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Religious Themes In The Poem Beowulf


            All societies throughout history have been based in one way or another on religious beliefs. They influenced types of governments, political parties, and laws set by those governments. Just like all other preceding it's time, the Angelo-Saxons had many forms of government which were based on religions. The two main religions that were chosen between were Christianity and paganism. In the epic poem Beowulf, the governments are based on religious beliefs of the leaders and the citizens. The poem Beowulf displays the similarities and differences between different governments due to the relations between the two religions of Christianity and paganism.
             The government before Beowulf's time was based on pagan beliefs. Beowulf's ancestor was Shield who formulated his government under pagan religion. The idea that the government was formed on pagan belief is backed by their rituals. When Shield died, the burial ceremony was a pagan ritual. .
             They stretched their beloved lord in his boat,.
             laid out by the mast, amidships,.
             the great ring-giver. Far-fetched treasures.
             were piled upon him, and precious gear.
             I never heard before of a ship so well furbished.
             with battle-tackle, bladed weapons.
             and coats of mail. The massed treasure.
             was loaded on top of him: it would travel far.
             on out into the oceans sway. (ll. 34-43).
             The quote from Beowulf shows how the people of his kingdom were pagan believers. The ritual was to sen doff the departed with all their finest belongings in order for them to be rich on the other side. The people of the country were most likely forced to believe what their ruler did because it is what the ruler thought best. Since the ruler believes in this religion and that worship brings good to him and others, that he should set his government to please the gods. They did this so that their reign and form of government may last as long as possible. The people before Beowulf's time had been mainly set in paganism for all aspects of their everyday lives.


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