Pagan Elements in Beowulf
Christian vs. Pagan Elements in Beowulf Beowulf is an epic poem that is labeled as one of the first great heroic poems in English literature. The story is that of a warrior that becomes a hero by saving the Danes from the monsters, Grendel and his mother. Beowulf becomes a king of the Geats and ends up fighting a dragon for his people, an act that kills him. The poem contains many elements of pagan associations but also contains many Christian references. The reader of Beowulf can not deny that there are tensions between the Christian and the pagan elements of the poem. The first to translate the oral story Beowulf was more than likely a Monk. Monk's were in the elite group of people that could read and write; therefore, they were usually the ones to write the very early transcripts of the stories we have today. Clark states, "The frequent allusions to the power of fate, the motive of blood revenge, and the praise of worldly glory bear testimony to the ancient background of pagan conceptions and ideals. However, the general tone of the epic and its ethical viewpoint are predominantly Christian. The sentiment has been softened and purified" (112). The Monk's took what the Anglo-Saxons were telling them and refined it
The violence seemed less violent and the pagan elements seem to be hidden when the elements of Christianity are so vivid, even through the evil characters. Beowulf always seemed to simply let God take control and God always makes sure that Beowulf is taken care of, "My foe would have won our war underwater / had the Lord not looked after my life" (p 63, line 1461). Beowulf has the qualities of a pagan hero in his fighting and through the description of his pride, but the thanking of God and the Christian elements seem to overshadow the pagan elements, "My thanks for this sight go straight to Heaven! / Grendel has given me grief and grievance; / but God often works wonders on wonders" (p 50, line 823). The epic is wrapped in a history of pagan ideal and Christian surroundings. In Revelation 12:9, Satan is revealed as "the great dragon. It is a timeless classic that has endured the centuries. Throughout the story Beowulf repeatedly acknowledges God as his protector, "May God in His wisdom grant whom He wills / blessing in battle" (p 45, line 614). There are other examples of the tension between Christian and pagan elements that lend themselves to understanding where this story derived from. Had an Anglo-Saxon written the tale down, there would be more pagan elements in it than it has, and the distribution of it to young audiences and women would be limited. While Grendel and the dragon were originally used as pagan enemies to the war hero, the Monk used the characters to represent events and elements from the Bible. According to Clark, "Some poets believe that the dragon was 'the devil himself' guarding a hoard of gold that infects men with greed and pride and leads to death and damnation" (257). Knowing that the translator of this oral story was more than likely a Monk makes it straightforward in finding Christian elements. Another couple of characters that have Christian and pagan elements entangled are Grendel and the dragon.
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