Beowulf: Christian vs. Pagan
The epic poem Beowulf tells the story of a warrior who throughout his life overcomes evils. It has many references to Anglo-Saxon ideals of bravery, strength, and courage. For example, Beowulf brashly lists his accomplishments before entering each battle: “But the truth is simple: no man swims in the sea as I can, no strength is a match for mine… other monsters crowded around me, continually attacking. I treated them politely, offering the edge of my razor-sharp sword,” (265-294). However, the poet suggests that his boasts are symbolic of Beowulf’s personal insecurity. Beowulf seems afraid of defeat and faliure. His boastful remarks are reminders to himself of his invincibility. In this poem, the poet is both critical and praising of the Anglo-Saxons’ beliefs and customs. The poet shows a strong belief in Divine or supernatural notions. The poem reflects this belief through references to “that Shepherd of Evil” (432) and “[sacrifices] to the old stone gods” (90). These are both conflicting allusions to the two
In his final battle, Beowulf would never have triumphed without his companion Wiglaf. Since Beowulf doesn’t succeed solely, it is demonstrated that the fight against evil is won through teamwork. The concept of success through teamwork is also represented in religion. In Judaism, it takes ten or a minion to have valid prayer. In Christianity, all is encouraged to attend church to have unified prayer. These religious aspects are part of the poet’s values, so by comparing Beowulf to them he is showing approval. prominent religions of the time. One pertains to Christian ideology; i.e. “The Almighty God” (493), and “the Almighty making the earth” (8), and the other relates to Anglo Saxon religious beliefs; i.e., “the omens were good” (118) and “fate will unwind as it must,” (189). The poem alludes to Christianity, a monotheistic religion that rejects ideas of fate. On the other hand, there are rudiments of Anglo Saxon philosophy, pagan on account of its elements of fate. The conflicts in the epic between the two opposite beliefs reflect h
Some topics in this essay:
Grendel Grendel’s,
Beowulf Christian,
Moses Beowulf,
Anglo Saxon,
Wiglaf Beowulf,
Shepherd Evil”,
Almighty God”,
fight evil,
anglo saxon,
belief divine,
battle evil,
beowulf’s life,
reluctant die,
grendel’s mother,
reoccurring battle,
battles fought,
ie “the,
Join now to see the rest of the essay!
Approximate Word count = 719
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
CUSTOMER SERVICES
| |
|
Example Essays Home
