Beowulf Info. Essay, Research Paper

The Anglo-Saxon heroic poem Beowulf is the most of import work of Old English literature, and is good deserved of the differentiation. The heroic poem tells the narrative of a Norse prince named Beowulf, who rids the Danes of the monster Grendel, a descendant of Cain. Throughout the heroic poem, the Anglo-Saxon narrator uses many elements to construct a certain deepness to the characters, utilizing several spiritual subjects. Because Beowulf was written in England sometime in the eighteenth century, we can establish or givens upon an thought of a verse form that was written during a clip when the society had converted from pagan religion to Christianity. From old research, we know that pagan religion did be alongside Christianity during the approximative epoch that Beowulf was composed. The Christian influences were combined with early folklore and epic fables of dramatic folks, early Beowulf bookmans began to look into whether or non Christian and scriptural influences were added subsequently to originally pagan influences. Finally, Beowulf is a work that proves inconsistent with its spiritual subjects because it accurately exemplifies the usage of both Christian and Pagan elements.

The original Epic was evidently of heathen literature due to the clip period of its creative activity. As a consequence, the heathen component in the heroic poem verse form Beowulf is apparent in the characters superhuman personifications. Beowulf is depicted as a superhero, this is because he takes it upon himself to salvage the Danes from Grendel. In his conflict with Grendel, Beowulf chooses non to utilize arms ; he relies on his ace strength. During the battle, Beowulf & # 8217 ; s strength takes over and Beowulf wrestlings with Grendel until he is able to rend one of the monster & # 8217 ; s weaponries out of its socket. This superhero strength continues into the conflict with the firedrake. By this clip, Beowulf is an old adult male. He stands up to the firedrake and wounds him. Although Beowulf is fatally wounded himself, he still manages to present the concluding blow that kills the firedrake. Grendel is besides seen as a superhuman monster. Grendel has no cognition of arms so he excessively depends on his extraordinary strength to destruct his enemies. The firedrake is besides seen as a ace powerful antagonist. As in most heathen folklore, the firedrake, Grendel, is a much-used enemy of the hero of the narrative. The firedrake in Beowulf tongues fire with such intense heat that it melts Beowulf & # 8217 ; s screen to his organic structure. & # 8220 ; The writer has reasonably exalted the battles with legendary monsters into a struggle between the powers of good and evil & # 8221 ; ( Klaeber 3 ) . These conflicts are illustrations of heroic poem folklore during heathen times. The heathen beliefs about immortality are besides important in the verse form. & # 8220 ; It is believed that a warrior s life after decease was a continuance of his life on Earth & # 8221 ; ( Greenfield 91 ) . Beowulf & # 8217 ; s individual fate is to assist his people by deceasing while contending a supernatural animal. To the Pagan, Beowulf & # 8217 ; s decease is regarded as a triumph for Satan because Beowulf dies. & # 8220 ; The cardinal contrast between the good God and blind destiny is shown by the fact that God constantly grants triumph, whereas it is a cryptic enchantment that brings about Beowulf & # 8217 ; s decease & # 8221 ; ( Klaeber 2 ) . Beowulf wants his organic structure cremated ; a really unchristian rite. & # 8221 ; In supernatural elements of pre-Christian association, pagan patterns are mentioned in several topographic points such as the vowing of forfeits at idol fanes, the observing of portents, and the combustion of the dead which was frowned upon by the Church & # 8221 ; ( Klaeber 1 ) . Beowulf wants his ashes placed in a memorial tower as a reminder of his courage. This leaves us the feeling of heathen immortality & # 8211 ; the memory in the heads of ulterior work forces of a hero & # 8217 ; s epic actions. Overall, Beowulf, includes many heathen elements obviously due to the clip of its beginning, which conflict with its Christian elements.

