HSTAM 111- Midterm Exam Guide - Comprehensive Notes for the exam ( 35 pages long!)
12 Oct 2017
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Weregild - fines for damages or injuries upon others. If man dies, wealth is passed to sons. If no sons, passed to mother and father. If no father and mother, brothers and sisters inherit. If no sisters of father, sisters of mother inherit. If none, nearest relative on father"s side inherits. Women in early germanic society: kinship ties, caring for household & children, managing family finances, run farm while men are gone (at war, etc. , sometimes fought alongside men, women were generally considered weaker sex; not expected to fight. Marriage: parents arrange marriage, bride price that husband"s family pay, morgengabe (morning gift) - husband gives to of property to wife after marriage. Reasons: failure to uphold family"s reputation, being lazy, harming wife. Had to publicly announce intention to divorce. Bottom line insight into germanic (beowulf) society is fragmented. Wealhtheow sits beside the king, speaking and interacting with guests. Wealhtheow bestows her own gifts upon beowulf to forge a relationship.
