... reviser or later interpolator"(Klaeber 2). The fact that the two values are so closely intertwined in the poem, I believe that is the reason Beowulf has both Christian and pagan influences. The pagan elements in the epic poem Beowulf are evident in the characters superhuman personifications. Beowulf is depicted as a superhero. Beowulf takes it upon himself to save the Danes from Grendel. In his battle with Grendel ... life after death was a continuation of his life on earth" (Greenfield 91). Beowulf's single destiny is to help his people by dying while fighting a supernatural creature. "...

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... and Paganism are so closely intertwined in the poem is the reason Beowulf has both Christian and pagan influences. The pagan elements in the epic poem Beowulf are evident in the characters superhuman personifications. Beowulf is depicted as a superhero. Beowulf takes it upon himself to save the Danes from Grendel. In his battle with Grendel, Beowulf chooses not to use weapons; he relies on his super strength ... fabled monsters into a conflict between the powers of good and evil. These battles are examples of epic folklore during pagan times. Also, in the poem Beowulf partakes in many n...

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... God. It also shows the presence of God in every day life. Through these examples it can be said that Beowulf was devoutly Christian. Subsequently, Beowulf contains many old Anglo-Saxon pagan doctrines. After Gendel attacks Herot, the people revert to their old pagan beliefs. This shows that they did not have a firm base in Christianity. Revealing that they could easily be swayed in ... beliefs outside of Christianity. Christianity is a superficial belief of these people which is easily overturned by an obstacle in their life. Next, Blends of Christian and pagan beliefs are expressed thr...

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... and literature have been closely related to each other as far back as one of the oldest existing poems in the English language, Beowulf. This epic poem certainly comes from a Christianized culture, yet never names either the pagan gods or Jesus. The Beowulf poet has an absolute knowledge of the Hebrew scriptures in the Bible. Some historians believe that the poem was originally ... Christian elements were incorporated at a later date. We may never know whether Beowulf was initially pagan or Christian. While the poem contains ideas pertaining to both pagan and Christian beliefs, it empha...

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... of being pagan; pagan characteristics; esp., the worship of idols or false gods, or the system of religious opinions and worship maintained by pagans; heathenism. CHRISTIANITY (Chris*tian"i*ty): The religion of Christians; the system of doctrines and precepts taught by Christ. The epic poem Beowulf was ... Christianity. Throughout the poem the author's inconsistency portrays the society's struggle with the change. The most obvious of pagan influences of the poem are derived from Beowulf's paranormal strength and god-like demeanor. The first instance of this is contained in his battle wit...

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... at the bottom of the sea. " This contest adds credentials to Beowulf's heroic charracter of the story. Beowulf never mentioned this victory and now out of jealousy Unferth brings it up. The story backfires and adds more victory to Beowulf's long list of accomplishments. 8. The characters of Beowulf follow the Pagan religion. Their Pagan beliefs are shown by the way they praise with rewards of gold ... and other material things of value. For example when Beowulf defeats Grendel; "Halfdanes ... son presented Beowulf with a gold standard as a victory gift." This act was a Pagan tradition....

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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 ... 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 ...

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... no other man before or after him. Throughout the story pagan and religious elements are discussed between the lines of there lives. Loyalty is one of the traits that the Anglo-Saxons admired and is a major role in Beowulf and his surroundings. Wiglaf, one of Beowulf's soldiers and friends, shows great loyalty towards Beowulf when he is the only one that stays during the ... you/As they willed, and we struggled seven long nights/To survive- (248-251). This match is completely brutal. Even though Beowulf prevails, both of the men exercise their bravery. Another Anglo-Saxon characteristic ...

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... in the poem Beowulf. Both Christianity and Pagan beliefs are found throughout the story of Beowulf. Though Beowulf has spiritual strength, he is not always concerned with Christian virtues. When the Geats arrive in Denmark, "they thanked God that the sea voyage had been easy for them," (pg 5) but later, Beowulf's want for ... material rewards, and fame are connected with the Pagan nonreligious ways. Beowulf receives material gifts when he defeats Grendel's mother. "Then the brave man, the son of Ecglaf, bade him bear ... ) Though material posses are important to him, he also wants to pl...

