Feasting, as defined by Linwood Fredericksen from the Encyclopedia Britannica, is “a day or period of time set aside to commemorate, ritually celebrate or reenact, or anticipate events or seasons—agricultural, religious, or sociocultural—that give meaning and cohesiveness to an individual and to the religious, political, or socioeconomic community”. Holiday feasts were an essential part of the social scene of the Viking people.
In the days of Beowulf, many elegant feasts would be taking place around the fall season such as Fall Feast, Harvest Fest, and Winter Nights. Feasts that occurred throughout the Viking age were of utmost importance and called for the attendance of families, townspeople, and even the highest of authoritative figures. Smaller feasts lasted a few days, while more major ones, such as Jul during the winter solstice, would last up to twelve days or more. In the late fourteenth-century poem ‘Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’, the feast leading up to the New Year lasted fifteen days. During feasts, entertainment was provided by poets and singers who recited the long-told stories of Viking people. Alcohol was consumed in large amounts throughout the course of the meal, and in the case that it was a very wealthy Viking’s feast, ale and mead were provided. As for the food, the Vikings ate a large variety of meats, including fish, lamb, oxen, chicken, and pork to name a few. Many fruits, vegetables, cheeses, types of bread, and nuts were also consumed at large holiday feasts. The halls in which these feasts were held were very important, and in the very beginning of the epic ‘Beowulf’, the beauty and wonder found in Hrothgar's mead hall are very quickly mentioned by the poet by stating: “Meant to be a wonder of the world forever;/ It would be his throne-room and there he would dispense/ His God-given goods to young and old—/ But not the common land or people’s lives./ Far and wide through the world, I have heard,/ Orders for the work to adorn that Hallstead/ Were sent to many peoples. And soon it stood there,/ Finished and ready, in full view,/The hall of halls” (Beowulf, lines 70-78).
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Feasting in both epics of ‘Beowulf’ and ‘Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’ is used as a form of celebration. In ‘Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’, the feast is held in anticipation of the New Year and involves eating, dancing, gift exchange, games, and the shared excitement of the New Year. The descriptions of the feasting hall make it seem as if nothing had been forgotten in the preparations. The poet talks about the order of the table, seating manner, serving, and behavior of those dining to give the reader a true insight as to what this feast might have entailed. As for ‘Beowulf’, rather than celebrating a holiday, a feast is held in his honor and he chose to take on the challenge of defeating the infamous Grendel. Feasts of hospitality were rather common and important in the social setting of the Early Medieval English Culture. At this feast, it is assumed that guests felt unsafe even with the presence of Beowulf because of the previous attack of Grendel.
Hrothgar's great mead hall was intended for the use of feasting, drinking, celebration, and the giving of gifts. In mead halls like Heorot, women such as Wealhtheow and Hygd were both hostesses of feasts, and unlike other women of the Viking age, they were able to have an unusual influence on societal structures, even against the wishes of their husbands. Being queens, the roles played in society by these two women were much above those of other women. They were both well respected and honorable in a male-controlled society. In ‘Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’, Guinevere and Morgan LeFay are two examples of women who play an important role in the development of the story, helping the plot move along as they scheme against Sir Gawain. According to Baker, “Women are thus the epitome of good morality, the test of faith, but also sources of necessary conflict within the plot”. As a counterexample of these women, we could compare them to the roles that Grendel’s mother plays in ‘Beowulf’. She is very hostile and uses violence and physical strength to resolve her problems. Other women of the time most likely would have been submissive and somewhat scared of other men, but Grendel's mother, after the killing of her son by Beowulf, sought nothing but revenge.
As for the roles played by men in both ‘Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’ and ‘Beowulf’, the two main characters, Beowulf and Sir Gawain both represented honor and bravery. Beowulf was more than willing to take on Grendel and the Dragon, even if it meant his own life was on the line, making him a hero. Sir Gawain represented bravery by taking the challenge of the Green Knight in place of King Arthur, even though he knew that it could mean his death could be the result. Lessons that could be taken from these two powerful characters and applied to their societies could be that protecting your community in Beowulf’s case, or your leader in Sir Gawain’s situation, is better than dying of old age and cowardly actions.
Beauty is represented in very different ways in ‘Beowulf’ and ‘Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’. In ‘Beowulf’, there is very little talk of true beauty, but instead, talk of ugliness such as Grendel’s mother. Beowulf, faced with the ugliness of Grendel’s mother truly experiences the opposite of beauty and is faced with a very difficult challenge. If I were placed in Beowulf’s situation who was set to experience the wrath of a monster for killing her son, I believe that I would've sought to kill her as well. Beowulf risked his life to protect others once for Grendel, and if he let Grendel’s mother continue to attack innocent people, then his mission to be heroic would be incomplete. This task took great bravery, but if I were to speak to Beowulf today, I would tell him that I admire his courage and that I recommend that since he has a passion to be so heroic that he travels to other places in need of protection from evil people as well. As for ‘Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’, Sir Gawain tells us himself where beauty is found by saying these words about Lady Bertilak: “He sees her so glorious, so gaily attired, So faultless her features, so fair and bright, His heart swelled swiftly with surging joys”. Although she is married, Sir Gawain finds himself falling into temptation with the beautiful woman. Regardless of this, he does his best to remain noble to his knighthood and his honor. If I were to give Sir Gawain advice in this situation, it would be to remove himself from the situation with Lady Bertilak, no matter how tempting it might be to be in her presence. I believe that keeping your nobility and remaining honorable comes above all else, even above the strongest temptations.
Overall, this project was very interesting, and rewarding in the long run. Through the analysis of both epics of ‘Beowulf’ and ‘Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’, I learned a lot about the traditions associated with Viking holiday feasts.
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