Beowulf

Assignment 1:
Beowulf:
The Literary conflict between Christian and Pagan religious beliefs  


Beowulf is one the premiere works of literature of the eighth century. In this literary work a conflict between Christian and pagan beliefs directly mirrors a social conflict during this time. The eighth century was a hot bed of change. This poem was written during the conversion from the Pagan belief system to the Christian belief system. This conflict is protruded through the hero of this story which is Beowulf. So as a result of this conflict this epic poem has elements of Christian beliefs and those of early folklore and heroic legends of German tribes.
The Pagan elements in this poem are most evident in this epic poem is Beowulf superhuman personifications. Beowulf is not shown as a powerful man that overcomes evil but a super hero that accomplish his extraordinary feet through super human traits. For explain is the conflict with Grendal. Beowulf takes it upon himself to save the Danes himself. He not only chooses to fight Grendal unaccompanied but also chooses not to use any weapons. By choosing not to fight Grendal without any weapons he relies on his superhuman strength. During the battle with Grendal, Beowulf super human strength surmounts Grendal which made it possible for him to tear the monsters arm from its socket. Another example of the Pagan element of a hero having super human strength is embodied also in the confrontation with Grendal's mother and Beowulf. The super human characteristic is shown during Beowulf quest to find Grendal's mother. He enters the water and swims underneath the water without the use of oxygen. Beowulf is underwater for days before he sees the bottom. During this conflict Beowulf decides to wield a sword. He decides to use Unerth's sword but Beowulf soon realizes that this sword is ineffective against the monster's skin. Due to the ineffectiveness of Unerth's sword Beowulf uses his super human strength to seize a sword... [continues]

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