Beowulf, Christianity, and Paganism

970 Words2 Pages

Beowulf, Christianity, and Paganism

The poem Beowulf is a renowned story that displays many different surroundings and religious beliefs. Some may believe the story of Beowulf portrays pagan beliefs or customs and others believe that the poem is more in agreement with Christian ethnicity. The author of Beowulf uses both Christian and pagan elements in the poem to define the heroic warrior, Beowulf, and the evil dragons. After reading Beowulf the author clearly shows how Beowulf is a man who is filled with Christian customs and is willing to die and defend the world against evil using the help of God.

Beowulf’s courage and faith can be seen throughout the entire poem. The author shows what the other characters thought of Beowulf in lines 114-119, “None of the wise ones regretting his going, much As he was loved by the Geats: the omens were good, And they urged the adventure on”. Beowulf can be represented or resembled as a biblical hero such as David or Samson. Beowulf overcame many difficult problems that others would not even contemplate to take on. Beowulf the Geat took on Grendel and Grendel’s Mother. He also came to fellow warrior Hrothgar’s aid and even risked his own life for the sake of his warriors.

The author makes evident what the evil is in the poem Beowulf. The evil dragon’s in Beowulf would be Grendel, Grendel’s Mother, and the final dragon who took Beowulf’s life. The author introduces Grendel in the beginning of the Poem. Grendel is the mon...

Show More
Related

  • How Is Beowulf Christian Or Pagan

    774 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the epic of Beowulf, Herot is plagued by the monster Grendel. A hero, Beowulf is summoned to defeat the beast. Beowulf is a Christian and Pagan based poem that includes several examples of each element. There are several biblical illusions in the text that give insight into the use of Christianity but just the same, there are several references to the Devil and Hell and Cain. Therefore the poem must be both Christian and Pagan because it represents both.

    Read More

  • Christian-Pagan Syncretism In Beowulf

    1794 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Old English epic poem Beowulf poses something for an enigma for scholars. The poet was surely a Christian, but the poem depicts a pagan society, so what sort of religion is being expressed. Most recent scholars have argued for a Christian reading, but others still hold out for a pagan one. Some have suggested Christian-pagan syncretism. Pagan beliefs involve sacrifices to the old stone Gods, making heathen vows, hoping for Hell’s support, the devil’s guidance in driving their affliction off. This was their way and the Heathen’s only hope.Some suggest Christian-pagan syncretism. Anglo-Saxon epic heroes are willing to put their own lives in danger for the greater good. Beowulf highlights the code’s points of tension by relating circumstances

    Read More

  • Fear in Beowulf

    889 Words  | 2 Pages

    Scholars have argued about the religious stance of the epic poem Beowulf for centuries. Although the man who put the poem down on paper, known as the Beowulf poet, was a devout Christian, the actual poem itself is pagan. There are many clues in the epic that lead us to this conclusion such as the numerous references to pagan symbols, namely the symbol of fate. Also, the central idea of revenge in the poem opposes the ideas of Christianity. The poem also contains many breaches of the Ten Commandments, which prove that the story is not Christian. However, the biggest clue to the paganism of Beowulf is the scene that contains the burial of Beowulf and the building and idolization of the tower, all of which go directly against the Christian religion.

    Read More

  • The Man Of Spiritualism In Sherlock Holmes And Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

    1155 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...r Conan Doyle loathed writing Sherlock Holmes. He would write the wrong name for major reoccurring characters and not care if the reasoning in his stories was completely illogical, yet he ironically created his own genre of mystery novels that are recognized even to those who have never read them. Doyle unwillingly created the most insane fanbase that is still alive and thriving today. Doyle’s stories are still popular even eighty-four years after his death because they keep readers enthralled with the story. He wrote war stories based on his own exciting experiences, stories that he believed brought him to the height of his writing capabilities, and stories that sent him crashing back down when a frenzy into Spiritualism crumbled his prestige as a writer. His stories manage to capture the reader’s attention, making them timeless classics in the world of literature.

    Read More

  • Beowulf Vs. Grendel

    551 Words  | 2 Pages

    Beowulf, the heroic figure in the poem, is known throughout the land as a courageous man who performs great deeds of valor. He is a Geat, who later becomes the king of the Geats. Beowulf’s strength seems to be a gift from God. As a noble and kind man, Beowulf comes to Herot to save them from God’s foe. Before Beowulf initiates battle with Grendal he exhibits a sense of fairness in not using a weapon against the monster.

    Read More

  • The Symbolism in Beowulf

    837 Words  | 2 Pages

    Beowulf is an interesting story in that it has a meaning that is firmly rooted in fantasy creatures based in mythical origins while providing insight into religious ideals and practices of the time. It also speaks of tradition and the struggle of man against things perceived as evil. In this tradition especially, Beowulf is an incredible allegory regarding the struggle of good and evil in the Christian tradition.

