The author of Beowulf writes in order to provide a link between the Christians of 8th century England and their pagan ancestors. Throughout the poem he allays to the reader the mystical war-laden world of the Anglo-Saxons, where a great hero fights for his people against several terrible foes. However, throughout this mystical pagan story, filled with pagan values like revenge and self-righteousness, there are numerous examples of the Christian morals and values widely known across early medieval England. Through close analysis of the poem it is clear that the author intends to use this age-old pagan story intertwined with his own Christian values and morals, to produce a story which both entertains his audience and provides a meaningful history for the English people.
             The tendency for cultures to bridge the gap between the old pagan ways and the emerging Christian world, and create a history for themselves worth believing in, was prevalent throughout medieval Europe. In England, with its conglomerate of both contrasting and similar cultures, from the Anglo-Saxons of which the poem is based, to the warrior culture of the Celts, to the nature worshipping societies of the ancient Druids, this tendency is very evident. Even today, there are remnants of this shift to the new religious doctrines. These remnants include everything from the most famous of Christian holidays, like Easter, Christmas, and All Hallows Eve, to lesser known examples seen in the likes of the Anglican saint, George the dragon slayer. In his poem, the author of Beowulf also intends to bridge this ever-closing gap. He does this through both specific and less explicit allusions to Christian values and biblical references, as well as obvious examples of the pagan culture of the Anglo-Saxons.
             The pagan elements of this epic poem are most evident in the main character's superhuman abilities to fight and destroy the evil forces which reek havoc in the...