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... not been established as the dominant religion of the time, the author would still be trying to convince his audience to convert, like the Beowulf scop. However, he presumes his audience is already familiar with the religion, which is reflected in his writing. For example, he incorporates many ... to ancient Christian stories. There are other ways to prove that Christianity was a developed, important religion during the time of Sir Gawain. In Beowulf, anytime it would mention a culture or religion other than Christianity, the scop would mention their negative aspects. This was because the...

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... fight in order to maintain normalcy within their societies, the political and social aspects that lie behind their motivation to fight are quite different. In Beowulf's Germanic culture, all lands are continuously feuding. There is always a threat of attack on any tribe's soil, and for that reason the most ... difference in these two heroes that is shown when they head off for battle. Their guidance and strength come from very different realms. Beowulf lives in a pagan society where human beings are directed by a power outside of their control. These pagans believe in a type of uncertain...

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... who is known for his strength, courage and dignity but unlike Gilgamesh and Sir Gawain, Beowulf does not start off well known. While Beowulf is in Geatland, where he is the king of the Geats, he hears of King Hrothgar's struggle with Grendle in Denmark. Grendle, the pagan monster who lives in the swamplands, is terrorizing the Danes every night, killing them and ... easily defeating their efforts to fight back. Inspired by the challenge, Beowulf travels to Denmark with fourteen Geats to help Hrothgar defeat Grendle. Hrothgar accepts ... , the boast he had uttered: he ended their ill. An...

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... a warrior hero. Bloody battles are perhaps the most widely used ways for warriors such as Beowulf to gain fame. Beowulf literally "jumps" at the opportunity to fight Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon. Beowulf would endanger his life just to be popular even if that meant fighting the most feared monsters ... king and had almost everyone looking up and respecting him. The adventures of Beowulf and his battles allowed him to receive much fame and glory as he so highly wished for. Incorporated within the epic poem are the Pagan concepts of fate and the Christian sense of divine provi...

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... it hurts." " He was Yrmenlaf's elder brother and a soul-mate to me, a true mentor, my right hand man-(61, line 1334-1336). This time when Beowulf attacks he must use a weapon, a sword, to slay Grendel's mother. This fight is described as a much more difficult battle. In line 1534, the epic speaks about ... and strength and he was so successful in defeating Grendel, he must continue to protect the Danes against evil. The third and final monster that Beowulf must attack does not appear until the end of the epic. The dragon is much fiercer and meaner then Grendel and Grendel's mother put t...

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... English literature. Written somewhat twelve hundred years ago, poet Geoffrey Chaucer uses Christian influences in Pagan characters to symbolize the elements of good and evil. Through the three battles fought between Beowulf and the representatives of evil, one is able to identify the biblical references made throughout the ... racked and ravenous, desperate for revenge" (1278) due to the murder of her son. After Grendel's mother "avenged her son and wreaked desctruction" (1278), Beowulf must descend into "some other world" (1349) to find her. This other world seems to parallel the lakes ...

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... conduct that would ensure respect amongst their peers while also benefiting their society as a whole. Beowulf, a pagan epic from the Germanic period, relates closely with the values honored by warriors of that time. The poem Beowulf, both a piece of literature and an historical artifact, documents the values of early Germanic ... : [His helmet] was of beaten gold, princely headgear hooped and hasped by a weapon-smith who had worked wonders. . . . (1442-1452) Beowulf knows the battle will be dangerous; however, the act of "donning his war-gear- seems to prepare him psychologically (as wel...

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... film and three sections of the text, "The Wrath of Grendel", "The Battle with Grendel's Mother", and "The Last Battle". Beowulf begins with Beowulf and his thirteen companions setting forth from Geatland to exterminate the monster Grendel. Buliwyf, the protagonist of "The 13th Warrior", chooses eleven ... of trophy from the Wendol, because they vanished without a trace, save for a single claw. Absent from the film are any religious references, Christian or pagan. Beowulf had seemingly defeated his menace, but Buliwyf's fight was far from over. In the "The 13th Warrior" there is a scene...

