Beowulf And Grendel's Hymn Analysis

It can be said that there is nothing more permanent than change throughout human history. This notion has prevailed throughout thousands of years as old beliefs and ways of life are replaced by the next logical step in humanity’s attempt to achieve some sensation of sureness or stability in life. Change is at the forefront of much of Old English literature, as the pagan, naturalistic religion of the Anglo-Saxons slowly shifted to Christian ideology. This clash of spiritualistic superiority is clearly illustrated in the episode of Grendel’s Mother from Beowulf, the Wanderer, and Caedmon’s Hymn, all of which display a shift of Anglo-Saxon society to Christianity through a demonization of nature, the passing of old tradition, and the power of God’s will over man. First, all of these works describe a change in which god becomes the

Caedmon’s hymn addresses this most directly when the angel grants Caedmon the power to sing. He transitions from a powerless human being to one that is “granted the heavenly grace of God” (p. 31). Where Caedmon was originally incapable of singing and separated himself from his peers, God granted him a singing ability that surpassed them all, showing that God has power to metamorphose even the weakest of people through His strength. The most persistent expression of God’s power over the human spirit, however, can be found in the many allusions to God throughout the fight with Grendel’s mother. While Beowulf shows through his many incredible feats (including killing Grendel) that he is a man of superhuman capability, he also shows in this fight that he is not faultless when in the battle he made a mistake that could have cost him his life, as the poet states that “the strongest of warriors stumbled and fell” (Line 1544). Ultimately, none of Beowulf’s prowess could have saved him without the Lord’s guidance, since “holy God decided the victory”