Beowulf

Beowulf was written during the 8th Century in England. During this time, society was slowly moving from paganism to Christianity, and that movement is evident in the poem. The original poem Beowulf was most likely entirely a pagan work. However, the Christian overlay that was added in later years now dominates the text. According to the rewritten poem that involves the Christian aspects, Beowulf would not have even survived the battles without the Lord's help. So therefore, the work is now a primarily Christian poem, with the Christian elements being extremely necessary to the poem's story. It is evident that the Christian ideas were merely inserted into the poem rather than a part of the original work, because they are often intertwined with pagan ideas. In addition, there are constant references to God, and how He assisted Beowulf in his endeavors, as well as numerous parallels that can be found between Beowulf and Jesus Christ.

Many of the Christian ideas are integrated into the text, among clearly pagan ideas. The most evident intertwining involves the idea of fate, as opposed to the idea of God's will. Many times throughout Beowulf, the author will reference fate, while speaking of God and other Christian ideas. For instance, Beowulf states, "As God's beacon brightened the East/I spied a cape across the calming seas/a wall to windward. So I was spared/for fate often favors an unmaked man/if he keeps his courage." (505-509). Another reference appears when Hrothgar attributes the success of Beowulf directly to Christ, but also the end of monsters and devils on Earth, which is a more pagan idea. In addition, when Beowulf battles the nine sea monsters in his youth, the text references both fate and God as the reason for his success. When he is battling the first of the monsters, he asks fate to help him find the heart of the beast, however he shortly thereafter asks the Lord for help in winning the battle. Although some ideas in the story are intermingled with pagan concepts, there are also many references to the Christian God that stand alone.

Throughout the poem, various references are made to the Christian God, and how he assisted Beowulf on his endeavors. The first reference comes in the very beginning of the poem when it is written that Scyld Scefing was sent an heir from God to "lighten all hearts" (13). From lines 146-163, the poem is solely about how those who do not trust in God will not survive in battles, nor will they experience happiness. The poem reads, "But happy is he who trusts in heaven/and lives to his last in the Lord's keeping" (162-163). Many references are also made to God's will and how the people must abide by it. When Beowulf is explaining how he is going to overcome Grendel, he explains, "Whomever death takes, his doom is doubtless/decreed by the Lord" (390-391). This statement explains how the people believed that when someone passed away their time was chosen by God. God's will is again is discussed on lines 610-612 when Beowulf says, "if he sees fit to fight without weapons/May God in His wisdom grant whom He wills/blessing in battle." That statement explains how Beowulf will fight without weapons in his battles against Grendel because the Lord will decide the outcome of the battle anyways. Beowulf also explains to his people that "Hrunting failed me, though finely fashioned/but God vouchsafed me" (1459-1460). Therefore, it was not the weapons or Beowulf's strength, but it was the protection of the Lord that saved him.

Finally, Beowulf's character shows many parallels to Jesus Christ, the son of God in Christian teaching. First of all, Beowulf empathizes with the Danes and understands their plight under the oppression of Grendel just as Jesus Christ was understanding and sympathetic to the Jews while they were persecuted. Just like the Jewish people in Jesus' time needed him as a Savior to free them from oppression, the Danes needed a hero in the form of Beowulf to save them. In addition, Beowulf and Grendel seem to be parallels of Jesus and Satan, exemplifying the age old Christian belief of good versus evil. Grendel is described as a descendant of Cain, who, in the Bible, killed his older brother Abel. When Beowulf immerses himself in the water in which Grendel lives, it mirrors the Christian rite of Baptism in which the water purifies and cleanses a person of evil. As Beowulf battles Grendel underwater, all of the Danes wait patiently for his return. However, upon the ninth hour, they give up hope and depart, with only Wiglaf remaining. The ninth hour in Christian thought, is the hour that Jesus Christ died on the cross. When he rises from the water, he has overcome evil and death, much like Christ's rising from the tomb. Upon Beowulf's death "twelve of his earls telling their tales" were left behind. This is reminiscent of the twelve apostles who were left behind to continue the work of Jesus and spread His word. When Beowulf is buried by the Geats, careful preparation is taken in making his tomb. This parallels the work that was put in to preparing the final resting place of Jesus.

The poem Beowulf was written during a dynamic time in English history. The movement from paganism to Christianity was in full swing, and is evident in the literature of the time. Beowulf was most likely a fully pagan work when it was first written, but the changing times urged editors and translators to insert a Christian overlay that now dominates the work. Without the Christian overtones, the poem would not function as it does. The numerous references to biblical ideas and the parallels between Beowulf and Jesus Christ are both equally important to the work in the form it appears in today.