...Beowulf: Christian or pagan? The epic poem, Beowulf, which was composed about 850 CE, is a tale of a warrior named Beowulf. The plot of Beowulf primarily revolves around the expeditions and fights that Beowulf undertakes throughout his life. Regarding this poem, one of the essential controversies is whether it is a Christian or pagan poem. In the text, Beowulf is depicted as the one who values his own fame most and is hallowed highly by people due to his violence in battle. These characteristics of Beowulf seem to separate the poem from Christianity. Although the poem appears to be originally pagan, Beowulf is a Christian poem in terms of its historical background, biblical allusions, and the characters’ beliefs and reliance on God. First, the author of Beowulf lived in a period when the transformation from Germanic paganism to Christianity occurred. When Beowulf was written, the old paganism was dying out, and the influx of Christianity from Europe and Ireland had taken place. “This transformation reached every level of society and affected nearly every aspect of daily life” (Streissguth 83). Due to this Christian influence, people had to make a radical change, discarding the old beliefs that value courage, vengeance, and violence in gory battle. The poet of Beowulf was also a part of this drastic change of the era. The “nameless author undoubtedly was a Christian” (Bloom 1). We can observe the author’s Christian quality when he blames people who return to paganism in the poem:...
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...Germany 3 March 2014 Beowulf is a story that interested me for a long time. We read this story in grade school, and now in college it sparks many debates in the minds of college students, including mine. When I read it in grade school, it was a good story about monsters and heroes. Now that my literary mind has somewhat developed there are some controversies that jump out at me. At my first glance of the story in grade school, you really don't understand the depth of the epic. Being in a college level course we learned that the original author is an unknown man from pagan times written between the 600th and the 700th century, which is another debate all on its own.(The History of Beowulf) The epic poem Beowulf has deep roots in Paganism and was translated later in Christian times. Being a story from Anglo-Saxon England one has to wonder about what was going on at the time it was written. "The Christian church had been well-established and it suffered greatly from the invasions.(BBC) When the Angles and the Saxons invaded Roman Britain it was believed that the story of Beowulf came with them and the story was later translated by an unknown Christian author. It is also believed that this story was and oral poem that was spoke and passed down from generation. Most of the mystery cannot be proven with fact. It has been debated on by scholars for the past few centuries. Some authors consider it part of the Christianization of the surrounding Pagan countries. Either...
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...Beowulf was written during a time when Christianity was arising in England. Throughout the story, there are multiple references to both Christian and Pagan rituals. The characters in Beowulf are predisposed Christians who try to remain true to the idea of this new relgion, but they still fall short to this new faith. In times of trouble, these characters resort back to their Pagan traditions and praise the gods out of fear. Pagan rituals found in Beowulf are present only as reflections of the past or in times when characters are facing difficult times, while during times of happiness and exultation, they worship their mighty Christian God. At the beginning of the poem, Grendel is attacking Heorot which causes everyone to become panic stricken. The people “… vowed in their heathen fanes/...
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...Beowulf was written in the 11th century in Anglo- Saxon, which was the style of language and culture in Brittan. It is proven the story was based from the ancestors of the Scandinavian Anglo-Saxons, whose descendants eventually became the British, because the culture described in the epic is pagan and by the 11th century Britain had been Christianized. The pagan belief of “fate” makes this a part of pre-Christian times; the belief that fate controls the events of one’s life is a reoccurring theme in the English epic. Fate strongly influences the character and beliefs of Beowulf; He attributes his success and struggles in fights to fate. The author shows that God has the power to control any and everything due to predestination of fate. “Fate goes ever as fate must.” (Ln. 455) Spoken by Beowulf in reference to how fate control the destiny of man, this the how Beowulf’s atmosphere is dark and pagan. The pre-Christian world believed that there was nothing man could do to avoid death. They needed to embrace fate. At Beowulf’s funeral the...
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...Strength, Power, Heroism, and Courage. These are among the central themes that encompass the epic of Beowulf and allow the reader to take an intimate look at Anglo-Saxon society. Beowulf, the hero of this story, is the focal point, demonstrating his phenomenal super human abilities throughout the epic as he conquers and kills anything dangerous or beastly in his path. Although Beowulf is viewed as a superhero, Hrothgar, does not hesitate to present Beowulf with the best advice that he can muster. Hrothgar’s guidance is essential in outlining the basic and most vital themes of the epic. He warns Beowulf about overweening, resenting tradition, and dishonoring customs, among many other points. As seen in this passage, the themes of wyrd, paganism, and heroism are clearly distinct in Seamus Heaney’s Beowulf through the harrowing adventures retold. The concept of wyrd, or a sense of inevitable doom, is a central theme in Beowulf, demonstrated by the constant reminder that the destruction of events or people will most definitely occur. When Hrothgar bestows his advice upon Beowulf, it is stated that “ancestral possessions/ and the goods he hoarded are inherited by another/ who lets them go with a liberal hand”, which clearly exemplifies a belief in ultimate ruin (ll 1756-7). Despite the honor that one must earn in order to receive such goods, once one dies it no longer has any meaning, showing how gloomy the Anglo-Saxon society was in it’s outlook about death. Additionally,...
