Comparison of Anglo-Saxon and Celt Myths and Archetypes

The island of Great Britain has gone through many a great change throughout its lifetime. It is a country rich with a unique culture and history, descended from its many invaders and settlers, such as the Anglo Saxons and Celts. These two groups have distinct cultures, myths, and archetypes that define them, but they do share some similarities. This includes their death and hero archetype. Death is an archetype that can be explored in nearly every culture in the world. Normally, it is viewed as melancholy and sorrowful, sometimes even peaceful. The Celts and Anglo Saxons saw it differently. The Celts believed in life after death, a world thought to be parallel to that of the living. The Celtic Underworld was a place where mythological creatures live, such as faeries and elves, that came to our world to help or hinder mortals. Celtic literature has an abundance of symbolic deaths and mortals that enter other worlds. One such story, the Arthurian legends, features King Arthur and his eventual journey to Avalon, an otherworld showing characteristics of Paradise or Heaven. This story is proof that the Celtic people believed in a sort of Underworld close to that of the living, since Arthur`s death was not permanent and he would someday return. Death was not viewed with sadness or pity, but optimistically. We can then look at the Anglo Saxons, a Germanic tribe where fame and fate ruled over everything. An honorable death was the only type of death that was acceptable. In the Anglo Saxon epic Beowulf, one can see this same ideal. Beowulf a hero that depicts the glory found in dying and shows that a glorious life leads to a glorious death. After creating a peaceful, safe kingdom, he died saving his people from a dragon. In both the Celtic and Anglo Saxon cultures, it is evident that death is not considered a tragedy, but a new adventure to conquer. The quintessential hero is not only strong and