The Impact Of Christian Features On Beowulf

Beowulf is one of the most well-known poems in the world. It is considered the “mother poem” of England and has been for centuries. Christianity and Paganism do not go hand in hand as they are both well distinguished, but opposites throughout Beowulf. In the poem, the Christian monk reveals how the characters react to different situations using both religions. The core values of Paganisms believe in retaliation and vengeance, whereas Christianity’s core values signify forgiveness. Both of these attributes contradict each other through the course of the poem because the warriors look to God for guidance and protection before battle. However, when things do not go as planned they then blame it on fate. The “unknown author” in Beowulf distinguishes both religions in the poem by providing symbolism and ideologies for both Christianity and Paganism and how they contradict one another.

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.

“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

Beowulf demonstrates a significant Christian influence, whilst still maintaining distinctive pagan impacts. The poet represents Christian beliefs through Beowulf’s “mighty strength” (1270) and heroism. The poet presents Beowulf as an allegory for Jesus Christ through his sacrificial nature, and the struggle of good vs. evil. The representation of Beowulf as a savior ties into the parallel of Beowulf and Jesus.

with the corpse in the burial mound overlooking the sea. Including such heathen rites enables the poet to “communicate his Christian vision of pagan heroic life.”(Bloom 2). Additonally, earlier in the poem, the Danes, when under extreme pressure from Grendel, reverted to Satan-worship:

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.

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.

protection is the only way a man can survive, God is the one that sends him earthly gifts, and lastly that a man to be godly should be humble and selfless, although Beowulf himself didn’t exactly followed the last. However, despite both poems having Christian passages, the texts also have parts the Anglo-Saxon culture as well, for instance Judith in the poem depicts her with heroic attitudes of a woman, not a saint, she is beautiful, wealthy adorned in gold, reminiscent of a male warrior military costumes. Equally, Beowulf poem have many references to the Christian god but to the Anglo-Saxons it was still a mixture of their old pagan gods and Christianity “In this poem are many references to Christianity. Some of these seem strangely

The author uses Grendel to demonstrate Beowulf's courage and bravery in a crisis. The ruler of the Danes, Hrothgar, was

Written by a christian poet, the epic of Beowulf clearly outlines that failure to avenge an assault is considered shameful. However, Christian values say to just “turn the other cheek”. It is interesting how this epic poem can have both values at once, because of their clearly cut out contradictions. Throughout the epic of Beowulf, Christian philosophy is represented in many ways, like how God protects them from being killed, how God provides them with everything they need in life. However, there is also a strong, contradicting sense of pageanism and heroic code displayed by Beowulf which is mostly conflicting with christianity.

Beowulf is an exciting tale about a Scandinavian man named Beowulf, who saves the Danes from an unconquerable monster called Grendel. It is not known who the author of Beowulf. It is theorized that the book had more than one author over a period of time. Another theory is that Beowulf only had one author and other writers changed or added content to the story. Beowulf has many Christian aspects. God is brought up many times throughout the book. The different monsters also represent the different sins that humans commit almost daily. Grendel is envy and anger, Grendel’s mother is feuding, and the dragon is greed and hoarding. Beowulf was written in the time when England was being converted to Christianity from paganism. Because of this, there are doubts that the authors of Beowulf knew about God. Throughout the book, there are many indications that the author(s) of Beowulf knew about God’s existence. While it is doubted, they still praised God, acknowledged that he

    There is considerable debate as to whether the poem Beowulf is an epic narrative poem or an heroic elegy. Which is it. This essay intends to present both sides of the story.

Throughout the epic poem, the possession of wealth and treasure represents a reputation of honor, status, and skill, but were also used to solidify bonds and ensure loyalty. Every king along the lineage of royalty had a duty to spread his riches, a responsibility indicated by the frequent use of “ring-givers” that would even provide, “far-fetched treasures… and precious gear” (36-37). Wealth, a vastly important role in Beowulf, enables the king to manifest his generosity upon society. This act was not only a practice, but also a representation of honor as it was a way to exhibit benevolence to others as well as rewarding their loyal followers. An example would be during the time Beowulf saves the hall of Hereot from the terror and destruction of Grendel. As a result of Beowulf’s heroic acts, Hrothgar showers treasure on him and his men in order to show his thankfulness and goodness. The poet asserts how this giving of gifts signifies the manifestation of Hrothgar’s honor as king.

The Anglo-Saxon poem “Beowulf” takes the reader back into a time long past; one of family, fate, and fealty. Beowulf offers a glimpse of a society struggling between two different paths, one path being the assimilation into the new Christian traditions and the other is the fast fading past of glorified warriors and family ties. In the poem, the reader can see the attempts of the poet to convey the values and stories of Judeo-Christianity in a society of Anglo-Saxon paganism. The poet illustrates the infiltration of the Christian teachings and how they might have appeared within the lives of the people through the literary devices of symbolism, allegory, and allusion.

Beowulf is one of the great heroic poems in English literature. The epic follows a courageous warrior named Beowulf throughout his young, adult life and into his old age. As a young man, Beowulf becomes a legendary hero when he saves the land of the Danes from the hellish creatures, Grendel and his mother. Later, after fifty years pass, Beowulf is an old man and a great king of the Geats. A monstrous dragon soon invades his peaceful kingdom and he defends his people courageously, dying in the process. His body is burned and his ashes are placed in a cave by the sea. By placing his ashes in the seaside cave, people passing by will always remember the legendary hero and king, Beowulf.