preview

Christian Theology In Beowulf

Decent Essays
Open Document

The Influences of Biblical Teachings and Christian Theology in Beowulf and How They Conflict With the Original Story. The story Beowulf was originally written in a pagan time and land; however, by the time the epic was written down, almost all of the native inhabitants of it’s land had converted to Christianity. This gave the Beowulf poet the arduous task of ensuring his Christian beliefs would remain unfettered while he recorded the entirely un-Christian behavior of the poems characters. This dilemma leads to frequent analogies about God, Heaven, Hell, and many references to the Old Testament, that one can only assume are the attempted justifications to the otherwise morally defunct chronicle. By the conclusion however, this conflict had …show more content…

One can observe for example, how the influences of the Old Testament are present in the outline and backstory of the initial villain, Grendel, who is descended from Cain. This is expressed in the text of the poem as quoted below.
“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 …show more content…

During medieval times in Scandinavia, tribe against tribe and clan against clan frequently came to fratricidal war. Grendel portrays the epitome of evil in their society because he is the descendant of Cain a man who killed his own brother. As a final example take note of how the author speaks of the condemnation of his own pagan ancestors. He states that they shall burn for their false worship and that only through God can one receive salvation.
“The Almighty Judge of good deeds and bad, the Lord God, Head of the Heavens and High King of the World, was unknown to them. Oh, cursed is he who in time of trouble had to thrust his soul into the fire's embrace, forfeiting help; he has nowhere to turn. But blessed is he who after death can approach the Lord and find friendship in the Father's embrace.”
The narrator professes his feelings, sorry for the pagan ancestors of the Anglo-Saxons, who never had the opportunity to worship the Christian God for help. Take special note to the last line of that quote as well. stating that
“But blessed is he who after death can approach the Lord and find friendship in the Father's

Get Access