Beowulf is considered the oldest epic poem in the English language, and the earliest piece of indigenous European literature. In the 19th century, Beowulf was written in Old English, the language of the Saxons. This epic did not have a title originally, but began to be referred to by the name of the Scandinavian hero, Beowulf, with heroic sources and virtues as the primary focus. Both the hero and the story are fiction even though historical elements run through the poem (Snell 1). There have been no records found of the known author of Beowulf so much information is not given. Beowulf contains many conflicts throughout the story that include Grendel’s domination of Heorot Hall, the vengeance of Grendel’s mother after Grendel is slain, and
…show more content…
The action of the story and pre- Christian tradition may align with one another because a value of the scriptural references interested a postrevelation audience. Marijane Osborn wrote in her journal article, “The Great Feud: Scriptural History and Strife in Beowulf” that “For an audience in a royal hall, the biblical overtones would reaffirm the native culture, whose values had been called into question by the arrival of Roman Christianity; for a cloister audience, the archetypal reflection of scriptural history in Beowulf’s fights with demonic monsters would serve to “redeem” the native past.” Hrothgar, a father figure to Beowulf, reveals a Christian view of life because of the conduct of Germanic heroes since it precedes an expression to secular ideals. His purpose was building Heorot was to provide a hall that imitates God’s generosity with his own. Hrothgar also had a vision of giving for stability in the world of change; the treasure is the lifeblood of Germanic society because wyrd strikes against honor and dignity against avarice (Osborn 8). Similarity to Beowulf’s redemption, the bible teaches Christians that Jesus is a redeemer because through His death and resurrection he came into the world to redeem a man. According to Mary C. Wilson Tietjen, “The idea that fate in Beowulf is sometimes controlled by God is subject to qualifications…God can avert the dictates of fate refer to God’s future
The action of the story and pre- Christian tradition may align with one another because a value of the scriptural references interested a postrevelation audience. Marijane Osborn wrote in her journal article, “The Great Feud: Scriptural History and Strife in Beowulf” that “For an audience in a royal hall, the biblical overtones would reaffirm the native culture, whose values had been called into question by the arrival of Roman Christianity; for a cloister audience, the archetypal reflection of scriptural history in Beowulf’s fights with demonic monsters would serve to “redeem” the native past.” Hrothgar, a father figure to Beowulf, reveals a Christian view of life because of the conduct of Germanic heroes since it precedes an expression to secular ideals. His purpose was building Heorot was to provide a hall that imitates God’s generosity with his own. Hrothgar also had a vision of giving for stability in the world of change; the treasure is the lifeblood of Germanic society because wyrd strikes against honor and dignity against avarice (Osborn 8). Similarity to Beowulf’s redemption, the bible teaches Christians that Jesus is a redeemer because through His death and resurrection he came into the world to redeem a man. According to Mary C. Wilson Tietjen, “The idea that fate in Beowulf is sometimes controlled by God is subject to qualifications…God can avert the dictates of fate refer to God’s future