The Anglo-Saxon invaders brought with them a tradition of oral poetry, but it was Christianity that brought the written word to the them. For the most part, only churchmen were literate and spent much time copying manuscripts. Thus, we see plenty of religious topics in the written works of that era.
Let's look at some of the more prominent traits of Old English poetry. One comes from the original Germanic tribes, which valued heroic poetry. It honored brave feats and specific codes of conduct. This type of poetry also emphasized strong kinship, with a generosity to not just blood relatives, but to all people in the tribe. The king must follow a code of royal generosity, rewarding his faithful followers. In addition, the king's subjects must follow a code of blood vengeance, fighting to the death for their king, and avenging him if he is slain (or any kinsman for that matter). To fail to do so is to suffer endless shame.
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