Christian Elements in Beowulf
Through the whole of Beowulf, you can find many references to Christianity: that humanity only survives due to the dive protection of God, that everything good in the world comes from God, and that man was made to modest and kind. Yet Beowulf also has powerful pride elements that directly interfere with Christian philosophy. This makes the obvious ego vs. modesty and penance vs. greed divides. Grendel the monster is even said to be descended from “Cain’s clan”, which is an allusion to the biblical Cain and Abel story. Beowulf reminds us of the lessons often seen in Greek tragedies: that too much pride will lead to a tragic fall, but also mentions how wealth that God bestows is meant to shared, a common Christian belief.
In the story Beowulf frequently recognizes God as his defender. When the narrator gives God recognition, saying Beowulf was “...mindful of his mighty strength, the wondrous gifts God had showered on him…”. (ln 1270-1) Additionally God is emphasized by “The Almighty Judge of good deeds and bad, the Lord God, Head of the Heavens and High King of the World...”. (ln 180-3) There is a feeling of divine protection pervading from all of Beowulf's actions. Nevertheless, there is also a great perception that God's shielding needs to be merited; a warrior has to be loyal to his ideals of bravery, honesty, dignity, and modesty. Only when they uphold these principles can they earn God’s protection.
On top of heavenly protection, there is the sensation that all divine riches, be it triumph or fortune, comes from God. For instance, when Beowulf presents the hilt of the sword to Hrothgar. He mentions how God killed the giants by drowning them in a flood “for retribution”, which could be reference to Noah’s Ark. (ln 1693) This pertains to old saying “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away”. This can also be proven by Beowulf’s reasoning for why his home was destroyed was because had “broken [God’s] commandment”. In other words, a king's ‘power’ is only an trick, God has the only true power in the universe. Whatever "pleasure" a person relishes on earth is only attained through God’s blessings, and at anytime he feels you don’t deserve those pleasures anymore he will take them away.
There are numerous other mentions to God and the Christian philosophy. In multiple ways the three creatures Beowulf fights represent the devil. When Beowulf is preparing to brawl with Grendel, he asks God to grant the “glory of victory to whichever side he sees fit.” (ln 686-7) Afterwards when he has pulled off Grendel's arm and he recounts the fight he declares how if God hadn’t helped him his fate would of been “quick and fatal." (ln 1659) He also mentions how the “'Lord of Men allowed him” to hold the blade on the wall that saved him. Half a century later he is faced with a dragon. Beowulf knows that he is “doomed” when he accosts the dragon. (ln 2740). Yet as “Ruler of mankind” he is willing to sacrifice himself for his people.
With his actions, Beowulf can be seen as a sort-of Scandinavian Jesus, as seen when he is betrayed by his comrades during his brawl with the dragon. There are also allusions to the Last Supper and Judas’s betrayal Christ's before his death. Beowulf's plunge into the cursed mere can be parallel to Christ's Harrowing of Hell story. The most comparable part would be how Beowulf gave up his life, like Christ, to save others. So the poem Beowulf really combines Pagan with Christian beliefs, since Beowulf can be seen as person chosen by god that makes miracles happen.
Through the whole of Beowulf, you can find many references to Christianity: that humanity only survives due to the dive protection of God, that everything good in the world comes from God, and that man was made to modest and kind. Yet Beowulf also has powerful pride elements that directly interfere with Christian philosophy. This makes the obvious ego vs. modesty and penance vs. greed divides. Grendel the monster is even said to be descended from “Cain’s clan”, which is an allusion to the biblical Cain and Abel story. Beowulf reminds us of the lessons often seen in Greek tragedies: that too much pride will lead to a tragic fall, but also mentions how wealth that God bestows is meant to shared, a common Christian belief.
In the story Beowulf frequently recognizes God as his defender. When the narrator gives God recognition, saying Beowulf was “...mindful of his mighty strength, the wondrous gifts God had showered on him…”. (ln 1270-1) Additionally God is emphasized by “The Almighty Judge of good deeds and bad, the Lord God, Head of the Heavens and High King of the World...”. (ln 180-3) There is a feeling of divine protection pervading from all of Beowulf's actions. Nevertheless, there is also a great perception that God's shielding needs to be merited; a warrior has to be loyal to his ideals of bravery, honesty, dignity, and modesty. Only when they uphold these principles can they earn God’s protection.
On top of heavenly protection, there is the sensation that all divine riches, be it triumph or fortune, comes from God. For instance, when Beowulf presents the hilt of the sword to Hrothgar. He mentions how God killed the giants by drowning them in a flood “for retribution”, which could be reference to Noah’s Ark. (ln 1693) This pertains to old saying “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away”. This can also be proven by Beowulf’s reasoning for why his home was destroyed was because had “broken [God’s] commandment”. In other words, a king's ‘power’ is only an trick, God has the only true power in the universe. Whatever "pleasure" a person relishes on earth is only attained through God’s blessings, and at anytime he feels you don’t deserve those pleasures anymore he will take them away.
There are numerous other mentions to God and the Christian philosophy. In multiple ways the three creatures Beowulf fights represent the devil. When Beowulf is preparing to brawl with Grendel, he asks God to grant the “glory of victory to whichever side he sees fit.” (ln 686-7) Afterwards when he has pulled off Grendel's arm and he recounts the fight he declares how if God hadn’t helped him his fate would of been “quick and fatal." (ln 1659) He also mentions how the “'Lord of Men allowed him” to hold the blade on the wall that saved him. Half a century later he is faced with a dragon. Beowulf knows that he is “doomed” when he accosts the dragon. (ln 2740). Yet as “Ruler of mankind” he is willing to sacrifice himself for his people.
With his actions, Beowulf can be seen as a sort-of Scandinavian Jesus, as seen when he is betrayed by his comrades during his brawl with the dragon. There are also allusions to the Last Supper and Judas’s betrayal Christ's before his death. Beowulf's plunge into the cursed mere can be parallel to Christ's Harrowing of Hell story. The most comparable part would be how Beowulf gave up his life, like Christ, to save others. So the poem Beowulf really combines Pagan with Christian beliefs, since Beowulf can be seen as person chosen by god that makes miracles happen.