Allusions In Beowulf

“Beowulf” is an epic poem that was recorded around the time when the Anglo-Saxons were adapting to Christianity and their Pagan beliefs were slowly decreasing. Before Christianity spread, the story “Beowulf” was passed on from one generation to the next orally. However, when Christianity did spread, it is believed that “Beowulf” was written by a monk. The main character, Beowulf, engages in three epic battles all of which he comes out victorious and are able to highlight his God-like characteristics. The three devilish monstrosities he engages in battle are Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. Therefore, the story “Beowulf” contains significant amounts of allusion to the Old Testament and the New Testament because of the contrasting characteristics of Beowulf, Grendel,
This allusion presents Grendel as the devilish figure who lurked through the night, killing men at the mead hall causing distress and alarm. On the other hand, Beowulf is described as “greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world” (Allen, lines 110 and 111). The poet emphasizes the allusion of Beowulf to God when Beowulf says to King Hrothgar that “[he], alone and with the help of [his] men, may purge all evil from [Herot]” (Allen, lines 165 and 166). These two contracting characters are presented to promote the Christian beliefs because the Pagan belief in times of crisis are not effective, or so the poet indicated when he wrote, “Sometimes they sacrificed to the old stone gods made heathen vows,” which did not fix the conflict with Grendel (Allen, lines 90-91). Furthermore, Fred Coppersmith pointed out in his essay that both Grendel and his mother are descendants of Cain and that inclusion of “a random sampling of Old and New Testament odds and ends” is “work of a mere missionary, hoping to convert medieval readers”