Beowulfs Pagan and Christian Elements

Beowulfs ethnical and Christian ElementsThe un cognise poet of Beowulf wrote approximately the Geats and the Danes, Ger mankindic tribes who lived in pre-Christian beats on the continent. The plot of the story, therefore, has many references to ethnic beliefs and superstitious customs. On the other hand, a man who lived in Anglo-Saxon England composed the song therefore, there argon examples in the verse form of Judeo-Christian beliefs. The song, therefore, speaks of both Wyrd and deity of both the Germanic Fate that reads mens lives to inevitable destruction and the Christian immortal who c ars for the lives of His children. The rime consolidated Christian and ethnic ideals to reflect on the time and place in which it was pen. Brodeur, the author of an article states a period in which the virtues of the heathen Heroic Age were tempered by the gentleness of the innovative belief an age war cargon, yet Christian. As a good Christian, the poet rear himself faced with the task of treating this origin in ally pleasure seeker material in a manner acceptable to a Christian audience (183). Brodeur friends us apprehend the context of the poem and begins to benefactor answer they question, why it was written the like this and how this plot was formed. Another important statement in the article was when Brodeur says a Christian perception of the insane futility of the primitive Germanic thirst for vengeance and the facts that Beowulfs chief adversaries are not men nevertheless daimons and that the king of the Geats did not seek wars with their neighboring tribes may reflect a Christian keep for peace among humans (22). It was too a period in which hatful such as Hrothgar and his Daneswere punished for their idolatry (207). Throughout this poem, we see the get across between striving for a Christian divinity fudge and fighting for pagan vengeance. Christianity and paganism combined together created a holy ground on which Beowulf was built. irrel igiousism is a belief outlined as a person holding religious beliefs other than those of monotheistic. nigh basic customs go on with this belief. One is the custom of worshipping a profusion of Gods. More than cardinal percent of the time, it was in the form of a sacrifice. Another custom believes in fate and that is it supposed to control your destiny or duties in life. This is known as Wyrd. Another custom is beliefs in imaginary things like dragons and magic. In addition, they lived in a deso posthumous t maven. They believed in earth-bound view on life. Paganism came to be compared by Christians with a feeling of indulgence, speaking to the individuals who are arousing, materialistic, liberal, blithe with the future, and uninterested in religions that are much standard. Pagans were set out with estimable spirit, to enjoy earth or himself. Again, believing in fate, if they were going for the blister they would look at it without bitterness. Lastly, they believed that fam e was the only if management for one to reach immortality. As you can see, majority of these customs are a little far-fetched. nearly of these irrational ideas explains a lot of part we see in Beowulf. Some pagan elements we see in Beowulf are Hrothgars sights actions and basic pagan beliefs along with cultural importance and old tales.Christianity is a religious belief defined as one who received Christian baptism or is a truster in Jesus Christ and his teachings. This belief like Paganism, come with any(prenominal) basic customs. First, they believe in one God. They believe that afterlife exists and it is like a utopia. They also believe in prayer as a way to give thanks to God for helping us negate evil. Lastly, they energise an optimistic outlook that is centered on a man who devoted himself to overpowering evil to create a better valet de chambre for his followers. Again, these rules play a major role and effect the use of Christian elements in Beowulf. Some examples in this poem are the narration, Hrothgars speech, the Queens speech, and Beowulfs speech. Again, these points in the poem are very important to the plot and it is impacted by religious beliefs.Narration was impacted heavily by Christianity and is found throughout the text of the poem. An example straight from the poem is when the teller said A comfort sent by God to that nation (13-17). Here the narrator is talking about Beo. He is the son of Shield Sheafsons. He is also Hrothgars great-great grandfather. Another example is when the narrator says, The clear song of a experient poet tellinghow the Almighty had made the earth (81-98). Here, the narrator is describing scenes at Herot and it refers to God as the Almighty. They believe that he created the earth and that is derived from the Bible. These few examples of narration help prove other documents statements thinking how this poem has Christian elements. In Christina and Pagan Elements Edward B. Iriving Jr. states There are refe rences to Gods creation of the universe, the story of Cain, Noahs flood, devils and hell, and the Last notion (177) Here, Edward B. Irving Jr. is telling us that they made references to monumental moments in the Catholic church services history. The one that sticks out the close is Noahs Flood. It is a part in the church bible that represents the freedom our religion has fought for and gained. In the same article, the author also said, The date of Beowulf is much controverted, but are no conclusive arguments against geological dating the poem to the age of Bede, a date which was favored by a majority of Beowulf scholars of the last generation (179). Again, the author is providing critical facts helping us date the time of Beowulf and comparing it to the timing of the peak of Christian blueprint. Therefore, this could help us differentiate the reasons for creating the poem. Personally, one like myself could think that is poem is more centered around the Christian faith because t here are barely more facts proving it. Going against that, I believe there are only a few theories that prove hints of pagan faith because again, there are fewer facts in Beowulf and the pagan faith was a shaky practice during the time and there are almost confined and complete documents of practice, but it was not as strong as the Christian faith. In 1960, Margaret E. goldsmith published The Christian Theme of Beowulf and continued along the same lines in several articles culminating in her 1970 book, The Mode and Meaning of Beowulf. She finds teachings of Augustine and Gregory in Hrothgars