Importance of Religion in Anglo-Saxon Culture
Beowulf is a thrilling epic about a tenacious warrior who honors his king above all but is also written to give praises to the God of the Christian faith. This confuses the reader to understand that the Anglo-Saxon culture, where this epic was introduced, has beliefs in both Christian and Pagan religions which in itself is dissenting, keeping in mind that the term Pagan derives from the Christian terminology of all other religions and faiths. There are a plethora of textual evidences supporting both claims of religious affiliation in the Anglo-Saxon culture. In Beowulf the uses of the Pagan and Christian religions are interlaced to show the importance of these religions in Anglo-Saxon culture.
The applicability of Pagan religion is stated in a variety of areas throughout the text. The kings are highly worshiped by all the subjects in their kingdoms. “Yet they did not in the least disparage the good Hrothgar, their friend and overlord” is an …show more content…
It is obvious that only one religion could be practiced by either of the two kingdoms mentioned in the text. Some would say that the Geats might of worshiped in the Pagan faith and the Danes might of worshiped in the Christian faith. This could never be true though due to the practices being mixed around in both kingdoms. King Hrothgar says, “I am sure that God has sent him to the help of the Danes” (Wright 35) which shows that he is giving his respects to God yet his people trust in only his protections as Beowulf has said, “King of the Danes, protector of fighting-men” (Wright 36). The same is true of the Geats. The only plausible explanation of these affiliations is to believe that the monks who first translated this text have added in Christian faith and that the Anglo-Saxon people were of a Pagan religion dedicated to following their
Beowulf is a thrilling epic about a tenacious warrior who honors his king above all but is also written to give praises to the God of the Christian faith. This confuses the reader to understand that the Anglo-Saxon culture, where this epic was introduced, has beliefs in both Christian and Pagan religions which in itself is dissenting, keeping in mind that the term Pagan derives from the Christian terminology of all other religions and faiths. There are a plethora of textual evidences supporting both claims of religious affiliation in the Anglo-Saxon culture. In Beowulf the uses of the Pagan and Christian religions are interlaced to show the importance of these religions in Anglo-Saxon culture.
The applicability of Pagan religion is stated in a variety of areas throughout the text. The kings are highly worshiped by all the subjects in their kingdoms. “Yet they did not in the least disparage the good Hrothgar, their friend and overlord” is an …show more content…
It is obvious that only one religion could be practiced by either of the two kingdoms mentioned in the text. Some would say that the Geats might of worshiped in the Pagan faith and the Danes might of worshiped in the Christian faith. This could never be true though due to the practices being mixed around in both kingdoms. King Hrothgar says, “I am sure that God has sent him to the help of the Danes” (Wright 35) which shows that he is giving his respects to God yet his people trust in only his protections as Beowulf has said, “King of the Danes, protector of fighting-men” (Wright 36). The same is true of the Geats. The only plausible explanation of these affiliations is to believe that the monks who first translated this text have added in Christian faith and that the Anglo-Saxon people were of a Pagan religion dedicated to following their