Beowulf is an epic poem that has the values of christianity in its main plot. The basis of Christianity roots were instilled into this epic poem, the beliefs were altered to fit the story’s format; Beowulf has been told for hundreds of years.“Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; bad poets deface what they take, and good poets make it into something better, or at least something different” (T.S. Eliot, The Sacred Wood). Although the writer of the epic poem Beowulf is unknown, we do know that he turned his Christianity faith to turn this story into something different. He turned a widely popular religion into the basis of an epic poem that made the way for poetry after that. Beowulf has references of Christianity through its characters,
…show more content…
The readers of this text might perceive this text with more interest as well, considering that a multitude of Christian beliefs are intertwined with this medieval England epic poem. A prominent critic might say that these Christian references mean that Christianity was a very influential religion at the time that this story was put onto paper.
God gets credit for the accomplishments that the successful characters in Beowulf achieve, mostly Beowulf, as displayed in this quote, “The monster wrenched and wrestled him / but Beowulf was mindful of his mighty strength, / the wondrous gifts God had showered on him: / He relied for help on the Lord of All, / on His care and favour. So he overcame the foe, / brought down the hell brute” (1269-1274). Beowulf, considered to be the most skilled and accomplished man in the universe takes on Grendel in hand to hand combat against the demon-filled monster Grendel who destroys everything in its path in a constant mindless rampage of destruction. The narrator makes sure that the victory that attained by Beowulf does not fall completely on his shoulders, but that a lot of the credit should go to the “Lord of All” …show more content…
First off, the mood would completely be altered, as this is portrayed in the prologue to open up this epic poem as Grendel is being directly introduced for the first time in Beowulf, “Grendel was the name of this grim demon / haunting the marches, marauding round the heath / and the desolate fens; he had dwelt for a time in misery among the banished monsters, / Cain’s clan, whom the creator had outlawed / and condemned as outcasts. For the killing of Abel / the Eternal Lord had exacted a price: / Cain got no good from committing that murder / because the Almighty made him anathema / and out of the curse of his exile there sprang / ogres and elves and evil phantoms / and the giants too who strove with God / time and again until He gave them their reward”(102-114). This is way more descriptive of a passage rather than a bland statement such as, “Grendel was cursed from his wrong-doings, he is doomed.” Which one seems more intriguing to a reader? The descriptive, in-depth, God forsaken introduction to Grendel’s cursed soul is a way more effective way to capture the reader into wanting to continue digging into this story, rather than if the Christian story of Cain and Abel was not involved. The narrator uses the curse that Cain obtained as a connection to the curse that Grendel has. This immediately makes the story more interesting rather than bland introduction to Grendel
The readers of this text might perceive this text with more interest as well, considering that a multitude of Christian beliefs are intertwined with this medieval England epic poem. A prominent critic might say that these Christian references mean that Christianity was a very influential religion at the time that this story was put onto paper.
God gets credit for the accomplishments that the successful characters in Beowulf achieve, mostly Beowulf, as displayed in this quote, “The monster wrenched and wrestled him / but Beowulf was mindful of his mighty strength, / the wondrous gifts God had showered on him: / He relied for help on the Lord of All, / on His care and favour. So he overcame the foe, / brought down the hell brute” (1269-1274). Beowulf, considered to be the most skilled and accomplished man in the universe takes on Grendel in hand to hand combat against the demon-filled monster Grendel who destroys everything in its path in a constant mindless rampage of destruction. The narrator makes sure that the victory that attained by Beowulf does not fall completely on his shoulders, but that a lot of the credit should go to the “Lord of All” …show more content…
First off, the mood would completely be altered, as this is portrayed in the prologue to open up this epic poem as Grendel is being directly introduced for the first time in Beowulf, “Grendel was the name of this grim demon / haunting the marches, marauding round the heath / and the desolate fens; he had dwelt for a time in misery among the banished monsters, / Cain’s clan, whom the creator had outlawed / and condemned as outcasts. For the killing of Abel / the Eternal Lord had exacted a price: / Cain got no good from committing that murder / because the Almighty made him anathema / and out of the curse of his exile there sprang / ogres and elves and evil phantoms / and the giants too who strove with God / time and again until He gave them their reward”(102-114). This is way more descriptive of a passage rather than a bland statement such as, “Grendel was cursed from his wrong-doings, he is doomed.” Which one seems more intriguing to a reader? The descriptive, in-depth, God forsaken introduction to Grendel’s cursed soul is a way more effective way to capture the reader into wanting to continue digging into this story, rather than if the Christian story of Cain and Abel was not involved. The narrator uses the curse that Cain obtained as a connection to the curse that Grendel has. This immediately makes the story more interesting rather than bland introduction to Grendel