Examples Of Paganism In Beowulf

In Beowulf, scholars often argue that an uncomfortable tension arises as a result of the conflict between the clearly Christian perspective of the narrator and the opposing pagan behaviors of the characters. The events in the poem occur over most of the sixth century, after the Anglo-Saxons began their expedition to England and before the start of the seventh century, a time in which the Anglo-Saxons were either newly arrived or remained close in contact with their Germanic kinsmen in Northern Germany. After being passed down from generation to generation, a monk transcribed a physical copy of the poem around the time of the 11th century. Many scholars suggest that the biblical allusions and Christian ideas in the poem stem from the monk’s personal beliefs that he simply added in while he transcribed the story. However, the oral tradition of

passing down the poem from generation to generation allows for each successive bard to modify the story in order to blend new beliefs in with the old ways of thinking.

This is to say that the combination of the two conflicting theologies actually resulted from the reality of living in a time of transition from one set of beliefs to the next. The poem’s melting together of Christian and pagan values reflects the time in which it was written, a period in which the virtues of one age began fading and another began to emerge.

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

only his hands in order to mirror the fact that the monster also holds no weapons. Later when Beowulf ventures to his battle with Grendel’s mother, he feels it must remain an equal 1:1 battle and therefore forbids his men to join him in her lair. These two incidents both portray two key pagan elements. In pagan culture, if a solider makes a “boast”, his fellow soldiers hold him accountable. In lines 236-284, Beowulf boasts about his linage and declares he will defeat the monstrous Grendel. Because he boasts it, he commits himself to the task no matter what consequences stem from it. Therefore, when he faces Grendel, his only two options are victory or death. After Grendel’s mother attack, in lines 1392-1394 Beowulf pledges, “I guarantee you: she will not get away, / not to dens underground nor upland groves / nor the ocean floor. She’ll have nowhere to flee to”. This pledge requires Beowulf to either kill Grendel’s mother and win the fight, or die trying. By making this pledge, Beowulf commits his loyalty to the lord of Heorot, Hrothgar. In pagan culture, the lord of the land ruled over all aspects of life. Betrayal of the lord was considered treason and resulted in exile. On the other hand, aiding the lord lead to rewards and glory. By showing his commitment to Hrothgar and following through with his boasts, Beowulf embodies the elements that dub him a pagan hero.