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The Christian faith is a strong reoccurring element in much of early and contemporary literature. Though other early religions, such as paganism, do come into play, Christianity is most prevalent because the early monks were the scribes of civilization, often shaping oral legends to fit Christian beliefs. This Christian storytelling is obvious in Beowulf and in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”. In contemporary literature, the Christian aspect is obvious in A Prayer for Owen Meany. These three works all include bits and pieces of Christianity, while drawing slightly upon other aspects, most often paganism’s idea of fate.
In Beowulf, Beowulf represents good, while Grendel, his mother, and the dragon represent evil. This connotation of the characters draws strongly on the idea that Grendel is a descendent of Cain, the condemned son of Eve in biblical lore. A connection, however vague, can be made between the maternal relations of Eve and Cain and Grendel and his mother. Grendel’s mother can be considered to personify man’s fall from grace and Grendel himself might embody sin. Furthermore, the dragon Beowulf battles can be said to be a picture of Satan and the dragon’s tower, Hell: “
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Clearly, it is the contention of this work that Gawain, in accepting the sash, is mirroring Adam taking the fruit. Just as these twelve men did, the apostles preached about Jesus after his death. In reaction to Owen's portrayal of this character, the audience's faces which are "so amused, so curious, so various-were rendered shockingly similar; each face became the model of each other's fear" (42). The Green Chapel is described as a "barrow" with a hole and "patches of grass" (166).
Watch out for people who call themselves religious; make sure you know what they mean-make sure they know what they mean!" (572). Gawain has indeed gained wisdom and has the sash to remind him of his past transgressions. Although he suffers the loss of John's mother, he trusts that God is doing this for a reason. The pagan idea of the sun being the symbol of good is also mentioned, “As the sun had gone, he knew that Grendel Would come to Herot, would visit that hall When night had covered the earth with its net…” (31).
Not only does his faith surpass that of the community; it also surpasses even that of Pastor Merill. Gawain, who has promised to give all of his gains to the king, hides the sash.
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