The literature of england

A picture of the Virgin Mary is also on his shield. In "Morte Darthur", Christianity is exemplified in the search for the Holy Grail, the glass that Jesus drank from at the Last Supper. There are also several stories from "The Canterbury Tales" that have Christian themes. The entire book itself is based on a Christian pilgrimage to the tomb of Sir Thomas Becket of Canterbury. "The parson's Tale" is a sermon on the seven deadly sins. The story that he tells about the three friends who kill each other for gold exemplifies the Christian them: Greed is the root of all evil. "The Man of Laws Tale" is one of a saint's legend. The main character Constance is a symbol of Christian faith and purity while other religions in the tale are depicted as evil. In the story Constance endures many injustices because of her faith. For instance, Constance is forced to marry a Muslim king who converts his country to Christianity. His mother, unhappy about the conversion, slaughters everyone except Constance and sends her on a raft. Constance travels to another pagan land where she converts and marries the king. She endures yet another injustice when the king's mother sends her and her child away. Her unwavering faith saves her again when she finds land and a man tries to harm her. In the end her faith is rewarded when she returns to her homeland and is reunited with her father 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 beliefs. In "Beowulf", pagan elements can be seen in the three mythical creatures. Grendel and the troll-wife both exhibit superhuman powers. Also, the dragon is a common mythical creature in pagan tales. Beowulf also has superhuman personification. His superhuman strength is used to defeat Grendel and Grendels mother. "The Knights Tale" from "The Canterbury Tales" can also be seen as pagan.