Christianity And Paganism In Beowulf

As the poet says, “...So fame Comes to the men who mean to win it And care about nothing else!” This represents a common pagan belief that fame and good things come to those who fight and win. This is also a common theme found all throughout Beowulf. In the poem, Beowulf fights monsters with violence to earn his honor and glory, which is against Christian morals and beliefs. Anglo-Saxon culture was evident as readers see that Beowulf, and everyone else during this time period, believed that everything was earned from how much glory someone could gain for themselves. This is pretty much the opposite in a Christian society as christians believe that all glory should be given to God. The idea of an afterlife is not really discussed in Beowulf since it is mainly based on worldly things. There is so much belief in the idea that someone’s worth comes from the material items that an afterlife is senseless. The author says, “And the most beautiful necklace known to men: Nowhere… on Earth is there anything like it.” (Beowulf 1195-1197). This is talking about the gifts that Beowulf was given and how these gifts were viewed as more important than anything else. Materialistic things were viewed as marvelous out of this world things as opposed to putting Christ in that place. Christians believe that materialistic things do not matter because the only thing that matters is Christ. In Christian beliefs, you cannot believe in the value of materialistic things and believe that

The story of Beowulf deals with life, death, violence, kings, and monsters. Written around 800 CE, and then picked up hundreds of years later to be rewritten by a monk, it is written well after the coming of Christ. It could be simply read as an action adventure, filled with conquests and elaborate feasts, as were common of Old English tales. The story is not that simple though, and gives us a peek into a culture going through some drastic changes. Once built upon a Pagan belief system void of Christ and saturated with values such as revenge and violence, the Anglo-Saxons did not immediately adopt all of Christianity. There was a lengthy time in which both sets of beliefs were muddled and weaved together haphazardly, where no one religion was distinct. Beowulf is an example of these cultural influences crashing together. While Christianity in Beowulf, the Old English epic poem, looks different than the Christianity we recognize today, the story is built with Christian values.

In the story of Beowulf, there is a noticeable struggle between Christianity and Paganism, and the characters personal battle between the two. Throughout the story the characters display actions that lead towards Paganism and Christianity. Contrary to Pagan belief Beowulf is seen as the epitome of good and beneficent to all of mankind. In Beowulf, the people showed their faith and love in God, however due to horrific events, paranoia caused them to look for a quick fix and turns them to Paganism.

“Alone shall fight for me, struggle for life against the monster, God must decide who will be given to death’s cold grip. Grendel’s plan, I think, will be what it has been before, to invade this hall and gorge his belly with our bodies.” (Lines 268-273) This quote was said by Beowulf a little while before he fought Grendal. This quote shows that Beowulf is ready to risk his life to save his people from a monster that has killed many people. He does this throughout this epic; fighting battles with different monsters that put his people’s lives in danger. Also during some of the fights he has faith in God and he believes that God will be there to help him when he needs it. Beowulf is a blending of Christian traditions and beliefs such as

Pagan ideas and values were a large influence in the creation of Beowulf due to the time period it was created in. As the narrative was passed down by mouth Christianity views were slowly developed into the story. The poem was written after Anglo-Saxons were Christianized, even though we can tell that pagan views were still in their mindsets. With these ideals still present, paganism and Christianity were woven into the story, and we see a mix of heroic ideals and self-sacrificing virtues that create a story filled with religious influence. Fame, fate, and vengeance are concepts tied with paganism that are shown throughout Beowulf alongside Christian values of loyalty, humility, sacrifice for the good of others, and the negative consequences of greed and pride. No matter how much the author may have tried to avoid paganism when writing Beowulf, he was unable to do so because of the traditions of paganism that were still carried throughout the culture. Christianity was what people began to strive for, but due to the Anglo-Saxon culture that was evidently paganistic, Christianity values were mixed with Pagan ideals.

Throughout the ancient society of Anglo-Saxons, the pagan beliefs commonly caused people to do things for their own personal gain of fame. On the other hand, Christianity, which had just started to emerge in this society taught values of selflessness and respecting God. Although the story Beowulf was written down by Christian monks, pagan beliefs are prevalent throughout the epic. Beowulf is a character who acts on many values promised by paganism that make up the who he is.

The significance of Paganism and Christianity are both present in Beowulf. Beowulf was written between the 8th and 10th century’s, when the Anglo-Saxon society was beginning to change from Paganism to Christianity. Many believe that this is essentially a pagan work since the Christian faith hadn’t fully arrived in the Anglo-Saxon society. However, according to Douglas Wilson, “The poet could easily have known individual Christian Anglo-Saxons who had converted from paganism”(page.31); this showing how the author would have been able to retrieve information about the customs and morals of Christianity. Christianity is a religion based upon monotheistic beliefs, belief in one personal and transcendent God and based through Jesus’s teachings. This religion teaches that God has a path for everyone, that people may choose to follow and live by him. The epic poem through the years, has been based upon Christianity but still contains a good deal of Pagan elements. Paganism is a religion founded before Christianity, having no belief in a personal god and based more on the concept of fate, that people do not have control over their life. In Beowulf, God is praised for all of his works by Beowulf himself, and the other characters. While also believing that fate controlled the character’s lives.

