The epic poem of Beowulf has many different Christian and pagan elements in it. An example of a pagan element would be the belief in Wyrd and an example of the Christian element would be the account of Creation. There are a few more statements about both the Christian and pagan elements such as religious beliefs/practices‚ the places God is mentioned and the different names of God in the text. Beowulf incorporates many Christian and pagan elements within the text. Wyrd was the pagan god for which stood
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Pagan vs. Christian The holy Catholic Religion had a drastic Christian like impact on the barbarian‚ Viking Pagans of the Anglo-Saxon Age in England (Elements of Literature 11). The Catholics evolved the aggressive Pagan Vikings into a peaceful society (Williams). Also‚ the Catholics substituted their warlike religion and after-life to a more holy and Christian like religion (Chaney 197-217). Along with the altering of the Pagan society and religion‚ the Catholics also transformed the Pagans
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The European epic‚ Beowulf‚ was written sometime in the eighth century in England. This time period provides us with an idea for the mixture of Christian and pagan elements because of an English society that was in the process of converting from Paganism to Christianity. Examples of Pagan and Christian traditions are presented all throughout literature. Many of the influences deal with what it going on in the world‚ when the piece is written. When Beowulf was written‚ St. Augustine had just come
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Although there are many examples of Pagan beliefs in the poem Beowulf‚ the poem points more toward a Christian influence and meaning. Beowulf is seen as a God to the Geat people‚ and they turn to the Almighty to save them from evil. Grendel is portrayed as a “monster of Cain” and lives underground. He represents the darkness of the Pagan beliefs‚ as well as Hell. The battle between good and evil - between Christianity and Pagan beliefs – is continued throughout the poem. Hrothgar and the Danes
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literary work of Beowulf is believed‚ by many‚ to contain numerous attributes of Christian propaganda. Throughout the story of Beowulf‚ there are several circumstances and coincidences that distinctly relate to the Christian belief system. One can only imagine that these ideas of Christian propaganda; which include the use of Christian themes and beliefs in works of literary art‚ were strategically placed throughout the story of Beowulf to help the conversion from the old world pagan religious belief
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The epic poem Beowulf is a tale of a warrior‚ named Beowulf‚ and the events that lead to his death. One of the main concerns of the epic poem was whether or not it is of pagan or Christian origin‚ or whether it has pagan or Christian influences. Even though the poem appeared to be originally a pagan story‚ there are many clues in the text that point to Christian influence and tradition. Beowulf is essentially a Christian story with Christian customs: that man’s survival depends on the protection
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Beowulf’s story is somewhat of an allegory in which he is depicted as the Christ figure. The theme of Beowulf is a contrast of good and evil which is manifest in both Christian and pagan elements; Beowulf represents good‚ while Grendel‚ his mother‚ and the dragon represent evil. The first monster our hero‚ Beowulf‚ faces is Grendel. Grendel is said to be a descendant of Cain. "Unhappy creature (Grendel)‚ he lived for a time in the home of the monsters’ race‚ after God had condemned them as kin of
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Beowulf is one of the great heroic poems in English literature. The epic follows a courageous warrior named Beowulf throughout his young‚ adult life and into his old age. As a young man‚ Beowulf becomes a legendary hero when he saves the land of the Danes from the hellish creatures‚ Grendel and his mother. Later‚ after fifty years pass‚ Beowulf is an old man and a great king of the Geats. A monstrous dragon soon invades his peaceful kingdom and he defends his people courageously‚ dying in the process
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The epic poem Beowulf which was written in pagan times‚ it is complete with many allusions to topics relating to the Christian faith that can be used as evidence of a Christian influence. For instance passages containing biblical history‚ displeasure with heathen ideas‚ and the mention of doctrines typically Christian can be found in the text of Beowulf. This is important because it will prove that a Beowulf was written by a Christian author to inform and entertain a Christian audience and also spread
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Beowulf is a story that is ancient Germanic; the well-regarded Beowulf is still a pagan hero. Nevertheless‚ it is widely known that the transcription of the poem was thought to be by a Christian monk. This poem was most likely altered to assist new Christian’s in seeing that Beowulf’s belief was changing from polytheism to monotheism. In the poem‚ the poet’s use of the Christian religion does not take away from the pagan heroic code. The poet made the legendary Beowulf that Scandinavian people idealized
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