sermon and views the poem as a kind of Christian historical novel. Here is effective another documented book providing correct and accurate nurture ground on research within Beowulf and based on the portion written by Edward B. Irving Jr.On the other hand, there are some possible and documented facts that compare to the Pagan faith that need to be mentioned. The Christian Language and Them e of Beowulf provides a good amount of information on this. Thomas D, Hill mentions a crucial element when he says Pagan is a word used in at least trinity different senses in discussing this problem the literal, the vestigial, and the good (199) The first sense is more realistic than the others and refers to documented practices of pre-Christian religion in which Germanic people participated. Beowulf contains documented pagan rituals and the ritual that stands out the most are three accounts of pagan funeral rites. The second pagan area involves how pagan rituals and practices are hold through poetry. This section is not as clear as the introductory area, but it still does bring a good point to the table. For example, the soldiers in Beowulf wore helmets with painted boars on them and the boar was a sacred animal that locomote to the Germanic God Freyr. The third area revolves around the ethics and morality of this practice. Therefore, this is actually the real cause of most arguments involving Christian elements and Pagan elements in Beowulf. Thomas D. Hill gives us the background of it when he says The fundamental ethical code of the poem is unmistakably secular it is the warrior code of the aristocracy, celebrating bravery, loyalty, and generosity with the hired gun finding his own immortality in the long-lasting fame of great exploits carried out in this world (180). The archetype of the code is not word for word, but equivalent to the code of Iliad which is part of the Pagan religion.As you can see, there are both Christian and Pagan elements being fused into this poem and they are clearly separated. However, both Christian and Pagan elements are being fused together to form some representation of both religions into one object, person, or place. First, Beowulf can be viewed in multiple ways. He can be viewed in both religions, but he comes together to for one. A Christian figure and a Germanic Warrior are two ways that Beowulf could be looked at in this poem. He can be viewed as a Germanic Warrior for his constant fights. He is having his big brawls with a big giant star Grendel, Grendels troll mother, and a big fire-breathing dragon. It is moderately strange that he is doing all of this fighting because he grew up as a very develop boy. He was known for having great kingly qualities. He develops into a wise(p) and effective ruler as he ages. A great way to put it is he starts out as a heroic monster fighter and transitions to a dependable king. That looks and sounds like a very sensational accomplishment. Likewise, it can be looked at as a transition from a Germanic Warrior to a Christian figure. The poem states Beowulf was quickly brought to the chamber the victor of fights, the arch warrior, cam first-looking in with his fellow troops to where the king in his intelligence waited, still wondering whether Almighty God would ever turn the feed of his misfortunes. This great quote is from lines 1310 to 1315. This is great to prove the point that he is a Christian figure because he is asking for the forgiveness of God. He wants to be forgiven and know that all of his wrongdoings are forgiven. These wrongs were mostly of him fighting. This passage suggests that the culture of the Anglo-Saxons had a touch of both Christians and fierce warriors. Therefore, this fits in perfectly to that question of which one was he. Overall, Beowulf can be seen within this culture because it has so many direct connections with it.In The Christian Language and Theme of Beowulf Thomas D. Hill negotiation well about the combination of the religions when he says Many scholars, and perhaps most ordinary lectors, have simply accepted this odd blend of pagan story and Christian teller as perhaps illogical and somewhat puzzling on purpose and implications, but nonetheless the way the poem is (200). Here the author of this portion of this research book is explaining how to combination of these two religions to form Beow ulf is a way to cause problems for the reader. Scholars feel the author deliberately tried to confuse the reader so they can pick a side between Christian and Pagan meanwhile the author could have tricked them and combined the two. That is why it is necessary to read in between the lines.In conclusion, Christian and Pagan elements play an immense role in Beowulf. This poem offers many options for the reader to choose. It allows them or gives them the power to create their own transformation of the poem. It gives clear hint and examples of both religions and that is what makes it difficult to separate or make up ones mind where this poem originates. Maybe that is something that we should not find out. The author could be nerve-wracking to leave the readers a message based on these facts. These examples of religious practices could be the key to finding what we know beyond our history. It keeps your mind open and gives the reader the right away to let their mind race and think abo ut the composition of Beowulf. It is obvious that the Christian, Pagan question is tightly connected and that it leave alone most likely not be fully proven or solved any time soon. However, based on what scholars know, the best presuppose to this author would have to be a Christian poet with a Pagan past. The thing that would help the most would know the date. This would lead to almost every unsolved question about Beowulf. Scholars have favored in educationally guessing the time during the later period. This later period is around the late tenth century going into the early eleventh century. On these case alone, however, scholars can make no firm decision about the surrender date of Beowulf.Work CitedBjork, Robert E., and John D. Niles. Christian and Pagan Elements. A Beowulf Handbook.capital of Nebraska U of Nebraska, 1997. 176-92. Print.Donoghue, Daniel, and Seamus Heaney. The Christian Language and Theme of Beowulf.Beowulf A Verse version Authoritative Text, Contexts, Crit icism. New York Norton, 2002. 198-201. Print.Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur Vengeance the Pagan and Christian Inspiration. Christian and PaganElements of Beowulf. Pace University, Web. 19 Jan. 2017.