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Asser and Beowulf
Please address one of the two following questions:
1) How would Beowulf have differed if Asser had written it?
2) If the ancient Anglo-Saxon bards who composed Beowulf had set about writing a history of King Alfred's reign, what would it look like?
Format
You can approach this assignment in one of two ways. You can write a formal essay, or you can "rewrite" either Beowulf or Asser's Life of Alfred.
You have a great deal of leeway with such a paper. Let the creative juices flow. Your paper, however, must have some academic value, betraying knowledge of the issues in question. Above all, you must display some awareness of the important changes that took place in Anglo-Saxon culture and attitudes between the 6th and 9th centuries. Do not focus exclusively on differences in style. Even more important are the differences in content and ideas.
Minimum Length: 1200 words
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Copyrighted
by Hugh Dubrulle, 2001
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