While many heathen influences appear in the verse form, Christian overtones dominate. Many of the characters exhibit Christian features. Grendel is an illustration of an evil figure in the Epic, one is led to believe this because he is banishment from God. It serves to give the reader an thought of why Grendel would kill the Danes for no ground other than their felicity. Beowulf besides has a spiritual motive to his character. One illustration of this is in Canto 6 Lin

e 381 in which Hrothgar provinces, Our Holy Father had sent [ Beowulf ] as a mark of His grace, a grade of His favour, to assist us get the better of Grendel and stop that panic. This spiritual description shows Beowulf as a kind of christ sent by God to salvage adult male from evil. But, more than that, since Beowulf is in fact non a christ, this description shows the good in Beowulf s bosom and the intent of his mission. Beowulf understands the predicament of the Danes that are being oppressed by the evil monster Grendel merely as Christ knew of the subjugation of the Judaic people. It besides shows the difference between world s ways ( good ) , and evil s wild nature ( evil ) . Grendel is wild and is hence shown as immorality. His wild place, Grendel, who haunted the Moors, the wild fens, and made his place in a snake pit non hell but earth. shows his wild, wild, and hence evil nature. Grendel s wilderness is countered in world s ways, particularly Beowulf s. Beowulf is tame and civilised, the prototype of goodness and pureness. This is another case when the narrator incorporates Christianity into the Epic. Another Biblical mention in Beowulf is shown in the tower of Herot, which is really similar to the tower of Babel in the fact that it s built as a mark of high quality and achievement. Like Babel, though, Herot merely serves as a symbol of ruin more than one of glorification because it causes many deceases and the coming of Grendel. Grendel besides serves as a scriptural motive in Beowulf. Grendel is biblically described as immorality in this extract:

[ Grendel ] was spawned in that sludge,

Conceived by a brace of those monsters born

Of Cain, homicidal animals banished

By God, punished everlastingly for the offense

Of Abel s decease. The Almighty drove

Those devils out, and their expatriate was acrimonious,

Shut off from work forces ; they split

Into a thousand signifiers of evil & # 8211 ; liquors

And monsters, hobs, monsters, giants,

A brood everlastingly opposing the Lord s

Will, and once more and once more defeated.

To the Anglo-Saxon heathen, a character s importance was measured by its wealth and position. An illustration of this is Hrothgar, male monarch of the Danes. He is one illustration of the Anglo-Saxon measuring of importance in Beowulf. In Canto 1 the narrator describes his wealth and importance, non as hills of gold or gems, but alternatively as his ability to [ lead ] the Danes to such glorification. and as his inclination to In conflict, [ leave ] the common grazing land untasted, and taking no lives. However, through this show of compassion for the common man who do non contend in conflicts, Hrothgar provides an illustration of a Christ-like figure in Beowulf, caring and be givening to the common or hapless dwellers of the land. Beowulf, the hero-prince, besides proves his true wealth and position through his workss as guardian of the Danes. As he fights and lickings Grendel, Beowulf Earns Fame and wealth from his comrades, and from the Danes before go oning upon his fated, tragic decease. Grendel, on the other manus, is the entire antonym of Beowulf, he does non hold such properties, alternatively he is ill-famed as an evil slayer. It is besides of import to take note that Grendel is a descendent of Cain, among the first kids of Adam and Eve ( from the Bible ) whom in a covetous fury killed his brother Abel. This deficiency of wealth and award defines Grendel as a symbol of immorality and corruptness. In add-on to utilizing Honor and wealth to add definition to its characters, the story-teller ( s ) have incorporated alternating Biblical and Paganistic motives in the epic-poem.

In decision, Beowulf is an Epic verse form of huge importance. The writer of Beowulf was really effectual in uniting heathen and Christian thoughts in his verse form. & # 8220 ; A poet leaves his grade on a verse form through the techniques he uses & # 8221 ; ( Klaeber 4 ) . The technique of uniting two different ideals made the verse form Beowulf really interesting to read. & # 8220 ; In blending heathen and Christian thoughts, the poet was able to stress the ethical motives of his times and to heighten his characters with Christian values and pagan folklore & # 8221 ; ( Klaeber 8 ) . As a consequence, Beowulf is created, dwelling of a tapestry sometimes consistent and sometimes inconsistent with Christian and Heathen elements.