Christianity In Seamus Heaney's Beowulf

Today, many works incorporate religion in order to thrive during their time period and region. The incorporation of religion into literary works has occurred for thousands of years. In Seamus Haney 's Beowulf, a Christian narrator is present in order to spread throughout Anglo-Saxon culture. While the narrative presented in Beowulf is that of the Vikings, the narrator can be identified as Christian, an element that would best appeal to the audience of Anglo-Saxon England. After exploring the historical influence of Christianity on the Anglo-Saxons, an analysis of the first descriptions of Grendel in Seamus Heaney’s translation will reveal that it was best to have a Christian narrator in order for the audience to fully understand and appreciate the poem’s morals and themes.

They practiced a pagan religion in a dominantly Christian continent. During the 6th century, Pope Gregory sent out missionaries to convert people to Roman Christianity. Augustine, the leader of one of the missionaries, came across the Anglo-Saxon people (The spread of Christianity). Slowly, they began to convert, starting with the Kings, but many people rejected Christianity in the beginning because they only knew their old gods. As people began to accept Christianity, many positives came from Christianity (Conversion of the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity). For example, Christianity brought education to the Anglo-Saxon because many of the monks were educated and they taught others. Christianity formed a new way of life for the Anglo-Saxons. A Christian narrator in Beowulf is needed to show God 's power. God 's power is shown through Beowulf when he fights the monsters. Beowulf is dependent on God 's presence, not just his own confidence (Christian & Pagan