Beowulf was written in England sometime in the eighth century. Beowulf was written in a time when Christianity was going a major faith and Paganism was still widely practiced. Beowulf was originally likely a folklore fable told in early Gaelic and Scandinavian civilizations that was passed through the ages by word-of-mouth and was written down and revised by a Christian monastic in ulterior centuries. Beowulf has a combination of Pagan and Christian influences written into it. This combination makes this story great. The heathen elements in the heroic poem verse form Beowulf are apparent in the characters superhuman qualities. Beowulf is depicted as a superhero. Beowulf, the strongest of the Geats-greater and stronger that anyone any where in this world .
Driping with my enemies blood drove five great giants into chains runing monsters out of the ocean, killing them one by one . Beowulf takes it upon himself to salvage the Danes from Grendel. In his battle with Grendel, Beowulf chooses non to utilize arms; he relies on his ace strength them monster s scorn so great that he needs no arms and frights none. During the battle, Beowulf’s strength takes over and Beowulf wrestlings with Grendel until he is able to rend one of the monster’s weaponries out of its socket. Superhuman feats besides appear in the battle with Grendel’s female parent. When Beowul fenters the H2O, he swims downward for most of the twenty-four hours before he sees the underside. For hours he sank through the moving ridges; . He does this without the usage of oxygen.
During the conflict with Grendel’s female parent, Beowulf realizes that Unferth’s sword isuse less against the monsters thick tegument. He grabs an tremendous blade made by giants, about excessively heavy to keep and cuts through the monster’s organic structure. Then he saw, hanging on the wall, a heavy blade, the best of all arms but so monolithic that no ordinary man could lifted it high over his caput and struck with all the strength he had left . This superhero strength continues into the conflict with the firedrake. By this clip, Beowulf is an old adult male. He stands up to the firedrake and wounds him. Although Beowulf is fatally wounded himself, he still manages to present the final blow that kills the firedrake. Grendel is besides seen as a superhuman monster. Grendel has no knowledge of arms so he excessively depends on his extraordinary strength to destruct his enemies. Snatched up 30 work forces, smashed them . Besides do to the fear of Grendel people prayed to their rock Gods, a heathen ritual. And sometimes they sacrificed to the old rock Gods trusting for Hell s support . The dragon is besides seen as a ace powerful antagonist. The firedrake in Beowulf tongues fire with such intense heat that it melts Beowulf’s screen to his organic structure. These conflicts are examples of epic folklore during heathen times.
Besides Beowulf’s individual fate is to assist his people by dying while contending a supernatural animal. After Beowulf is defeated he wants his body cremated and wants his ashes placed in a memorial tower as a reminder of his courage, a really unchristian rite. Have the brave Geats construct me a grave, when the funeral flames have burned me, and construct it here,so crew mans can see the tower, and retrieve my name, and name it Beowulf s tower . This leaves us the feeling of pagan immortality. Christian influences are besides really evident in the verse form. Many of the characters exhibit Christian features. Beowulf has great kindness. Beowulf understood the predicament of the Danes that are being attacked by the evil monster Grendel and knew what he had to make, merely as Jesus did for humanity. Both set out to salvage their people. Heard how Grendel filled the darks with horror would sail across the sea to Hrothgar, now when aid was needed .
When Beowulf battles Grendel, he exhibits a sense of equity when he refuses to utilize a arm. The thought throughout the poem of life right, of trueness, and of being a good leader can all be seen as traits of a good Christian. Just as Beowulf slightly compares to Christ, Grendel is like Satan. Beowulf and Grendel represent the Christian beliefs of good poetries evil. Grendel is referred to as a descendent of Cain, the adult male who killed his ain brother. Conceived by a pair of those monsters born of Cain punished everlastingly for the offense of Abel’s death.
Satan is covetous of the felicity and joy that humanity has, Grendel is covetous of the felicity and joy in Herot in the darkness, growled in pain, impatient as twenty-four hours after twenty-four hours the music rang . Grendel lives in an under world as Satan lives in snake pit. The firedrake is Beowulf’s last and greatest conflict. The dragon represents ill will, greed, and devastation, which can besides be paralleled to the devil. Beowulf’s battle with the firedrake is like how Jesus gave his life for his people. Finally, merely as Christ had one last conflict, Beowulf has his concluding conflict with the firedrake. Both Christ and Beowulf fought hard in their last conflicts with evil and although they both ultimately died in their concluding conflict, they both were able to get the better of the immorality before they died. Other more evident influences of Christianity was the mention of Hrothgar s throne being holy. He ne’er dared to touch male monarch Hrothgar throne, protected by God-God, whose love Grendel could non cognize.
The mention to God was through out the verse form. God must make up one’s mind who will be given to decease s cold grip. Surely the Lord Almighty could halt this lunacy, surround his lecherousness! The subject of Cain and Abel is brought up one more clip during the confrontation between Beowulf and Unferth. You murdered your brothers, your ain close family. Words and bright humor won t assist your psyche: Unferth, everlastingly tormented.
In decision, the writer of Beowulf was really effectual in uniting heathen and Christian thoughts in his verse form. The technique of uniting two different ideals made the poem Beowulf really interesting to read. In blending Pagan and Christian thoughts, the poet was able to stress the ethical motives of his times and to heighten his characters with Christian values and Pagan folk fable.
