This document discusses Anglo-Saxon culture and values, focusing on how religion impacted their worldview and beliefs about death, and then provides an overview of epic stories and their characteristics including heroes, as an introduction to an assignment analyzing examples from the epic of Gilgamesh that relate to Anglo-Saxon qualities, values, and beliefs. Students are asked to find at least 6 examples from the story of Gilgamesh that connect to Anglo-Saxon culture and explain which aspect of their society each example represents.

1. Historical Criticism:
Anglo-Saxons and the Epic Form

2. Unit 1 Notes
• What qualities or values did the Anglo-Saxons
admire?
• What was the basis for all of the Anglo-
Saxons’ beliefs and values?
• How did religion impact the Anglo-Saxons?
• What were the Anglo-Saxons’ views towards
death and why?

3. • What is an epic?
• What purpose did epics serve?
• What are the standard features of an epic?
• What is a kenning and why was it used?
• What are some characteristics of an epic?
• Why is the epic hero important?

4. Historical Criticism Assignment:
• Read “from Gilgamesh” on pages 60-61
• Find as many examples out of the story as you
can that relate to the qualities, values, and
beliefs of the Anglo-Saxons. You need to find
at least 6 different examples.
• Explain which quality, value, or belief is shown
and either write down the line numbers of
each example or write down the quotes for
each example.