Societal Values Evident in the Poem (same list as Other OE Poetry list titled Values of Anglo-Saxon Society but with a couple small additions)

• tribal society with kinship bonds
• heroic code of behavior
  • bravery
  • loyalty to one’s lord, one’s warband (comitatus), and one’s kin
  • willingness to avenge one’s lord or warband without regard for personal danger or cost—death preferable to exile and lordless life
  • generosity of lord to thanes and of hero to warband and lord—gift-giving
  • heroism (i.e., great deeds) brings honor, eternal fame, and political power
• women as peace-weavers, married to powerful men from enemy states to bring political solidarity and to reconcile warring kingdoms—not entirely successful
• mix of pagan and Christian values—often in conflict, e.g., pagan (secular) lineage (Geats, Danes, etc.) vs Christian lineage (race of Cain); eternal earthly fame through deeds vs afterlife in hell or heaven; honor and gift-giving vs sin of pride (hubris); revenge vs pacifist view (forgiveness); Wyrd (Anglo-Saxon "Fate") vs God’s will, etc.—Germanic revenge ethic is consistent with Old Law of retribution (Old Testament Lex Talionis), not with New Testament Law of forgiveness.
• songs, tale-telling, and boasting (i.e., words) inscribe deeds in the cultural memory—the scop plays a major role in oral transmission

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