The importance of the birth order comes into play when examining the pagan idea of exile. Pagan societies worked as a balanced system. This is to say that every citizen’s role in the community played a small part in one big machine. The farmers provided food, soldiers provided protection, the lord provided safety and a sense of order and so on. If a person ceased to complete their job, they let down their entire town as everybody remained co-dependent on the other citizens. Therefore, exile from the community held the title as the worst punishment in a pagan society as it was near impossible to live without the support of the public. In Beowulf, Grendel’s lurking outside of the mead hall demonstrates his wanting to belong to the community.
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Grendel shows he feels excommunicated when he attacks the mead hall after he hears hymns and praises of God. The mead hall represents the social center of the community. By singing songs of worship, the citizens inside transform this building to represent not only a social hub, but also a place of devotion. Therefore, when Grendel attacks it, he also attacks a reflection of the church. The author utilizes the Grendel’s character to show the monstrosity that occurs when one spends their life excommunicated from God and the church. In this sense, Grendel represents evil and Beowulf represents a manifestation of God’s goodness. In lines 381-383 the author explains, “Holy God/ has, in His goodness, guided here/ to the West-Danes, to defend us from Grendel”. The not only reinforces the idea of Beowulf as a Christ figure but also shows that God considered Grendel as completely evil, despite spending his secular life in exile and never having a chance to be Christian. God only intervenes on mundane issues when true evil arises. The excommunication of Grendel emphasizes the idea that Cain’s crime was enough to send generations of his family to hell to pay for it. However, the most important part of Grendel’s exile from both the pagan world and the Christian world occurs when Beowulf defeats him. In lines 956-978 Beowulf describes his victory over Grendel. In his speech, he accredits not only his …show more content…
While many people argue that this causes a tension between the two theologies, it actually succeeds at the opposite. Change never occurs with complete fluidity. But by including both aspects, the author shows how one set of beliefs slowly fades into a new set. Beowulf remains rooted in the pagan culture of his time but also conveys a sense of understanding and acceptance of Christian ideals and virtues. This symbolizes how during the time of the monk that transcribed Beowulf, the world was rooted in paganism but eventually transitioned to Christian
Grendel shows he feels excommunicated when he attacks the mead hall after he hears hymns and praises of God. The mead hall represents the social center of the community. By singing songs of worship, the citizens inside transform this building to represent not only a social hub, but also a place of devotion. Therefore, when Grendel attacks it, he also attacks a reflection of the church. The author utilizes the Grendel’s character to show the monstrosity that occurs when one spends their life excommunicated from God and the church. In this sense, Grendel represents evil and Beowulf represents a manifestation of God’s goodness. In lines 381-383 the author explains, “Holy God/ has, in His goodness, guided here/ to the West-Danes, to defend us from Grendel”. The not only reinforces the idea of Beowulf as a Christ figure but also shows that God considered Grendel as completely evil, despite spending his secular life in exile and never having a chance to be Christian. God only intervenes on mundane issues when true evil arises. The excommunication of Grendel emphasizes the idea that Cain’s crime was enough to send generations of his family to hell to pay for it. However, the most important part of Grendel’s exile from both the pagan world and the Christian world occurs when Beowulf defeats him. In lines 956-978 Beowulf describes his victory over Grendel. In his speech, he accredits not only his …show more content…
While many people argue that this causes a tension between the two theologies, it actually succeeds at the opposite. Change never occurs with complete fluidity. But by including both aspects, the author shows how one set of beliefs slowly fades into a new set. Beowulf remains rooted in the pagan culture of his time but also conveys a sense of understanding and acceptance of Christian ideals and virtues. This symbolizes how during the time of the monk that transcribed Beowulf, the world was rooted in paganism but eventually transitioned to Christian