With these analyzed digressions from “Beowulf”, it helps reader to understanding more about the narrator’s personalities throughout the events that happened, most of the events has an important connection of the major theme of the poem and make “Beowulf” an old English heroic epic poem of revenge and vengeance. When your time finally comes to you, be not like those whose hearts and minds are filled with fear of death and losing, be the one who would standing still for fame and glory, be the hero who will be sung and praises from the lips of the people.
While the classic battle between good and evil forces is a major theme of the medieval epic Beowulf, one may question whether these good and evil forces are as black and white as they appear. Scholars such as Herbert G. Wright claim that “the dragon, like the giant Grendel, is an enemy of mankind, and the audience of Beowulf can have entertained no sympathy for either the one or the other” (Wright, 4). However, other scholars such as Andy Orchard disagree with this claim, and believe that there is “something deeply human about the ‘monsters’” (Orchard, 29). While Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon are indeed portrayed as evil and violent foes, there are parts within Beowulf that can also lead a reader to believe that the “monsters” may not be so monstrous after all. In fact, the author of Beowulf represents the “monsters” within the poem with a degree of moral ambivalence. This ambivalence ultimately evokes traces of sympathy in the reader for the plight of these “monster” figures, and blurs the fine line between good and evil within the poem.
This view of Beowulf has become so common that its unity is taken by many critics as a self-evident fact. As one might expect, however, the certainty of this view is not apodictic. The issue of unity is one naturally raised by the critics, because Beowulf presents certain difficulties for critical analysis. The manuscript support for the poem is limited to one damaged copy written in two hands and provides little help in determining its origin and authorship. The poem itself has two parts that differ in content. The first part contains many allusions to the Old Testament, implying the presence of a Christian author. The monsters of part one are evil, being linked by ancestry with Cain. Part two, however, makes no clear reference to the ...
Though the origins of the epic poem Beowulf lie in the Pagan Anglo-Saxon era, by the time it was recorded, most Saxons had converted to Christianity. The story seems to be told partly from a heathen point of view and also partly from a biblical. Beowulf seeks glory, crediting it to God, yet a lot of his works are said to have been fated, and he seems to be trying to earn immortality on the earth, and not in an afterlife or in heaven. To determine the role of religion in the poem, the difference between fate and God’s providence must be examined, and examples of Pagan beliefs and Christian beliefs in the story should be discussed.
Throughout Beowulf, several hardships arise amongst the hero throughout the story that are often linked up with Christian themes. Most specifically, the idea that Beowulf is a Christ-like figure who defeats the evil, “Satan”, by defeating Grendel. The poem would have flourished in symbolism in the Christ like story had there not been three different evils arising. Due to this fact, the poem is flawed but makes for the reader’s creativity to make their own symbolism in the paper. With the repeating of the return of evil it makes me believe that Beowulf could have Christianity themes, but more so relating in the reader's’ life. The first appearance of evil, Grendel, represents that people are born into the world as sinful natured people. From
Pagan concepts are intertwined in this work, as is the nature of the time period. Fame was very important. Receiving status allowed one to prosper in this time and receive the best out of their life. Beowulf is enthralled with the idea of fame as he fights Grendel, but it is balanced out and reconciled with Christianity by his desire to protect his people. Vengeance was brought out when Beowulf tells Hrothgar to not grieve and that “It is always better to avenge dear ones than to indulge in mourning” (72 Simpson & David). Honor is disregarded when Beowulf’s men leave him to fight with the dragon. Wilgaf shames them and it can be inferred that they will be disregarded as warriors and nobles for their behavior. Protecting one’s master was essential during that time to receive food and shelter, in addition to having the Gods’ favor (Lawson). Christianity makes an appearance when it references the antagonist, Grendel, “a fiend out of hell” (43 Simpson & David) and the protagonist, Beowulf, whom the “Holy God, in His goodness, guided…to the West-Danes, to defend [Hrothgar and his subjects] from Grendel” (49 Simpson & David). Christianity was a prominent influence for authors of the Anglo-Saxon time period. The Christians had faith in God’s ability to determine their fate. If they lost a contest then God has decided they are not worthy of winning. Every day they will try to prove they are holy enough to have God’s grace and be saved from eternal damnation. The literature written was a reminder to the people to always do what is right and to avoid sinning. Because the only people who could write were priests, religion was added into stories when they were written and when previous works were transcribed. The presence of the church was ever present to ensure the obedience of the people. If all they were exposed to was religion that
Confusion and chaos was the life of a typical Anglo-Saxon around 1000 A.D.. At this time, many European countries including Denmark were being Christianized due to the arrival of missionaries from other countries. Over time, the pagan and Christian philosophies and traditions fused together and began to appear in many of their literary works. This fusion between the two religions appears in the epic poem Beowulf, in which a God-like warrior of the Geats, Beowulf, travels to Denmark to slay Grendel, an incarnation of evil. Succeeding, Beowulf becomes king and faces many more battles. The choices the author made describing the Anglo-Saxon lifestyle, main characters, and actions of characters portray this mixture of Christian and pagan traditions. This helps the reader experience the effects of the divergent world views the Anglo-Saxons might also have felt at that time.
Beowulf was written in the time when the society was in the process of converting from Paganism to Christianity. In this epic poem, these two religions come through the actions of its characters. The acceptance of feuds and the courage of war are just a few examples of the Pagan tradition, while the Christian mortalities refrain from the two.
To fully understand the ways in which two conflicting theologies melt together, one must first examine Beowulf as a Pagan hero. The story of Beowulf first and foremost falls under the realm of an epic. The long narrative poem focuses on Beowulf as a heroic character who bears the fate of his nation on his shoulders. Throughout the piece, Beowulf ensures that his matches remain fair when fighting an opponent like in his battle with Grendel. Here, Beowulf uses
The Message of Beowulf
Both Shild Shaving and Beowulf were highly honored during their lives. Both were brave warriors, victorious in many Battles. Shild conquered many people, and many lands. For example, How Shild made slaves of soldiers from every Land, crowds of captives hed beaten into terror He also became the king of the Danes. He was highly honored, and became very rich in his lifetime.