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...Paganism vs. Christianity in Beowulf Thesis Statement: “Beowulf” was written by either a Christian author or a pagan author because of the presence of several ideas involving both pagan and Christian ideologies found close together throughout the poem. Based on the elements presented in the poem, it is apparent that there are evidences that will identify the characteristics of Christianity. On the other hand, the belief of paganism was also included in the lines of the poem. There is a presumption that poem “Beowulf” is influenced by a Christian author shown by the Anglo-Saxon understanding of the concept of beauty, which begins with the story of Creation in Genesis Chapter 1 of the Bible, where God created the world in seven (7) days. The language or the text used in the poem presented the concept of “scop”, which originated from the Old English language which means to shape. God is being referred to as the Great Shaper and all the beauty seen by the Anglo-Saxon were fruits of God’s creation. The term “scop” can also represent a poet. In this poem, the Anglo-Saxons considered the fact that the author made use of beautiful words and imagery to create a poem is comparable to God’s work when he created earth. This can be read in the lines “The clear song of a skilled poet, telling with mastery man’s beginnings, how the Almighty had made the earth” (Beowulf 86-98). Another proof that the author is a Christian is when there was mention of the story of the two brothers Cain and Abel...
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...story “Beowulf” is a heroic tale about the battle of good and evil. Beowulf represented good and those he battled represented evil. Beowulf was a knight that fought evil creatures to protect the land and people. Beowulf traveled from his home to help a king named Hrothgar to defeat some evil beings. In the end Beowulf dies but he was a hero because of his endurance and victory in each of his battles. This work displays a mixture of Anglo-Saxon paganism and Christianity ideas. The concept of Anglo-Saxon paganism was expressed in this poem through pagan rituals and traditions. In pagan cultures they honor their leaders but also certain items as well. Beowulf shows great respect and honor for a sword, Hrunting, that he used when battling Grendel’s mother. Another example a pagan custom expressed in this poem would be the funeral pyre. A funeral pyre is a form of cremation, a big fire is started on an alter and a ritual is followed to burn the body. There were many elements throughout this poem that reflected Christianity. Throughout the poem Beowulf prays to and acknowledges his God. It was obvious he looked to and depended on a higher power. Before his battle with Grendel he prayed to God and asked that God grant victory to whoever deserved it. Beowulf consulting God showed he had faith and that he depended on God to help him through his situations. In the Christian faith God is the ultimate power and provider of everything that we need. Seems that Beowulf realized...
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...The key character in the poem Beowulf, is a heroic and a legendary character whose actions are embodied to the Anglo-Saxon culture. As a hero he has the accepted and the most ideal characteristics that are accepted in the Anglo-Saxon culture. The tale revolves around these characteristics to make up an epic tale. Beowulf is moulded to possess the virtues, traits and beliefs that were highly respected and requires in the Anglo-Saxon culture. Therefore, is displayed to have these virtues in his own actions and words during different circumstances in the tale. Reading Beowulf brings out lots of similarities with many pieces of literature from the Ancient Greek and the Modern literature. The Beowulf carries is similar to many Greek dramas that focused on a protagonist who was turned out to be a tragic hero. There was an element of belief in the gods who had super- human powers and had unique and ultimate special skills of their own, and overcame unsurmountable problems. However, in Beowulf, there is no Greek or Roman gods, but there are other supernatural beings defined as monsters that exist and are difficult to win over. Beowulf is extra-ordinarily strong, agile, and super intelligent. He is portrayed as one who overcomes many obstacles and was able to kill Grendel and his mother and the others in the sea. In addition, the wide character list and meaningful names is similar to those of other types of literature of the early eras. The story of Paradise lost opens in hell. Satan...
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...Beowulf and Thor have many similar qualities. Thor is a pagan god, which relates to the pagan belief in Beowulf. They have superhuman qualities such as, powerful strength and can endure situations an average human cannot, but they also have human qualities. Both Beowulf and Thor has weapons only they can use because of their superhuman strength. Their weapons being Thor’s hammer, Mjollnir and Beowulf’s sword, Hrunting. Beowulf defeated Grendel with his bare hands. He did not use a weapon because he did not think it was a fair fight because Grendel did not own a weapon. Being the superhero he is, Thor defeats enemies with his godly strength. “ For hours he sank through the waves”, Beowulf did something not humanly possible to sink to...
