Christianity vs. Pagan Beliefs in Beowulf Essay

Although there ar many examples of ethnic beliefs in the rime Beowulf, the poetry points more toward a Christian influence and meaning. Beowulf is seen as a God to the Geat people, and they turn to the ecclesiastic to save them from unworthy. Grendel is portrayed as a monster of Cain and lives underground. He represents the darkness of the non-Jew beliefs, as well as Hell. The meshing betwixt good and evil between Christianity and Pagan beliefs is go along throughout the poetry.Hrothgar and the Danes seem to be protected by the Almighty. Grendel would not go near Hrothgars throne because it was protected by God. When Hrothgar is talking to Beowulf in front Beowulf goes to fight Grendel, he says, Surely the Lord Almighty could stop his madness, incommode his lust Beowulf also says that God will decide who dies. They believe in God and his power to control the outcome. Grendel was created after the Lord Almighty legion out all of the demons and the demons split into for ms of evil, forever opposing the Lords Will. This would explain why Grendel was powered by the hatred of God. Whenever he terrorized Herot, or so people turned to the Devil for help. They were heathens, and prayed to the old stone perfections. Up until his battle with Beowulf, Grendel could kill his victims easily. However, Beowulf had the Lord on his side and was more powerful, easily kill Grendel. This proves that Christianity was more powerful than the Pagan beliefs.Grendel and his mother represent Pagan beliefs in the poem Beowulf. The main example is that they live underground, and the lake above their home was set forth as a fiery flame. This is just like Hell. Grendel is referred to as a shepherd of evil, guardian of crime in the poem. For twelve geezerhood Herot stands deserted because of the fear Grendel put in people. He represents all things evil and malicious. Towards the end of the battle between Beowulf and Grendel, the poem stated that you could hear shrieks of t he Almightys enemy in the darkness.Grendel is also referred to as hells captive before he dies. This makes it seem like Grendel did not rent to be evil, evil chose him. All of the kennings refer to Grendel and are a touch off of Pagan beliefs. Grendels mother was the same way. Whenever she battled Beowulf, she could not be hurt in her home. Her evil character was her shield. Then, the Holy God sent him conquest and gave judgement for truth and right. When Grendels mother was also slain, there was a light as bright as Heavens hold candle. Once again, Christianity all overcomes Pagan beliefs.Beowulf often refers to fame and says that is all he wants. This is a Pagan belief. Wryd is also a Pagan belief and is talked about in the poem as well. Wryd means fate, and Beowulf believes that fate will determine who wins the battle. Although he believes in God and has confidence in His existence, he also has a some Pagan characteristics. One of these is greed. To Christians, greed is pu nishable by sin. Beowulf is extremely covetous for fame and fortune. He genuinely does want to save his people, but he wants them to regain his name more than that. Grendel and his mother often refer to revenge and the drinking of blood, which is also a Pagan belief.There has been much debate over whether the author of Beowulf meant for the poem to be a Christian poem, or was primitively a Paganistic poem that has turned into a Christian story. There are many influences of both Pagan views and Christian views in the character of Beowulf. He is seen as a Paganistic superhero, but also as a god to the Geat people. Grendel and his mother are seen as monsters, but with human qualities, which is a Pagan view. However, the poem claims that God decided their fate and that is why they were slain. Therefore, the conflict between Pagan and Christianity beliefs is not really ever solved in the poem itself.