbury Tales mentions, “There was a Knight, a most distinguished man, / Who from the day on which he first began / To ride abroad had followed chivalry,” (lines 43-45). Although the fight of good versus evil is consistent, the moral code is held above pure strength in battle. The Renaissance period was more focused on ideals of intelligence and the arts rather than bravery or actions in battle. Sonnets and rhyming verse were very popular and the most famous were often love stories as was “The Passionate Shepherd to Hi . . .
These lines disclose several insights. Each time period shows evidence of Christianity, although the religion played a different role to each. Along with the roles leadership and combat play in the cultures and societies of the individual time periods, religion and its interpretations change shape, yet cling to fundamental Christianity. The impact of Christianity develops into two churches during the Renaissance- the Protestants and the Roman Catholics. However, the Renaissance time period saw rulers unifying areas of land into nations. Yet close by we read an almost contradictory passage, “ . ) was an age of fierce battles coupled with equally fierce loyalty to rulers and tribes. Protestants and Catholics both suffered persecution and crimes of intolerance. Similar to the importance of Anglo-Saxon leadership, the chivalric loyalty to one’s king is most apparent in the Medieval period. The Anglo-Saxon, Medieval and Renaissance eras each possess characteristics of warfare, leadership, and religion that intertwine and reticulate among themselves. As Christianity begins uniting much of Europe in thought, the overwhelming presence of an impersonal fate is absent from the period’s literature. The Anglo-Saxon, Medieval, and Renaissance periods each contained Christian elements, yet differed in terms of beliefs in fate, and united Christianity.
Common topics in this essay:
Medieval Renaissance, Canterbury Tales, Sir Gawain, Christianity Anglo-Saxon, Wondering Fate, Similarly Beowulf, Renaissance Anglo-Saxon, Thanked God, Grendel Grendel, Shepherd Love, anglo-saxon period, sir gawain, medieval renaissance, anglo-saxon medieval, renaissance periods, anglo-saxon medieval renaissance, renaissance period, religion intertwine reticulate, renaissance eras, possess characteristics, versus evil, battles prevalent, leadership religion intertwine, intertwine reticulate themselves, characteristics warfare leadership, |