Paganism In Beowulf

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Undoubtedly, the presence of both Christian and pagan elements within Beowulf is a questionable relationship that reflects the cultural turmoil during the time of the Anglo-Saxons. While the teetering balance of Christianity and pagan traditions is scattered throughout the poem, one clearly dominates. The basis of Beowulf itself illuminates the power struggle between the fading beliefs of paganism and the overshadowing of the emerging religion of Christianity. In The Christian Theme of Beowulf, written by Margaret Goldberg, it is argued that pagan references are distractions to the indisputably Christian sentiment of Beowulf. Therefore, while there is a fusion of pagan and Christian values, the Christian values that are emphasized show the

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