Beowulf Influence

     In Beowulf the Christian influence is revealed through approximately 70 passages in which the form of expression or the thought suggests Christian usage or doctrine (Blackburn 3); The Saga of King Hrolf Kraki is in its own way infused with Christian values even though it preserves remnants of the cult of Odin.

Beowulf: A New Telling by Robert Nye is a story of horrendous monsters of legends Beowulf has to face. But, Beowulf is not your ordinary hero, and this story isn’t your ordinary hero legend of Good Vs. Evil. In Fact, the story shoes things aren’t so black and white. You will hear again and again, about light and darkness being in the same being, a kind of a yin and yang concept. That is one of many themes throughout this story, and the longer you read the more you see the deeper, overarching theme of the entire story.

that will stick forever, loyalty, courage, and bravery. Now today, older traits are still being withheld but they are portrayed within diverse types of heroes. Loyalty, courage and bravery are with“Whether ancient or modern, the distinctive characteristic of the heroic figure… ‘Is willing to risk death.’” (acculturated.com) Heroes are willing to face the fear of constant violent death and embrace fate to have inner peace or exceptional value within themselves. The model hero in ancient times was the type to kill and conquer just to be remembered whereas today, things have shimmered down. Beowulf’s effectiveness as a modern-day hero has taught us something that will stick forever, loyalty, courage, and bravery.

The mythologies and folktales of cultures within Ancient Europe are all very different, yet peculiarly similar in the depiction of heroes. Although what makes a hero heroic is very subjective, the prominent choice of character is usually the same. The Celtic and the Vikings both had similar characteristics and traits for their mythological heroes. In the Celtic and the Viking mythologies the heroes are similar in the sense that honor, justice, courage, intelligence, and beauty are all desired and, of course, important traits. Heroes are subjective due to individuals emotional and influenced taste in appearance and action of the “hero.” In this case, Finn and Thor show similar traits and characteristics, which satisfy the desires of the readers and/or believers of the religion.

"His father's warrior were wound round his heart. With golden rings, bound to their prince, by his father's treasure. So young men build, The future, wisely open-handed in peace. Protected in war; so warriors earn,Their fame, and wealth is shaped with a sword."(Beowulf. Page 24). Beowulf and Thor are two characters who have similarities throughout their life that defines them alike. They both know what it takes to become king. Their stories and physical actions against evil monsters show they are not humane.

Beowulf is an epic poem that has been handed down orally for centuries, but was finally written down in the eighth century. It is the story of an epic hero, named Beowulf, who travels with his men, the Geats, to conquer the many beasts who terrorize the lands of the Danes. The scops describe Beowulf as “greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world”(110-111). This example shows one of many qualities that make Beowulf the epic hero that he is. He uses his strength to demonstrate both the dedication and bravery needed to bring peace and justice to the people who have been terrorized for such a long time. Cultural elements exemplified in Beowulf occur in the aspects of the mead hall, the warriors, and their belief system.

Beowulf and Grendel are two different stories, and characters, who look at the same situation in polarized ways. Each character has their own story that is written from different time periods: the Anglo-Saxon time period and America in the 1970’s. Both of these time periods have different attributes that make them special; the Anglo-Saxon time period consists of the literary movement of the epic poem and America in the 1970’s consists of the literary movement known as postmodernism. Beowulf is shaped by the Anglo-Saxon time period through its use of the heroic code and religious influences and Grendel is shaped by the American 1970’s time period through its use of metafiction and an unreliable narrator.

The first example of the similarities and differences between the poem and the movie is the representation of religion. For example, both the movie and the poem of Beowulf included Christianity and Paganism. However, in the movie it was more about the Pagan religion, trying to make Christianity look bad. As an example, in one scenes of the movie, Beowulf says the Christianity killed the time of all heros. On the other hand, in the Beowulf poem, Beowulf is compared to the gods of Christianity. For example, in the passage The Battle With Grendel the scop describes “... Now he discovered- once the afflictor of

Beowulf: A New Telling is a book for people that need reassurance that light will overcome darkness and that we need to accept that we have some darkness inside of us, then our weaknesses can become our strengths. Beowulf has to face many faces of evil, including Grendel, the cruel slimy creature who murders Beowulf’s friends and She, the wife of Cain and malicious monster that lives at the bottom of a pool of blood. He becomes king of Geats and is famous all throughout the land.

King Arthur and Beowulf are both heroes in their stories which causes them to have many similarities in their traits but, they have differences in their traits as well. Arthur and Beowulf are both courageous leaders. They fight fearlessly for themselves and their people in battle. A difference between Arthur and Beowulf is their ability to depend on others. Arthur depends on others many times in The Once and Future King while Beowulf depends only on himself in Beowulf. Despite the differences, Beowulf and Arthur still have many things in common such as their wisdom. Both men are wise and make incisive decisions in battle and in leading. Their wisdom on the battlefield is a heroic trait that both men possess. Another heroic trait that they share is their courageousness.

Heroes, from Beowulf to Superman our cultures have always created heroes. We may always have political, social, economic and religious differences, but at the end of the day we all have one thing in common, heroes. They help define who we are and what we want to be. They give us hope and inspire us to head in the right direction. They show us that good will always triumph over evil and that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. Heroes give us the inspiration we need to overcome problems in our own lives and that is why we create them. Beowulf perfectly embodies the idea of a hero. He defeats the evil Grendel and his mother, slays the dragon and saves his people. He is

Many of the stories we read today are full of historical knowledge, background, and traditions. Books such as “ Lord of the flies” or “ Two Birds in a Tree” all contain some level of religious allusion or reference the historical background of a particular religion or group of people. The epic poem “ Beowulf” uses the opening scene to provide substantial information on the traditions, motives, and values of the Anglo Saxon people. The opening scene of “Beowulf” Showcases the traditions and hierarchy of the Anglo Saxon people, what they believe it means to be a good king, and explains the purpose of those things in their society. Beowulf’s opening scene contains a large amount of information on the hierarchy and traditions of the Anglo Saxon

Beowulf and his legacy live beyond the story, bringing the moral out to all people.

In the Anglo-Saxon epic poem, Beowulf, King Hrothgar’s men enjoy feasts and drown their sorrow and fears in all the finest mead served at Heorot, the King’s mead-hall. The mead hall originated in Europe as a gathering place for the community, where the rulers lived and administered daily function, and their warriors served as faithful guards. In the early Anglo-Saxon period before Christianity gained influence, a ruler summoned his household for a ritual gathering, where the men drank, made boasts or binding oaths in the service of their lord and received gifts of land from him. Even drunken oaths were upheld and the safety of those in attendance at feasts safeguarded by the lord. The mead-halls were constructed of timber with thatched roofs to accommodate hundreds of guests. There were everyday gatherings,but feasts to celebrate battle

Beowulf is an epic story that relates well to the time that it was introduced by having the stories of the epic battles and the defeats of the treacherous monsters that kept everyone entertained during this era. Not only does Beowulf represent the era well, but it also has very interesting characters, themes and symbols that help teach us lessons that are very much so needed in today's society.