Beowulf Christianity Essay

Christianity was officially brought to England in 597 by Augustine of Canterbury. This new religion created a structured environment and tabulated religion to those who took part in the pagan belief system. However, integrating Christianity into the pagan religions dramatically modified more than Anglo-Saxon beliefs. Pagan mysticism and folklore integrated with major themes from the Bible to create proselytizing legends of great proportions. The Old English epic, Beowulf, utilizes Christianity to

The characters of Beowulf give off specific vibes of Christianity. Beowulf the main character is the foundation of what role the religion had to play in the epic. Several parts of the story place Beowulf as a worshiper and the worshipped. For example, worshipper Beowulf pleas to God many times during his fights with the monsters. Mentioned in Beowulf he would have lost if it weren’t for god “Helped to save him: holy God decided the victory.” (NAWL, 1271. 1553-54). Then Beowulf as the worshipped can

Saxon’s also loved poetry, and they used it to keep track of the history of their people. Beowulf is an epic poem that was past down by the Anglo Saxons from generation to generation. The poem is infused with multiple elements of their pagan religion.

Beowulf is a great example of how Christian beliefs and pagan views could coexists so well in a poem. The poem Beowulf written by an unknown Christian monk around A.D. 700 compares the beliefs of many to the new beliefs that are beginning to form around the world. The poem shows how the people of the time thought about their world and how the things around them happened and they think that the devil controls these things.In Beowulf, we explore both Christian and pagan beliefs, and how they were able

The next area that Christianity played a role in the poem is with the life of Beowulf all together. The life being related to Jesus as mentioned before him and his 12 companions to him telling them not to follow him. The role starts with Beowulf himself and his relation to Jesus. The two of them can in most cases be called heroes. Both surprisingly for their virtuous sprits and belief in faith. Beowulf through the story does many honorable deeds in saving people and slaying monsters; about the same

Gawain and the Green Knight and Beowulf are both very old English stories, these two stories both include bravery, loyalty, honor, respect, courage and religion. In British literature, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Beowulf are two different stories that are influenced by two different religions. The two religions used in these two stories are Christianity and Paganism. Both stories include a great amount of influence from the religions. However, the story of Beowulf does have a strong background

Christianity with a hint of Paganism 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

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

Where Did the Christianity in Beowulf Come From?      The Christian influences in Beowulf ultimately came from the Christian/Catholic Church of Rome which converted Romans, and thereby the Roman legions and thereby the occupied provinces. Also the Christian/Catholic Bishop of Rome sent missionary priests and monks to the British Isles to proselytze the population. There are additional considerations too.   First of all, let us be clear about the fact that the conversion of Britain to

Christianity Came Earlier to Britain and to Beowulf       Christian references/allusions appear in Beowulf on six dozen occasions. Some scholars of the Anglo-Saxon period express erroneous notions regarding the arrival of Christianity into Britain. Janet Backhouse in her book The Lindisfarne Gospels, says that these gospels, written about 700AD, were made in north-east England “less than a century after the introduction there of Christianity” (Backhouse 7). Her view of dating Christianity in