Odyssey In Beowulf

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Recommended: Pagan and christian influences in beowulf

Beowulf, one of the most loved epic poems of all time and the most recognizable story in classic British literature, is about a young hero who saves the lives of a whole kingdom. First told by an unknown Christian monk, the story of this epic hero has been retold countless times by harpists-bards in communal halls during the night. Then, in 700 A.D the first recorded manuscript of Beowulf was written down. Compared to other famous epics like the Iliad or the Odyssey that both have nearly 15,000 lines, Beowulf is relatively short, only having approximately 3,200 lines. The tale of Beowulf takes the readers on a roller coaster ride filled with monsters and god fashioned weapons, legends and fights with terrifying dragons, christian and pagan beliefs, and in the end our hero conquers it all. The unknown author of Beowulf succeeds in showing the opposite sides of Christian …show more content…

6-9) is referring to Genesis 1:1, stating that the almighty (meaning God) made the heavens and the earth. A few lines down is another famous Christian reference in Beowulf, which is the story of Cain and Abel. “Conceived by a pair of those monsters born/ Of Cain.” (l. 20-21). These lines are describing how the monster Grendel is a decedent of Cain, who was sent to hell by God for killing his brother Abel. “The brilliant light shone, suddenly,/ as though burning in that hall, and as bright as Heaven’s/ Own candle, lit in the sky.” (l. 646-48). This brilliant light is a symbol of heaven and how God was with Beowulf in his battle with Grendel’s mother. When Beowulf submerges into the water for his battle with Grendel’s mother, it is similar to baptism in the sense of cleansing himself for his duel “ …He leaped into the lake,” (l. 570). Pagan symbolism is a big part in this epic poem for the simple fact that it is everywhere. When reading this tale, you can tell that the author

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