Beowulf
Beowulf is an epic poem that was articulated somewhere around the 8th century by an unknown author. This was a time in which England was in the process of changing from a pagan culture to a Christian society. Since the poem was told around the same time when Christianity was rising then it is difficult to determine if Beowulf is a pagan or Christian poem. Many critics argue if the Christian imagery in this epic poem is the structure of the poem or just an additional aspect. The Christian imagery in Beowulf can be found mainly in the characters, where as the society tends to have a pagan background. Certainly some views can be tied to the pagan culture but the Christian beliefs in the poem are much more dominating. The characters in Beowulf display some of the most potent Christian behaviors throughout the entire poem. Although some characters, such as Grendel would not have Christian behaviors, Grendel would be included in Christian beliefs. Grendel of course is the foe of the Danish people. He is a powerful monster that is living down in the darkness and becoming tiresome of the music and singing from Herot, the banquet hall of the Danish King Hrothgar. Grendel being the adversary of the Danish people, is like being the advers
That's not saying Grendel and the dragon are actually part of Christian history, but it is saying that both of them have similar characteristics to the evil things that are described in the Bible. Being that the dragon is a menacing evil foe that is disrupting a kingdom. So by telling an epic poem that is filled with Christian imagery, but yet has some pagan ideals then the unidentifiable author could get his or her Christian beliefs out to everyone else. when the Devil is in dragon's form it assaults the 4saint" (84). Not only does the dragon have ties in with Satan but it also closely similar to Grendel. The dragon represents the evil in the world just as Grendel represented evil. The Christian imagery in this ample poem provides it with its meaning and overall view on the evils of society. Overall Grendel is portrayed as supernatural fiend that mirrors Satan and has relations to Cain and is greater than any normal man. Beowulf is perceptibly the most Christian-like person in the entire poem. Beowulf was not written down until the eleventh century, but it was speculatively told somewhere around the eighth century. Those traits are 3also traits that "righteous" Christians practice. Irving declares, "Beowulf is not a Christian poem in the sense that its value system is otherworldly" (19).
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Acceptance Essays