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...The plots of Beowulf reveal how society changes culturally as time progresses. The epic poem initially begins as a story symbolizing Pagan ideas and beliefs. As time advances, the epic poem gradually evolves into a story involving Christianity. The latest variation of Beowulf tackled various issues society encounters in our modern world. Overall, Beowulf is an ever-changing epic. Elements of Paganism is seen numerous times throughout the epic poem. Many examples of Paganism is seen in Beowulf’s character. Beowulf’s character is written as a hero. In Pagan society, heroes fight or go to war for fame or to be remembered when they meet their death. This was Beowulf’s purpose for volunteering to leave Geatland to venture to Denmark to end evil. Many characters possess superhuman strength. Beowulf and Grendel are prime examples of characters with superhuman strength. Beowulf displays his abilities when he swims underwater for hours without gasping or oxygen. Grendel displays his superhuman abilities with his incredible strength as he murders Danish soldiers. The symbolism of Good vs Evil displays with Grendel and Beowulf’s gruesome duel. Within the many examples of Paganism, Christian aspects also appear in Beowulf. An example of Christian faith in the poem is when Beowulf and his troops arrive in Denmark to battle Grendel, the group thank God for the safe ride to Denmark. A major example is Beowulf’s character. Beowulf’s heroic personality and decisions consider him to be a God-like...
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...In all stories there has to be some sort of conflict, and because of the strong influence of Scandinavia culture, battles were almost a necessity in Beowulf. Because there had to be battles, only two options were available when Christians decided to take on the epic: Beowulf kills, or he himself dies. If Beowulf dies, then there is no story and he cannot kill another human being, for it expresses extensively in the bible that it is a sin to murder, and that we as humans, should never kill other humans. So this causes a dilemma due to the necessity for both battles and the main character to not sin against the leading religion of the time. The solution is what may be plausible evidence for the theory that the Christian narrators changed the characters from the original Beowulf into monsters. In reality this solution is incredibly genius, as it provides the audience with the action and fighting that they demand, while Beowulf technically never commits a serious sin. In fact, the transition to monsters as the antagonist provide a wider variety to the story, as they are now more unknown and cause extra excitement and anxiety to the...
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...concepts of good and evil presented in Beowulf? Does this reveal anything about Anglo-Saxon society? Beowulf is the greatest surviving Old English poem, an epic that recounts the main events in the life of a legendary hero named Beowulf. Beowulf’s destiny is to fight and conquer the monsters that terrorize the kingdom of the Danes. Many events in Beowulf are directly related to the Bible, making the constant battle between good and evil one of the most important themes. Beowulf is a courageous, strong and loyal warrior. He is brave, and he has self confidence bordering on insanity, but he’s also generous and kind towards others. Beowulf shows that he has confidence when he fights Grendel without weapons. When he defeats Grendel, he demonstrates that men are capable of destroying evil if they wish to do so. Beowulf’s qualities make him the epitome of a hero. “Beowulf emphasizes values that were important to Norse warriors, such as courage, loyalty to one's king and comrades, and honor for those who fight and die bravely. The story emphasizes how fragile life and fame can be. Like any person, Beowulf must find meaning in his world while accepting the fact that he will eventually die. He meets that challenge by facing danger bravely and trusting that the story of his deeds will cause him to live on in the memories of those who hear it.” (from the New Catholic Encyclopedia) Goodness is represented throughout the poem by the characters of Beowulf, King Hrothgar and Wiglaf. Evil is...
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...The story of 6th century king Ethelbert of Kent, a pagan who married a Christian woman named Bertha, demonstrates this. A passage states, “For he [king Ethelbert] had heard of the Christian religion, having a Christian wife, of the royal family of the Franks, called Bertha, whom he had received from her parents upon condition that she should be permitted to practice her religion with the bishop, Luidhard” King Ethelbert was supportive of his wife practicing her faith which makes it clear that he believed that different faiths should be accepted. This demonstrates that his culture also supported a variety of beliefs. Even before King Ethelbert, Roman pagans had no barriers to marrying Christians, but the Church refused to support the practice. Overall, there were benefits to the practice of politicians marrying between faiths, as displayed in King Ethelbert’s marriage to a Christian wife, which expresses support for different kinds of beliefs unlike the...
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...have always had an educative role. In the literary works of fiction, authors use diverse images and symbols in order to trigger a particular reaction from the audience. Some authors, however, use traditional images in new contexts challenging the audience's perception of those iconic characters. Authors often argue that characters can have different meanings and symbolism in different cultures and different times. The best example of these new meanings is seen through the writing about iconic monsters in different time periods. From the analysis’ of Beowulf and Grendel: The Truth Behind England’s Oldest Legend by John Grigsby and Grendel by John Gardner, the character of Grendel in both books is the symbolic meaning of how society is afraid of the unknown. When people are confronted with an unfamiliar circumstance, it is human nature to twist the unknown into something frightening and unacceptable....
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...Beowulf is a character of unbelievable status.Beowulf is the protagonist of the short epic poem called Beowulf. Beowulf is the example of an epic hero. He as an epic hero makes sacrifices that puts in danger his own integrity to help others as he accomplishes feats that are another attempt. For instance, when he battles Grendel, he is suddenly cursed by God and creates havoc. He also went on his own to protect people. In doing so it shows that Beowulf’s character is self-sacrifice, courage and brave. Beowulf, protagonist, exemplifies this characteristic as he accomplishes feats that other only attempt. For instance, when he battled Grendel, it was noted that suddenly God-cursed brute was creating havoc. Beowulf superhuman strength is evident...
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