Beowulf is the history of the appearance of Christian conversion. It is neither fully pagan, nor fully Christian, and that is where its wonder lies…it’s open…
My knowledge quest is, “What were the different religion origins used during the Old English Period and how can you tell them apart?” During this week’s reading I was able to identify the many examples of Christianity and paganism throughout “Beowulf.” Throughout the poem we see the many references to God and we find them since the very beginning of the poem, when Grendel listen to the story of God’s creation, "The Almighty making the earth, shaping These beautiful plains marked off by oceans ... made quick with Life. " We also see Beowulf thanking God for the gifts he has given. We see the Christian message when Beowulf goes to fight Grendel and is not afraid, because it is God who decides who is to die in battle.…
As Beowulf was most likely copied down in its current form by a literate Christian between the eighth and eleventh centuries, such themes of glory and violence may seem out of place with a modern view of religion in mind; however, the aggressive, expansive nature of Christianity seen in physical conflicts like the Crusades and through political control of western European kingdoms shows that during this time stability was driven by the establishment and upkeep of violence-induced power imbalances. In instances like the Investiture Controversy, popes and Holy Roman emperors fought for dominance over the actions of European kingdoms; these conflicts often became increasingly strained, with kings losing the backing of the Church and with it much of their realm. In Beowulf, religion wholeheartedly supports the actions of kingdoms securing their place, going as far as to state that “God [exalts] … the joys of strength and force” (1716-17). God is also present in the epic poem as a form of Wyrd, a conception of fate, granting victory and defeat as seen fit. With the violent element of medieval conflicts supported by religious institutions that routinely act as a binding force in society, it is evident that bloodshed and fighting was deeply engrained in all aspects of the culture of the…
1.Introduction Thesis: Professor Robert F. Yeager generates interest in the poem Beowulf by describing the mystery that surrounds its origin, the way the story influenced others, and how the story connects people to their ancestors. 2. Mystery of Origin Written over one thousand years ago by two anonymous authors Original manuscript was small, w/o illumination (written by a journeyman) No one knows where it was for five hundred years after it was written Was saved from the dissolving of the libraries Survived a fire Why it is interesting: It is like fate kept the story alive 3.…
He admits that God is with him and he is the one who has control over everything and all trials. Beowulf attributes his successful battles and struggles result to the judgment of god, so he accept his destiny and put his trust in God. Therefore, Beowulf's idea of defeating Grendel with his bare hands not only confirmed his bravery, but also his devotion and…
Grendel’s mother is described as “a monstrous ogress” who attacks the mead hall to avenge her son. Because Grendel’s mother is as strong as Beowulf, he has to wear full armour and use a sword in this fight. This preparation indicates that Beowulf is not confident when he has to fight with anger and vengeance. As a pagan hero, Beowulf believes in vengeance: “It is better for a man/ to avenge his friend than to refresh his sorrow” (1383-4). He sets up to kill Grendel’s mother to avenge Ashhere, Hthrogar’s counsellor.…
The narrator of Beowulf looks back on Anglo-Saxon times. The poet explores broader themes that lead to a new world made more complicated by increased globalization, trade, religion, and the spread of ideas. In his introduction, Heaney states that “By the end of the poem, gold has suffered a radiation from the Christian vision … and its changed status is registered as a symptom of the changed world” (xviii). The poem concludes with a cliffhanger, a play with the emotions of readers because the epic hero dies, and the fate of his land is left uncertain. The use of gold as a symbol has remained constant, but what that symbol represents has changed over time and cultures.…
But there are two authors of the story, the scop’s and the monks. With different beliefs and contrasting values. The aim of the monk teaching about Christian ideology while the scop will focus more on entertainment and the way of the pagan culture. The shift between the two can easily be seen when reading Beowulf. The scop will emphasize more on the battles then the monk will change these battles to involve some type of reference to the christian faith.…
The epic “Beowulf” shows many aspects of Anglo-Saxon culture that otherwise could not be known today. Many of which are considered either immoral or wrong; however, as they were influenced by Christian beliefs and the only ones that could write were monks, it is obvious how Christianity affected the poem. Thus, to some extent, sharing some similarities with our modern society, although sometimes there are some contradictions as pagan and Christian beliefs clash during the poem. Notwithstanding, the poem independent of those two forces does agree on one thing. “Beowulf” presents women as negative figures in society, because they serve almost no purpose in the story, they are seen as evil beings, and unreasonable persons many times.…
Beowulf comprises of a Christian superimposition, Viking values, and a hero. In the beginning, it was simply told by bards who had committed the story to memory. It used kennings, caesuras and alliteration to continue the poem. Throughout the story, there are multiple indications that allude to the ideology of Christians. An individual can come to consensus with the fact that a Christian figure transcribed the work, but intelligibly embodies norse principles.…
Beowulf is skeptical when it comes to religion. He hardly mentions the Lord and when he does, he says, “If there were any gods out there, they were sleeping... well that 's all we need; a god gone mad from lack of sleep.” This exposes Beowulf’s true feeling on religion in the…
(Goldsmith, Margaret E. " The Christian Theme of Beowulf. " Poetry Criticism, edited by Carol T. Gaffke and Anna J. Sheets, vol. 22, Gale, 1999.…
"Beowulf" is a classic, lyrical poem that has been passed down from generation to generation. Although historians agree that sections of the story are absent, and parts of the story have most likely been modified, the main idea and plot of the story remain significant. After reading and processing the enticing poem, one can easily identify it as a traditional Anglo-Saxon epic poem. "Beowulf" includes many details and examples for which it can be classified as an epic poem. Whether it is the characters, the climax, the plot, or simply the writing style, the poem "Beowulf" contains many traditional epic qualities.…
Beowulf is thought upon to be a more Christian poem than Pagan, but when showing the similarities between Beowulf and Hercules, critics may start to change their train of thought. Sure, there is a lot of talk about Beowulf relating to the religion of Christianity, but that's because it's obvious. People who interpret meticulous writing well would see more Pagan references than others. The Paganism in Beowulf is almost hidden, but when understood it becomes more clear that Beowulf is more Pagan than critics…
The poem, for example, referred to Christianity as well as some pagan beliefs. The movie mostly only refers to pagan gods that weren’t even mentioned in the original story. Another theme that was changed in the movie is Beowulf’s constant heroism. Beowulf is seen as a hero throughout the poem, and when he is told not to let pride get in his way of being a great man he listens. The Beowulf from the film does not do the same.…