    Read More

  • paganbeo Beowulf's Pagan Traditions

    672 Words  | 2 Pages

    Beowulf, an epic poem written in the late tenth-century, in the kingdom of the West Saxons, steeping with pagan tradition, this epic depicts nature as hostile and forces of death uncontrollable.  Blind fate chooses random victims and people never feel at peace with the world. Also Beowulf ends as a failure to help heal the wounds of his society.   Although there are parts of this statement which can be construed as true, for the most part, it doesn't give Beowulf the credit he deserves.  For someone whose life was cut short, Beowulf did many great deeds for his time in the world.

    Read More

  • Christianity & Paganism in Beowulf

    474 Words  | 1 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Understanding the Controversy of Stop and Frisk

    2011 Words  | 5 Pages

    The situation in which a police officer who is suspicious of an individual detains the person and runs his hands lightly over the suspect 's outer garments to determine if the person is carrying a concealed weapon.One of the most controversial police procedures is the stop and frisk search. This type of limited search occurs when police confront a suspicious person in an effort to prevent a crime from taking place. The police frisk (pat down) the person for weapons and question the person. A stop is different from an arrest. An arrest is a lengthy process in which the suspect is taken to the police station and booked, whereas a stop involves only a temporary interference with a person 's liberty. If the officer uncovers further evidence during the

    Read More

  • Standardized Testing Argument

    990 Words  | 2 Pages

    Standardized testing is a deeply flawed system. The American government continues to throw money at a program that has little or no hope of achieving the goals it set at its inception. The important message is that no test is valid for all purposes and “high stakes” decisions should not be made on the basis of a single test score. Test scores provide only a small picture of student achievement or potential (APA 2014).

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Standardized Testing

    857 Words  | 2 Pages

    John Bishop of Cornell University found that nations that require standardized tests perform better on international tests compared to nations that don 't (Walberg). But the National Assessment of Educational Progress disagrees. In 2011, only thirty-five percent of U.S. 8th graders were identified as proficient in math. This places the U.S. in thirty-second place in the world (Peterson). But every state in the U.S. requires tests, so why are students performing so poorly? Phillip Harris states, “…[S]tandardized tests inadvertently create incentives for students to become superficial thinkers—to seek the quick, easy, and obvious answer.” For America to start performing well on tests again, we need to take the focus off of our test-taking skills and instead focus on the actual subject matter. To do this, the entire standardized testing system needs to be

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing

    692 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the United States, standardized testing is used to measure how knowledgeable or unknowledgeable a person is in a particular subject. Standardized tests are exams designed to measure a student’s scholastic performance. These tests are a controversial issue, because some people feel the test do not show the students’ intelligence. I am one of these people. What the test may cover may not be what the students have learned in class. However, some critics feel “that standardized tests allow administrators, teachers, and parents the opportunity to view solid evidence of the students’ performance, which in turn could lead to curriculum changes” (Banta, p.1). Standardized tests also create unnecessary stress for students. These tests require students to study or cram for many hours and puts them in a demanding social setting where they are forced to answer difficult questions.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Standardized Testing

    1244 Words  | 3 Pages

    The argument over standardized testing in public schools is significant. It influences the future of education in this nation. “Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.” – Albert Einstein

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay: The Use Of Standardized Testing In Schools

    583 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although standardized testing is commonly used in most schools and educational intuitions nowadays, it does not measure a student’s intelligence. As such, standardized testing should be revoked because, not only is it an unreliable way of measuring a student’s performance, it also pressures educators and creates a grade conscious mindset. Schools should focus more on the development of students, rather than ranking them based on the grades they receive on a test. Not only are standardized tests an undependable way of grading, but also, it does not promote life skills the student will need when growing

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Equal Employment Opportunity

    806 Words  | 2 Pages

    Darrell also had a few things to say about equal opportunity. “I don’t care anything about color, age, or religion; I only hire the best man [male] for the job. If I have given an interview over the phone, I know if he is a qualified applicant or not. It does not matter how old or what color he is. Equal opportunity should be for men and men only, we wouldn’t have things like that going on if the women stayed at home and let you and I [men] support the family.” In the same breath, he goes on to say that choosing a musician is the same way. “Music is the only field that revolves around the qualified person. Equal opportunity does not provide much of an opportunity for the nation’s people. In return, it takes away from companies, of any size, from progressing. The civil rights act of 1964 has many useful items covered such as desegregation of schools and a person’s freedom to seek employment or use of public places. All of these things are understood in this new generation. As narrow minded as Darrell sounds he is proof that a business owner is free to choose any one he wants working under him, without any pressure from the equal employment commission on

    Read More

More about Beowulf, Christianity, and Paganism

Open Document