Religion is a very prevalent role in literature from the early and Middle English era. Over and over we see religion in stories and poems from this time. Whether the Authors are directly stating religious views, or just alluding to them, the views are still there. In the two poems we have read, Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, religion plays a big role, but in very different ways.
Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight are both epic poems that were written in the Early to Middle English era. Beowulf is a Geats hero that goes to Denmark to help fight a monster named Grendel. He goes on to defeat Grendel’s mother and then goes home to become a king. Years down the road he has his final and fatal battle with a Dragon and is …show more content…
Just from the very beginning of Beowulf we already see this idea of Beowulf being, “a comfort sent by God to the Nation,” (13). Just from the first couple of lines the author brings up the idea of Beowulf being God sent, which is what many of the people in Denmark …show more content…
In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, unlike in Beowulf, the “hero” isn’t sent from God and perfect for the job he is going to do. It is more the opposite of that. Sir Gawain says he will do it because he thinks he is the weakest, but throughout the poem he goes to God for help time and time again.
Once Sir Gawain sets out on his quest, he starts to realize that he may not be cut out for this journey. He travels through the cold forests fighting monsters and come to be very lonely. He begins to pray “Father, hear me, and Lady Mary, our mother most mild, Let me happen on some house where mass might be heard.” (753-755). Gawain is pretty much just calling out into the forest to find somewhere civilized with people that he can stay the night at.
Soon after Sir Gawain prays, his prayers have been answered and he finds a huge castle in the forest and when he approaches he is welcomed in. Afterward “he offered up thanks to Jesus and Saint Julian, both gentle and good, who courteously heard him and heeded his cry” (773-775). Gawain again is praying to God, this time thanking him for answering his previous prayer. Gawain believes that God answered his prayer and that God will continue to help him through
Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight are both epic poems that were written in the Early to Middle English era. Beowulf is a Geats hero that goes to Denmark to help fight a monster named Grendel. He goes on to defeat Grendel’s mother and then goes home to become a king. Years down the road he has his final and fatal battle with a Dragon and is …show more content…
Just from the very beginning of Beowulf we already see this idea of Beowulf being, “a comfort sent by God to the Nation,” (13). Just from the first couple of lines the author brings up the idea of Beowulf being God sent, which is what many of the people in Denmark …show more content…
In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, unlike in Beowulf, the “hero” isn’t sent from God and perfect for the job he is going to do. It is more the opposite of that. Sir Gawain says he will do it because he thinks he is the weakest, but throughout the poem he goes to God for help time and time again.
Once Sir Gawain sets out on his quest, he starts to realize that he may not be cut out for this journey. He travels through the cold forests fighting monsters and come to be very lonely. He begins to pray “Father, hear me, and Lady Mary, our mother most mild, Let me happen on some house where mass might be heard.” (753-755). Gawain is pretty much just calling out into the forest to find somewhere civilized with people that he can stay the night at.
Soon after Sir Gawain prays, his prayers have been answered and he finds a huge castle in the forest and when he approaches he is welcomed in. Afterward “he offered up thanks to Jesus and Saint Julian, both gentle and good, who courteously heard him and heeded his cry” (773-775). Gawain again is praying to God, this time thanking him for answering his previous prayer. Gawain believes that God answered his prayer and that God will continue to help him through