Have you ever wanted to be worshipped? Have you ever wanted to have super strength? Have you ever wanted to be a savior? Well, that is every day for one epic hero named Beowulf. Beowulf is an epic poem about good versus evil written by an anonymous Christian monk. Paganism was the Geats first religion, and once Christianity became introduced, the religion slowly shifted from paganism to Christianity. Beowulf has successfully exhibited the transition from paganism to Christianity. The epic poem has a shift from Christianity to paganism throughout the poem. There are many symbolic examples that successfully display the transition from paganism to Christianity in the Geat culture. Beowulf displays both Christianity and paganism using several

Christianity arrived in Northern Europe over one thousand years ago. This is evidenced by some of the earliest pieces of literature that we have. The epic poem, “Beowulf”, shows many references to the influence of Christianity on English culture. There are many parallels between characters in “Beowulf” and characters from the Bible. Many Christian themes and virtues are also portrayed in “Beowulf”. Throughout “Beowulf”, the theme of Christianity manifests itself through Christ-like images of Beowulf as well as his strength in God allowing him to ward off monsters of paganism.

In Beowulf the differences between Heorot and Grendel’s swamp are personified through setting descriptions, religious context and Beowulf’s heroic traits compared with Grendel’s anathematic characteristics by highlighting the major conflicts between Christianity and Paganism, emphasizing the contrast of man against monster.

"How the Almighty had made the earth a gleaming plain girdled with waters; in His splendor He set the sun and the moon to be earth's lamplight, lanterns for men and filled the broad lap of the world with branches and leaves; and quickened life in every other thing that moved."(Line 92)

Beowulf has both pagan and Christian influences. Throughout the story there are many elements of Christian teachings: that man survives only through the protection of God, that all earthly gifts flow from God, and that the proper bearing of man is to be humble and unselfish (csis.edu, 2011). While many pagan influences appear in the poem, Christian overtones are more prevalent, exhibiting many elements of Christian heroism in the poem. An example is when Beowulf says “God must decide who will be given to death's cold grip” (Norton, lines 174-175).   He knows that God has already created an ending to this battle with Grendel, and he is lavished with peace. He shows true Christian character, bravery, and faith in the manner in which he

The signs of Christianity not only were seen in Beowulf himself but, were also seen in other characters of the story. Referenced before Beowulf’s companions are in some ways related to Jesuses 12 apostles. The specific role of his companions can be seen towards of the beginning of the epic when going to aid the Danes in freeing the people from a vicious monster named Grendel. The 12 apostles in biblical texts did the same in most cases; going to different villages preforming exorcisms and riding them of demons. While at the same time assisting Jesus or Beowulf in any way that they could. Even at the end of the epic before Beowulf sets of to fight the dragon which gives off a sense of Jesus by biding his men fair well “Men-at-arms, remain here

The European epic, Beowulf, was written sometime in the eighth century in England. This time period provides us with an idea for the mixture of Christian and pagan elements because of an English society that was in the process of converting from Paganism to Christianity. Examples of Pagan and Christian traditions are presented all throughout literature. Many of the influences deal with what it going on in the world, when the piece is written. When Beowulf was written, St. Augustine had just come over to try and convert the Anglo-Saxon people to Christianity; although the conversion succeeded it was a shallow conversion, and there were still people following the Pagan ways. The fact that Christianity and Paganism are so closely combined in

In the 11th Century, cultures in Europe were experiencing cultural diffusion. The previously Pagan values were being replaced with the rapidly expanding Christian faith. Although this change was occurring, the literature still held on to Pagan values. Previously, literature was based on the prominent warrior culture. Cultural diffusion caused the writers to include more Christian values into their works while also referring elements of Pagan values and the Warrior’s code. Two literary works in particular, Beowulf and the “The Dream of the Rood” are influenced by this culture shift. In Beowulf, the main character is a hero who slays beasts and rules his people, applying to both the Warrior’s code of the Pagan culture and Christian values. In “The Dream of the Rood,” the narrator dreams of Christ’s crucifixion which exemplifies the values of Christian culture by telling the story of the most important event in Christian beliefs, along with subtly including Pagan values to apply to the audience of their time. Among the many traits of Pagan and Christian values, heroism is most prominent.