Beowulf Essay

English 1001 Beowulf Essay The fraction of religious tension is common in Anglo-Saxon writings, but a pagan spirit level with a Christian narrator is unusual. Much of the verse forms narrative intervention reveals that the poets culture was different from that of his ancestors and too that of his characters (Watson). There atomic number 18 opusy different perceptions to the reasons why the author wrote Beowulf. The go around answer, in my opinion, was that the author was creating a magical and intriguing story that had an key theme to it.Christianity was a newly introduced religion to the western Europeans at the epoch and I believe that someone would have written or so it, or at least the conflicts that came with it. This is just a background in which cadence period the story was told, even more evidence to this interpretation is interred in the actual text. Though still an old pagan story, Beowulf was told by a Christian poet. People believe the grand Beowulf is a sto ry full of pagan tradition. However, Beowulf is really a Christian-based story, in which Christianity prevails. Nature is fit close and fate are controllable man can present with the world and the main character, a hero and representative of good, triumphs over fell and does non fail in the residue (Perrello). The bureau the author co-ordinated many side nones, of what reassuremed to be other tales told at the time that may not have ever been saved like this one, was an amazing closed book for our present day historians to try and solve. The beginning of the story is where we pay back our maiden sign of Christianity, as the poem goes, Afterward a boy-child was born to Shield, a cub in the yard, a comfort sent by matinee idol to that nation (Beowulf 12-14).This child was a blessing for this tribe and was the uprising of their drop and this is where we see that beginning(a) conflict among the Heroic Code and Christianity. pad polar opposites are the two, favoring bl ood- shed and vengeance, family, and praising the king who led them into battle. Christianity on the other hand is all about showing one some other kindness and grace. There moldiness have been confusion when these tribes were first introduced to this way of life. But the more and more these stories of God were told, pots lives modifyd and they started to be moved.Its the idea of God world the creator of the earth that we see next, the clear song of a skilled poet proclaiming with mastery of mans beginnings, how the Almighty had made the earth a gleaming flying field girdled with waters (Beowulf 90-93). Aside from showing that God was creator of all earth, we find that repentance is taking place, But blessed is he who after death can approach the Lord and find friendship in the founding fathers embrace (Beowulf 186-188). They were unfamiliar with the Lord and had their many other gods to go to, to seek help for different things.Then they started seeking help from the Lord, wh o in give gives them calm waters to safely travel back home and the population are extremely grateful and moved by his presence in their lives. In the end, there was a great purpose behind the news report of this difficult and complex storyline. It was in a time of life where everything was through the peoples way. They were reluctant at first when hearing about God but soon saw what he was capable of and cease up following him. Beowulfs claim to kingship is a matter of his military fine art as much as it is by birth.We also learn that what we forecast virtues immediately were not considered at the time. Celibacy, or even monogamy was not of any interest to the Anglo Saxons. It was very acceptable for warriors to have relationships with multiple betterners. Also, unimportance and modesty was seen as a flaw. Not single were heroes expected to be physically brave, strong, and victorious, they were expected to brag about it. A warrior was meant to succeed. Not only to win, bu t to triumph. The ideal was to have ones stories live on in epic poems, and the only way to assure that was to make sure people knew of ones deeds.It also suggests a bit of the Anglo-Saxon structure. The fact that the main action occurs in the Mead Hall, and that people sleep there, shows the importance of this central building (Bloom). The Beowulf that we read today is unlike the Beowulf with which the first Anglo-Saxon audiences were familiar. Beowulf can be considered one of the close to compelling stories in the English language, and most certainly is considered the first English masterpiece to be written (Bloom). Originally the Anglo-Saxon and Norse invaders experienced a large-scale conversion to Christianity at the end of the 6th century (Perrello).Beowulf is a hero, representing courage, concern for his own people as tumesce as foreign people, and pride. However, this novel shows a lot of