Beowulf is an epic poem featuring a conflict between pagan and Christian beliefs. Within this context there is a continuous theme of good versus evil. Beowulf is a Christian hero who is endowed with superhuman strengths representative of paganism. He battles Grendel and Grendel’s mother‚ pagan monsters‚ whose lineage can be traced back to Cain‚ a biblical figure. Years later Beowulf takes on a monstrous dragon‚ a creature of pagan mythology. The story begins with our hero Beowulf seeking out a pagan
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The epic poem of Beowulf has many different Christian and pagan elements in it. An example of a pagan element would be the belief in Wyrd and an example of the Christian element would be the account of Creation. There are a few more statements about both the Christian and pagan elements such as religious beliefs/practices‚ the places God is mentioned and the different names of God in the text. Beowulf incorporates many Christian and pagan elements within the text. Wyrd was the pagan god for which stood
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Chards CHRISTIAN AND PAGAN ELEMENTS IN BEOWULF The poem Beowulf is full of Pagan and Christian elements‚ this combination gave place to many discutions about the origin of the poem. On the one hand some scholars have said that this is the result of a transcription made by some monks where they added the christian elements‚ on the other hand it is believed that the poem was written in a period in which the Anglo-Saxons were being converted from their worship of Germanic Pagan gods to the Christian
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Beowulf: A Pagan Epic Hero? Throughout literature there have been countless parallels and references to the story of Christ as written in the Bible. Even in such unexpected places as in seemingly pagan poems of ancient Danes and Geats- an epic with dragons and monsters- one still finds similar biblical allusions. In just such an unexpected place‚ the epic Beowulf‚ it’s title hero and his circumstance‚ become an allegory for the story of Christ. In this sense‚ Beowulf can be seen as a Christian
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Beowulf is an epic poem with pagan origins‚ yet it is rife with Christian elements. The second quotation from the first part assigns fate as the ruler of all men‚ a distinctly non-Christian view. Additionally‚ the gaining of earthly treasures as rewards for virtuous conduct‚ here the spoils from a defeated enemy‚ is not heroic in any Christian sense. Christians advocate the advancement of spiritual rather than worldly treasure. By seeking worldly fame rather than eternal salvation‚ Beowulf
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Christian and pagan ideals are the motivation for vengeance in "Grendel’s Mother’s Attack." It is hard to ignore the Christian and pagan elements of Beowulf. These elements‚ that have been so uniquely combined in the poem‚ define the heroic warrior‚ Beowulf‚ and the evil menace‚ Grendel’s mother. The reader is introduced to Grendel’s mother through her lineage. "From [Cain] sprang many a devil sent by fate"(43). From this quotation alone we can see the fusion of Christian and pagan elements. The
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Beowulf has both pagan and Christian influences. Throughout the story there are many elements of Christian teachings: that man survives only through the protection of God‚ that all earthly gifts flow from God‚ and that the proper bearing of man is to be humble and unselfish (csis.edu‚ 2011). While many pagan influences appear in the poem‚ Christian overtones are more prevalent‚ exhibiting many elements of Christian heroism in the poem. An example is when Beowulf says “God must decide who will be
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Although the exact timing of the creation of Beowulf is unknown‚ Thomas Hill presents a solid argument pertaining to approximately when it was created and based on the view of paganism and Christianity in the poem. Hill talks about the “peculiar spiritual atmosphere of the poem” and how it is neither “emphatically and militantly Christian”‚ nor “unapologetically pagan or secular” like other works of the time (Hill‚ 2002‚ pg. 197-198). Beowulf is distinct because it is unique in its respectful view
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Beowulf uses two religions‚ Paganism and Christianity‚ to form a beautiful storyline that has a lasting effect on the poem. There is religious power in the story and the mix of the two separate religions blend to form a work of art. Pagans possess rituals like believing in multiple gods and vengeance. Christians worship one omniscient being and Gods overall almighty power. Both religions believe in fate and they trust their God for their survival during battle. The use of the religious meanings abstracts
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The poem of Beowulf follows a heroic character who defeats monsters and faces adversity‚ but approaches it all with what can be seen as Christian beliefs. The author is unknown so there is no way of knowing if the author was actually Christian‚ and rather it is believed it was orally told in a time period of paganism. It can be confusing to differentiate between the different elements of Christianity and Paganism within the poem. (Topic) In the Beowulf poem‚ the poet christianized a pagan oral story
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