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... taken more as linear. When considered a warrior, daily activities are not so routine, maybe doing something different each day. After defeating Grendel, Beowulf face's Grendel's mother. Beowulf has proved himself to be "The mighty protector of men...(472)" and the people of Denmark were "...determined to protect their prince if they ... could(177-178). At this point, he has transcended his rank among the people. Now, facing Grendel's mother, Beowulf is not as confident as he was before. Where in his previous battle, he put his faith in God and not his weapons, he ... to finish, Beowulf ...

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... Dead, by Michael Crichton, in the 1990's. The saga of Beowulf contains many examples of the pagan concept of Wyrd of fate. Both Beowulf and the 13th Warrior are adventures of a hero whose actions determined a nation's fate. In the book, Beowulf was traveling from home to save a nation from Grendel and his ... the lead-wendol represents Grendel, the Wendol Priestess represents Grendel's mother. The fire-worm from the movie, also symbolizes the dragon from Beowulf. Both the epic poem of Beowulf and the movie The 13th warrior hold some form of supernaturalism. The book stated that Grendel a...

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... marked the beginning of English literature. The earliest known pieces of literature to survive dealt with Christianity, pagan views, and adventure. First, Christianity is a prominent theme in the middle ages. For example, in the epic "Beowulf", Christianity is seen in the theme of good vs. evil. Beowulf, the good heroic figure battles three evil monsters, Grendel, the troll wife, and the dragon. Grendel ... and husband. Yet another example of Christianity can be seen in "The Second Shepards Play". The play is based on the coming of Christ. Another characteristic of this era is pagan bel...

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... from the pages of the book. Consider it as an intentional theme or an incidental artifact of the poems authorship and composition, the tension between the pagan and Christian elements is an over whelming feature of Beowulf. In the very first line of the text, the poet is depicting a world that existed in the past, for his story is set "in days ... no good from committing that murder/" (35.102-109). Throughout the poem there are odd juxtapositions between pagan beliefs in fate and personal prowess, on the one hand, and an acknowledgement of an All Mighty Power or God, on the other. The D...

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... an unusual account that obscures both its historical and its orthodox position in English writing. Beowulf displays the importance of one's lineage, the "heroic code" of the Germanic society, and elements of the Christian versus pagan beliefs throughout the epic poem. In early Germanic culture, a man's family lineage was among the most respected and valuable aspects of one's life. "Who you are ... famous and glorified, which come from vengeance. When the story was written around 700 A.D. the Germanic society was primarily pagan, which is reflected throughout the epic poem. Many pagan ri...

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... takes a look at the qualities that encompass a hero and Pagan and Christian philosophies. When looked at more thoroughly, the story also reveals an insight into expected behavior in the Anglo-Saxon society. When Beowulf was a young man, he was fearless. Beowulf behaves as what would be expected of any young Anglo- ... , his thinking matures as well. He is less arrogant. Although Beowulf is an incredibly exciting saga, it is a useful insight into the religious beliefs that the Anglo-Saxon's had. As the tale unravels, there is conflict between Pagan and Christian ideologies. "And sometimes...

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The story of Beowulf as the greatest Anglo-Saxon hero was passed down orally until it was written down in 700. It was originally only a pagan epic that got exaggerated and the story grew grander as time passed. Before the Christians took the story and changed it ... to convert the Anglo-Saxons, the entire content of the story was violence and pagan heroic ideals such as revenge and dieing a noble death in order to make your life worth something. In the early tenth century a "new" Beowulf was circulated by the Christian missionaries in their attempts to communicate Christian teachings to the ....

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... and the importance of both Pagan Germanic and Christian beliefs are all portrayed in the poem Beowulf. The fierce hardy life of the Anglo-Saxon warrior or seaman were depicted in Beowulf. In the poem, warfare is as ordinary as common life. Beowulf himself serves as the ... the boisterous customs of the mead house played a major role in Anglo-Saxon culture. The mead house was built to celebrate victories. In Beowulf, the mead hall was called Herot. Mead was a popular liquor that people drank during the banquets. In the poem, a monster named ... Grendel murdered thirty men. From that poi...

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