During the late 10th century, there was affirmation of warrior and Christian cultures in literary works. Both “The Dream of the Rood” and “Beowulf,” authors unknown, have Christian elements throughout the text, but “Beowulf” also greatly embraces the pagan, warrior culture. The pagan culture of this time included stories of great heroes defeating their foes and gaining material wealth. The Christian culture is all about spiritual not material wealth. Good Christian characters find strength in their faith in God when they are going through trials and tribulations. It is interesting how these two starkly different elements can coincide in these ancient literary works. “The Dream of the Rood” is simply an artistic retelling of the gospel. The
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Before it was written down, it most likely did not contain the Christian elements it does now. If all the Christian elements are removed from the text, it is a story of a hero who defeats villains with his bare hands and receives much praise and material wealth for his good deeds. There are countless Christian elements added throughout “Beowulf” but one of the main allusions is in lines 90 through 114 when Grendel is first described being the direct spawn of Cain from the Bible. Grendel is described as such a disgusting beast that came from the evil that is the opposite of God’s beautiful perfection. During all of the feasts and parties, Beowulf is rewarded with gold, armor, and other treasures. For example, when he defeats the dragon Beowulf says, “I want to examine that ancient gold, gaze my fill on those garnered jewels; my going will be easier for having seen the treasure” (p. 100, lines 2747-2750). But to offset this normal pagan tradition, an elder warns Beowulf of getting too greedy by giving him this advice, “Choose, dear Beowulf, the better part, eternal rewards. Do not give way to pride” (p. 79, lines 1759-1760). The way this text is recorded creates a tug of war between the material wealth common in the warrior culture and the eternal rewards that come of praising God for the hero’s
Before it was written down, it most likely did not contain the Christian elements it does now. If all the Christian elements are removed from the text, it is a story of a hero who defeats villains with his bare hands and receives much praise and material wealth for his good deeds. There are countless Christian elements added throughout “Beowulf” but one of the main allusions is in lines 90 through 114 when Grendel is first described being the direct spawn of Cain from the Bible. Grendel is described as such a disgusting beast that came from the evil that is the opposite of God’s beautiful perfection. During all of the feasts and parties, Beowulf is rewarded with gold, armor, and other treasures. For example, when he defeats the dragon Beowulf says, “I want to examine that ancient gold, gaze my fill on those garnered jewels; my going will be easier for having seen the treasure” (p. 100, lines 2747-2750). But to offset this normal pagan tradition, an elder warns Beowulf of getting too greedy by giving him this advice, “Choose, dear Beowulf, the better part, eternal rewards. Do not give way to pride” (p. 79, lines 1759-1760). The way this text is recorded creates a tug of war between the material wealth common in the warrior culture and the eternal rewards that come of praising God for the hero’s