Beowulf and Christianity vs. Paganism - Literature review Example

BEOWULF--- CHRISTIANITY VS. PAGANISM Created by an anonymous poet, the remarkable epic poem under the Beowulf is thought to be one of the very first long poems in the history of English Literature, which belongs to the Anglo-Saxon era, the time when Christianity was in its budding in Britain. Written in the old English language by 8th to 11th century C.E, the epic is the most sublime poem preserved from the early period of English Literature, which not only won great applause from all literary circles, but also determined the manner of writing and diction for the future generations to come. The poem contains various religious as well as cultural elements in it; it is therefore, the critics have been in serious doubt whether the poem has been written by an early converted Christian or a pagan on the pattern of ancient Greek and Roman pagan sets of belief. The theme of the poem is heroic one, and reminds the readers the glorious deeds of gallantry displayed by the brave warrior Beowulf for the rescue of a community, inhabiting in his neighborhood, from the awkward clutches of the enormous monster Grendel, by challenging and killing him and his mother under different circumstances and occasions. The poem narrates the epic story in the traditional heroic tone, attributed to Homer and Sophocles of the ancient Greece, and the description of the hero’s valor is also portrayed on the patterns of Greek mythological works of ancient times. Since the author of the poem is unknown, the critics have been in suspicion regarding the religious affiliations of the poet. The story of the poem concentrates on the Germanic people of Scandinavian region, where the existence of monsters was a common cultural trait those days. The poem takes many drastic turns, during the course of its flow, which augments the suspicion of the readers in respect of the faith followed by the poet. In the very beginning of the poem, the celebrated birth of the Danish King Shield Sheafson’s son has been described in a very powerful manner, which reminds the readers the great occasion of the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem narrated in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. “To him an heir was afterward born, a son in his halls, whom heaven sent to favor the folk, feeling their woe that erst they had lacked an earl for leader so long a while; the Lord endowed him, the Wielder of Wonder, with worlds renown.” (Beowulf: Lines 12-17) The poem also views the newly-born child as the heir to the crown of a respectable royal line. Jesus Christ also belonged to one of the most sacred family lines consisted of the holy prophets, saints, philosophers and kings. The account of the ancestors also resembles with the Biblical narration of the holy ancestry. The noble deeds and noteworthy victories of the kings have been portrayed in the patterns of the kings David and Solomon. The speeches made by Beowulf time to time on various occasions also reflect the golden words delivered by Moses during his challenge to the Pharaoh of ancient Egypt in order to save the children of Israel (i.e. House of Jacob) from the Pharaoh’s tyrannical rule. The author has declared the monster Grendel as a descendant of Adam’s disobedient son Cain, a Biblical character, who had killed his brother Abel out of the feelings of utter hatred and jealousy. The monster Grendel serves as the challenge for the peaceful environment under the rule of King Hrothgar; the same has been described in the Bible while drawing out the character of Satan and other rebel angels. In the same way, the appearance of Beowulf in the limelight to combat with the disaster with an iron hand also resembles with the holy Biblical personalities, which rose to the occasion to stop the cruelties of the powerful rulers like Nimrod, Pharaoh, Goliath and others. The depiction of metaphysical performance made by the hero in the poem also supports the opinion that the author was either Christian or was influenced by the Biblical theme of the supernatural powers as well as miracles attributed to the Holy Christ and the angels of God during their encounters with the evils forces. The description of the objects of nature and their creation by Almighty Lord also reveals the very reality that the poem has been written by a Christian. “He sang who knew tales of the early time of man, how the Almighty made the earth, fairest fields enfolded by water, set, triumphant, sun and moon for a light to lighten the land-dwellers, and braided bright the breast of earth with limbs and leaves, made life for all of mortal beings that breathe and move.” (Episode I: Lines 39-44) The poem also contains such traits, by going through which the story looks completely the reflection of pagan faith prevailing in most parts of the ancient world. The Biblical figures maintain very sublime character of head and heart as well as the superb thoughtfulness. They are always selfless, free from any features of low worth, and offer their services only to please their Lord. They have neither any desires of capturing the reign of the government, nor any hunger for pecuniary gains, nor they put their life in danger or jeopardy for the sake of winning applause from the common individuals and human beings. On the contrary, the hero in Beowulf has strong lust to earn great fame, sound reputation and power to rule over others as the reward of his gallant deeds during his services rendered for the community. Further, in Biblical theme, there exists the concept of disloyal and treacherous humans, who serve as the cat’s paw of devils to harm the people of God. Hence, superhuman creatures seldom appear in the Biblical stories to destroy the efforts made by the holy persons of God. On the contrary, the existence of monsters and dragons was an essential trait of the pagans, and the oppressed and fearful humans always waited for some alien for their rescue from the disasters. It is therefore, the poem is declared as the portrayal of pagan culture and civilization of ancient Greece and Rome. In the same way, unlike the Biblical personalities, the pagans did not seek the support of the Lord, Who could save them from troubles and difficulties. Also, there are countless gods and goddesses to give the hero protection and help during his encounter with the mother of the monster Grendel. On the other hand, the Bible narrates that the holy men and their followers only prayed to God for the removal of their woes and worries. Moreover, not only the people of the city, but also the hero Beowulf never seeks the help of the Lord at the eve of fighting with the monsters. In addition, in Abrahamic religions, the savior always belongs to the native oppressed population; on the contrary, the concept of an alien rescuer to perform the Herculean task of saving the city from disaster seems to be the continuity of Sophocles’s great tragedy Oedipus Rex, written by the pagan playwright of ancient Greece. The unparallel powers and physical strength the hero maintains as well as the people’s inability to overcome the monster even collectively indicates the glorious performance of Oedipus Rex on the one hand, and Homer’s hero in Iliad on the other. In the nutshell, though the themes of the poem Beowulf have been a matter of constant debate among the scholars and critics of English literature, yet by studying the poem minutely and making its in-depth analysis, it becomes crystal clear that the account of the poem has been created by a pagan on the foundation of his atheist beliefs and traditions prevailing in his Germanic atmosphere of early Anglo-Saxon era. The elements and characteristics of Christian faith appear just either by chance, or because of the poet’s interaction with the culture in which Christianity was making a sure headway with the passage of time. Hence, it becomes evident that the story of the poem belongs to the pagan life of the Germanic tribes, though the poem itself was created after the conversion of the British pagans to Christianity by 8th or 9th century C.E. REFERENCES: Beowulf (Retrieved in http://www.everypoet.com/archive/poetry/anonymous/Beowulf_episode_1.htm) Read More