Examples Of Pagan Ideals In Beowulf

Beowulf: Christian vs. Pagan Ideals

Beowulf is a presumably controversial poem. Given that it is the most dated manuscript of literature in the entire world, many people have their own thoughts about how, when and why it was written. Tidmarsh Major makes the point that we cannot look at the Christianity of the poem through the eyes of our current Christianity, but rather of the specific type of Christianity of the Anglo-Saxon period (Major 2). However, there are many beliefs about this epic within the many years it has been in existence. Major believes that the Christian ideas are so essential to the poem that they could not have been added through interpretation of the writer himself (3). Charles Moorman believed the original poem contained

no trace of Christianity at all (Moorman 3-4). There are certainly opposite styles of thought about this topic, but most seem to believe the poem was written as a pagan epic, but was eventually changed by whoever wrote it as a manuscript so long ago. Throughout battles, the judgment of God and thanking God after certain occasions presents aspects of Christianity in pagan stories. Although Beowulf is a predominately pagan epic, Christian ideas and examples are blended within.
In Beowulf, one of the most obvious Christian versus pagan elements is the battle with Grendel. Beowulf is immediately seen as the hero to the distraught people when he comes to see Hrothgar. As he is seen as a hero, he can also be seen as a Christ figure for saving the people. “I am thinking that/the Holy God, as a grace to us/Danes in the West, has directed him here/ against Grendel’s oppression. This good man shall be/offered treasures in return for his courage” (Beowulf 45.381-385). Then, Grendel is shown as a gruesome monster that has been killing Hrothgar’s people for twelve years. “Nor did he let them rest/but the next night brought new horrors, /did more murder, manslaughter, and outrage/and shrank not from it:” (39.133-136). Grendel can also be seen as the devil in this sense. He is seen as a monster that is trying to destroy the race of Hrothgar’s people. Beowulf confronts Grendel for his murderous nature when he and his men come to fight Grendel barehanded. Paganism is shown when Beowulf says he will fight Grendel alone and does just that. Also, it is shown as Beowulf hung Grendel’s arm on the wall in the mead-hall. “As a signal to all/the hero hung up the hand, the arm/and torn-off shoulder, the entire limb, /Grendel’s whole grip, below the gable of the roof” (55.832-835). God is thanked for His provisions in protection and victory in battle, but this battle with Grendel is predominately pagan.
God’s judgment is seen repeatedly throughout the poem in the sense that it is shown by Biblical references and battles.

Grendel is seen as a descendent of Cain, meaning he is forever shunned from God’s guidance and well-being. “This unhappy being/had long lived in the land of monsters/since the Creator cast them out/as kindred of Cain. For that killing of Abel/the eternal Lord took vengeance”(39.103-107). The Christian elements in this quote are obvious because they relate to a Biblical story in Genesis, but the pagan aspect is seen when one looks at the reason it was said. This reference is made about Grendel before Beowulf fought him because Grendel is seen throughout as a monster. This is used to show the severity of mind after Grendel killed thirty men every twelve years. The people are angry and see Grendel as a tremendous monster that wants to destroy their race. Beowulf also speaks to Hrothgar about his family lineage and what he has come to do. He explains to Hrothgar that he has come to save the people with is fourteen men. Hrothgar is thankful to Beowulf but warns him of the danger before him. “He who is chosen/shall deliver himself to the Lord’s judgment”(47.440-441). Beowulf said this in reference to him fighting with Grendel bare handed. Grendel is the chosen one as he loses his arm in the battle with Beowulf after this prediction is made. Lastly, God’s judgment is shown as God’s brand on Grendel. “Down off the moorlands’ misting fells came/Grendel stalking; God’s brand was on him”(53.710-7110. Grendel was plotting his vengeance of Beowulf while watching them in the hall. God’s judgment was predominately on Grendel in every example as he was the one seen as a monster by the

people.
Giving thanks to God is largely mentioned in this poem as one wins a battle or has safe travels. Most of the examples concern God’s provisions; “God they thanked/for the smooth going over the salt trails”(41.227-228). They are seen thanking God for having safe travels to visit Hrothgar and gain his blessing in going to battle with Grendel to save the people. God is seen as an authority figure that guided them during their time on the sea. Also, God is thanked for sparing Beowulf’s life during the battle with Grendel’s mother. “Thanks be to God, /the Lord Everlasting, that I have lived until this day”(76.1777-1778). Beowulf thanks God for saving him though he relied on his own strength and grip to defeat Grendel on his own without the help of the fourteen men who came with him. This is a classic example of the pagan aspect of super-human strength and grip being interwoven with thanking God, a supernatural power, for the ability to do so. Lastly, the battle with the dragon shows God being mentioned in the midst of a tragedy. Beowulf is now older than when he once fought the first two battles so his strength is not what it once was by fifty years. “I wish to put in words my thanks/to the King of Glory, the Giver of All, the Lord of Eternity, for these treasures that I gaze upon”(98.2791-2793). He thanks God for the treasures he has received as a hero for the people. He also at this point gives his role to Wiglaf to continue his legacy before he dies. This is also a pagan element because Beowulf wants to be seen as a legend by the people immortalizing him after he has died. The Christian element is the thanking of God by a pagan hero. Tidmarsh Major commented that the capitalization of the poem when it was translated could cause some concern or confusion to some (Major 6). Our current capitalization rules include deity such as God to be capitalized. In the time period in which this poem was written, the capitalization rules could be much different as is the Christianity, as we know today.
In conclusion, the elements of the poem can be seen as both Christian and pagan depending on who is analyzing it. There is no question that it is pagan as there are monsters and dragons, but there is also thanks to God by them men fighting the monsters. There is essentially no way to separate between only pagan and only Christian ideals of this epic. As Tidmarsh Major explains, beliefs by the Germans and Christian ideas could have easily been merged together (Major 2). As stated previously, the Christianity we have today is likely not the same Christianity as when this poem was written. Concurrently, the Christian and pagan ideas are not equal in this poem, but the interweaving of Christian ideas in this pagan epic is unquestionably present throughout the entire poem.