The epic Beowulf is filled with references to both pagan and Christian religions, as well as numerous references to gold. Select either religion or gold imagery and give a passage from the selection and explain what, how and why this passage helps to create religious or gold imagery. (The deadline to post a response to this question is midnight Thursday, January 24, 2013).
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In Beowulf, there is are many different references to pagan and Christian religions. One of the pagan references is when Beowulf is giving his speech about the upcoming battle with Grendel, "Fate will unwind as it must!" This shows that pagans believed in fate deciding the outcome of events in life. Christian religions are referenced when Beowulf is refered to the "Almight God." This is Christian because they believed in one God. These conflicting beliefs show that Beowulf has taken elements from the pagans and Christians between the time that it was first sang by scops and then when it was first recorded by Roman monks.
There are many combinations of pagan and Christian religion in Beowulf. One of the many pagan references in the is shown after Grendel attacks Herot several times. The reference, "And sometimes they sacrificed to the old stone gods..," described that Hrothgar's council members sacrificed to stone gods, similar in paganism, to try to stop Grendel and his attacks.
SL
Beowulf has many examples of pagan and Christian religion. One reference to Christianity is when he was fighting Grendel's mother and he says "if that shining Woven metal had not helped-and Holy God, who sent him victory, gave judgement for truth and right, Ruler of the Heavens..." This shows that Beowulf believes God is the reason he won the fight. He put all his faith in God. Another is when Herot's throne is protected by God. It says, "he never dared to touch king Hrothgar's glorious throne, protected by God-God whose love Grendel could not know." This shows they believed no evil demon could ever know God's love, which is very similar to beliefs in that time.
Beowulf makes a reference to the Christian religion in the passage "For this, this gold, these jewels, I thank our Father in Heaven, Ruler of the Earth." Beowulf is saying that if it was not for God, he would never have found the treasure. At this point he believes in one god, which is part of the Christian religion, instead of many gods, which is part of the pagan religion.
Throughout Beowulf, many pagan beliefs are expressed. When Beowulf says, "when the funeral flames have burned me," he is showing pagan beliefs. He is telling Wiglaf to cremate his body. This scene creates a religious quality because unlike the Christian belief of burying the deceased, the pagan belief is to burn the deceased.
At the end of the story, a religious allusion is present. After Beowulf dies, his twelve men ride on their horses and tell stories about him. This resembles the twelve apostles spreading the word of Christ. This religious reference was used because in this epic, Beowulf was a Christ figure.
In the epic Beowulf, many references are made to the pagan and Christian religions. Before the final battle with the dragon, Beowulf speaks to his men and says, "I mean to stand, not run from his shooting flames, stand till fate decides which one of us wins." This shows that Beowulf has the belief in fate, which comes from the pagan religion.
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