Germanic Heroic Code Created by Sarah Chapman for

Germanic Heroic Code Created by Sarah Chapman for use with 12 th grade English

The Mead-Hall: The “Heart” of Anglo-Saxon Life

Activity Group Activity: Student will form groups and create a life size cut out character that draws details from “Medieval Sourcebook: Tacitus: Germania” and create an Epic Hero

Anglo-Saxon Comitatus Code Dr. Schray From Marshall University summarizes Tactitus’ writings by forming the following Rules of the Comitatus Society: “ 1. It is a disgrace for a chief to be surpassed in courage by his followers and for the followers not to equal the courage of their chief. To leave a battle alive after their chief has fallen means lifelong infamy and shame. The most solemn obligation is to defend and protect the chief and to give him credit for one’s own acts of heroism. The chief fights for victory, the followers for their chief.

Anglo-Saxon Comitatus Code 2. Sons of sisters were highly honored by their uncles as by their fathers; some tribes consider the former tie closer and more sacred.

Anglo-Saxon Comitatus Code 3. Blood feuds: heirs were under obligation to assume the feuds (and friendships) of fathers and kinsmen.

Anglo-Saxon Comitatus Code 4. Wergild: homicide can be atoned for by a fixed number of cattle or sheep, reconciling feuds.

Anglo-Saxon Comitatus Code 5. Law of hospitality: to turn a guest from one’s door is a sin; a guest can have anything he asks for and host will ask a gift in return.

Anglo-Saxon Comitatus Code 6. Drinking bouts: all day and night; quarrels lead to killing and wounding. ”

Setting

Resources "The Agricola and Germania, A. J. Church and W. J. Brodribb, trans. , London: Macmillan, 1877, ; 2. Tacitus: Germainia translation by Thomas Gordon, " Internet Medieval Sourcebook: Medieval Sourcebook, Fordham University, http: //www. fordham. edu/halsall/source/tacitus 1. html (accessed February 16, 2013). Schray, K. Medieval British Literature Day 2: The Germanic Heroic Code and Comitatus [Portable Document Format]. Retrieved from https: //marshallbb. blackboard. com/webapps/portal/frameset. jsp? tab_tab _group_id=_2_1&url=%2 Fwebapps%2 Fblackboard%2 Fexe cute%2 Flauncher%3 Ftype%3 DCourse%26 id%3 D_34668_1%26 url%3 D. (1999). Pictures: Beowulf tribal map. (1999). [Print Map]. Retrieved from http: //www. enotes. com/beowulf/pictures/beowulf-tribal-map. (2002). The two towers-wormtongue and king theoden. (2002). [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from http: //deniseod. wordpress. com/2010/11/01/the-influence-ofbeowulf-on-j-r-r-tolkiens-the-lord-of-the-rings/