controversy. Beowulf is filled with Christian teachings, culture, and pagan traditi on. The value of the Anglo-Saxons were mainly their faith and their success as a warrior. In Beowulf, warriors were expected to create a self-image of fame. Being a warrior indispensable winning. You had to die an honorable death if you were the loser. Only the best warriors went to Valhalla. They always vista God was in control of fate and nobody can change it because all the decisions have been made.The determine of the Anglo-Saxon people didnt interchange along a wide range. They all believed in the same thing, view the same thing, honored the same people, and stood for who they were as people. Nature is accommodating, and the forces of death are controllable. Fate is n either blind, nor random in its choice of victims rather, fate is besides dependent on certain criteria, much(prenominal) as the character of the someone whom is experiencing fate (Johnson 18). Their destiny was chosen for them by God and there was vigor they could do to change that.Beowulf follows the vir tues most important to the Anglo-Saxon culture being as their religion, militaristic nature, and set. Beowulf is also a prime example of an Anglo-Saxon literary work. The Anglo-Saxon era was defined by a do-or-die(a) code found in the people of that culture (Johnson 19). This was exemplified through qualities such as bravery, honor, and strength. In Beowulf, the character of Beowulf depicts an Anglo-Saxon warrior traveling lands and conflict vehement monsters to glorify himself and achieve his ultimate goal of fame. Works Cited Beowulf. The Norton Anthology English Literature.Ed. Stephen Greenblatt. eighth Ed. New York Norton, 2006. 26-97. Print Bloom, Harold. Background to Beowulf. Blooms Literary source Online. Chelsea House Publishing, 2008. Web. 5 Feb. 2012. Johnson, David and Elaine Treharne, eds. Readings in Medieval Texts Interpreting Old and midriff English Literature. NY Oxford University Press, 2005. Perrello, Tony. Religion in Beowulf. Blooms Literary point of refe rence Online. McClinton- Temple. 2011. Web. 5 Feb. 2012. Watson, Robert. Beowulf. Blooms Literary Reference Online. The Facts on archive Conpanion to British Poetry, 2009. Web. 4 Feb. 2012Beowulf EssayJames Robinson 3/18/13 English 12 Beowulf Argument In the poem Beowulf it has been argued whether or not Beowulf shows pagan or Christian values or even both(prenominal). tho if one reads the poem and analysis closely you can see that Beowulf upholds both Christian and pagan values. The bravery and courage that Beowulf became so famous for shows his chivalric and pagan values however he also shows Christian values by protecting and treating all of his people equally and by fighting the firedrake alone and giving the gold to the people even if he did survive the final battle with the calculus.The dragon that Beowulf fights to the death at the end of the poem shows Beowulfs Christian values because Beowulf agrees to fight the dragon by himself as a selfish act of bravery and love f or his people and men. Beowulf tell his men not to help him because he knows the danger he must face and he knows it could be his last battle and doesnt want to ordinate any of his men in danger. In Ogilvys Beowulfs Heroic death Ogilvy agrees that Beowulf fights the dragon alone in sake of his men. Beowulf also tells his people not to overwhelm the dragons assess with him if he dies but to instead give it back to the people. This shows Beowulf pardon and kindness towards his people. If Beowulf only showed Pagan values then he would not have fought the dragon alone and he would have kept the treasure for himself to help better his glory and fame . However Beowulf also shows his pagan values because he boast about killing Grendel which a true Christian would not boast about killing anyone.Beowulf also shows Pagan values because he does his carries out his traffic as king to protect the people even though it means his death which a true pagan hero would do. He also tells his men t o divide the treasure between the people if he does not survive the battle between the dragon because Pagans believed in gift giving and gold sharing as part of their culture. In Goldsmiths The corruption of Beowulf goldsmith agrees that Beowulf shows his pagan values of bravery, strength and duty as a king his motives where arrogant elf-confidence, and if there is added to it a inclination for gain, the heros bold action is spiritually perilous. Overall this shows Beowulf Pagan values along with his Christian values and how there uphold. The overall understanding of Beowulf is that it could be argued either way of the Pagan and Christian values. However Beowulf really shows us both Pagan and Christian values you just have to analyze the reading for traits that show both the Pagan and Christian values of Beowulf.