Final answer:
The scops were the poets of the Anglo-Saxon court, pivotal in maintaining the oral tradition of Old Germanic folklore and the integration of Roman Catholicism into their culture, even as the society faced upheavals such as Viking invasions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scops were poets of the Anglo-Saxon court well-versed in old Germanic folk stories and the Roman Catholic religion. These court poets played a significant role in preserving stories and traditions through an oral culture that celebrated warriors facing their fate. They also contributed to the literary tradition during a time when Anglo-Saxons experienced constant cultural exchange and challenges, including Viking raids and shifts in political power.
The Anglo-Saxons settled in the British Isles and produced an extensive literature in Old English, of which the epic poem Beowulf remains the best-known example. Despite the later conversion to Christianity, Anglo-Saxons did not completely abandon their cultural traditions, as seen in the overlap of Norse mythology and Christian imagery, especially in their art forms. The scops were instrumental in transmitting the Germanic peoples' stories and epics, similar to the later northern European troubadours.