The theme of the ‘ritual mourner’ was a predominant one in Anglo-Saxon times. This could be seen as a show of power, the woman taking the lead in a situation that would allow her to do so, an environment in which emotion takes priority over strength and courage. The men present at the funeral do try to govern the funeral setting and take control of the situation through their creation of an immense funeral fire. However, it is much easier for the woman to take over when the situation becomes unfavourable to masculine characteristics.
Where women are present in Old English poetry, they are often looked upon as passive, or ‘shadows in an otherwise brilliantly illuminated heroic world.’ One exception could possibly be Grendel’s mother in Beowulf. Scholarly approaches to the depiction of women in Beowulf in general have changed substantially over the years. Until quite recently, many critics and researchers believed that in view of the fact that it was men who held the public offices and were predominant in society at this time, that women had the passive social positions in society, as portrayed in Beowulf. This view of the role of women in Beowulf in particular has changed considerably over time. In 1909 Grace Fleming von Sweringen wrote that she believed Beowulf was a poem without genuine women characters, and that the women in it ‘do not play an active role in the story except as characters of passion, imagination, and courage.’ This somewhat inferiority of women theory contrasts to Elizabeth Judd’s argument in 1974; that Anglo-Saxon women were both independent and influential. This view was shared by Alexandra Hennessy Olsen, who argued against the view of women as passive figures in Beowulf.
Critics of Beowulf have tended to minimize the presence and importance of women in the poem due to the prevailing theme of male heroism. When women do appear in Beowulf, they are described as ‘attractively tragic and pathetic,’ (Janet T. Buck). Beowulf, however, does not exclude women completely as is the case with some Old English Poetry. There are three main roles that the women in Beowulf seem to assume. These are hostess, peaceweaver, and ritual mourner. There are also two more recently identified ones of goader and counsellor. Although these roles were important, it was often ‘a significant if subordinate’ role that women played rather than one of great importance (Michael J.Enright). When examining specific females in Beowulf, it is possible to uncover some interesting findings. Grendel’s mother, sometimes considered the exception to the general tradition of females appearing as passive characters, is significant, as she is de-valued and looked upon almost as an animal rather than a female figure. It has been said that Grendel’s mother inverts the image of the Anglo-Saxon queen because she behaves in a heroic and masculine way. She also represents the politically active, therefore socially ostracised queens who were around in Anglo-Saxon times, exceptions to the idea of women as peacemakers. This relates to The Wife’s Lament which also mentions failing as a peacemaker. The peace-weaver or peacemaker was seen as a very important responsibility for Anglo-Saxon women, suggesting the weaving together of members of different families or tribes. Additionally, the image of a ‘peace-weaver’ suggests the role of women as a cloth maker and therefore a nurturer. The opposite of a peace-weaver was also portrayed fully in literary terms, in other words, the war maker. Women who epitomised this image were often portrayed as adulterous, and immoral, or in some way associated with the devil.
The role of hostess in itself has been underestimated in its importance and significance. The hostess had a very important role, for example in the role of cup passer, she had to ensure people were served in order of importance and this role is not servant-like but more ritualistic. Along with the serving, hostesses also gave gifts, a significant and symbolic gesture of the time.
The Battle of Maldon is obviously very masculine and heroic in its nature. It commemorates the heroic resistance of the English army against the Vikings in a battle, which happened in the year 991. Throughout the whole poem there is no mention of women at all. This is possibly to be expected, considering women in Anglo-Saxon times did not generally form a large part of the warrior community. Saying this, the depiction of women as heroic was quite common, for example in the elegies Wulf and Eadwacer along with The Wife’s Lament. This application of heroic images to women also occurs in other poems that do not at first glance exclusively focus on women, for example the riddles, and Beowulf. Anglo-Saxon poets had difficulty in defining heroic women within the bounds of a warrior ethic. Jane Chance examined the definition of heroism as necessarily masculine, forming restrictions on the characterisation of heroic women, saying “a few women are portrayed as politically active and heroic primarily because they shed all affinity with the female sex and sexuality by demonstrating singular chastity and spirituality.” They are often depicted in masculine dress to highlight their honorary masculinity.
Usually in communities existing during Beowulf’s time, women generally had few important roles except those governed by men, and a female leader such as Wealhtheow would serve as a decoration rather than a respected leader, and Grendel’s mother would be a minor threat in comparison to her son. In Beowulf though, the women become strengthened when the men in their society fail to complete their duties as male leaders of the people. In other words, the efficiency of men in their gender roles dictates the way in which a woman lives. A model society keeps women in their distinct place, but society often breaks down and women must take on new roles to maintain a functioning nation. Even though these heroic women are present in some literature, either in terms of the role of retainers in relation to their lord, or in the Christian tradition of the warrior of God, the quality of passivity rather than heroism generally epitomised the ideal Anglo Saxon woman. Not being able to gain heroic status through the traditional masculine ways, women were able to do so through the virtues of wisdom and chastity, which in themselves were considered heroic.
In conclusion, it is possible to argue that although women were indeed absent in much of Old English Literature, they were not totally lacking, for example in Elene, Judith and Juliana and The Wife’s Lament. They are important in their portrayal in Beowulf, which shows women in varying roles from the peacemaker character of the Queen to the powerful and almost masculine character of Grendel’s mother. How women are portrayed in these literary works has been of great significance in discovering the roles of women in Anglo-Saxon society, and how these roles differed and changed according to how effectively the males fulfilled their societal obligations. It is possible to conclude that Anglo-Saxon society demanded passivity rather than heroism from its women, and the heroic masculinity was left predominantly to the males, as shown in The Battle of Maldon. It is possible to conclude that the absence of women in Old English literature does make them somewhat conspicuous, but this means that when they do appear, they become even more interesting to study, and provide us with valuable historical information about Anglo-Saxon society.
Bibliography
Bjork, Robert E. and Niles, John, D, eds. A Beowulf Handbook. Exeter: University of Exeter Press, 1998.
Chance, J. Women as heroes on Old English Literature. New York: Syracuse University Press, 1986.
Damico, Helen and Hennessey-Olsen, Alexandra, eds. New readings on women in old English Literature. Bloomington: Indiana University Press,1990.
Godden, Malcolm and Lapidge, Michael, eds. Old English Literature. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1986.
Liuzza, R.M.ed. Old English Literature: Critical Essays. United States, 2002.
Mitchell, Bruce & Robinson, Fred. A Guide to Old English. Oxford:Blackwell,1992.
Rosenthal, J, ed??? Medieval Women and the sources of Medieval History. Georgia: University of Georgia Press, 1990.
Liuzza, R.M.ed. Old English Literature: Critical Essays. United States, 2002.
Mitchell, Bruce & Robinson, Fred. A Guide to Old English. Oxford:Blackwell,1992. p.264
Chance, J. Women as heroes on Old English Literature. New York: Syracuse University Press, 1986, p.110.
Bjork, Robert E. and Niles, John, D, eds. A Beowulf Handbook. Exeter: University of Exeter Press, 1998, p. 311
Damico, Helen and Hennessey-Olsen, Alexandra, eds. New readings on women in old English Literature. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1990.
Godden, Malcolm and Lapidge, Michael, eds. Old English Literature. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1986, p.117.
Chance, J. Women as heroes on Old English Literature. New York: Syracuse University Press, 1986, p. 142.
