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What Are The Christian Symbols In Beowulf

2142 Words9 Pages

Beowulf is one of the greatest poems that exhibit the characteristics of conversion in a pagan society. There are beginnings of change, evident in the poem, from a pagan history to an acceptance of a new Christian meaning. This history of a pagan hero was infused with Christian symbols and morals to help smooth the conversion for pagans. When studying Beowulf, it is important to uncover the meanings and symbols of what Grendel and his mother represent in a Christian society with reference to the pagan society, as well as, look at the final fight between the dragon and Beowulf and Beowulf’s pride. History is a major part of understanding Christian symbols apparent in Beowulf and understanding his actions in a pagan society. Medieval …show more content…

While the second part does not reference the Old Testament specifically, it does contain a Christian moral: Pride is death of man. Hrothgar foreshadows Beowulf’s downfall by saying “Since God has granted him glory and wealth / He forgets the future, unmindful of Fate / But it comes to pass in the day appointed / His feeble body withers and fails.” (II. 1639-42). The only thing a man can be certain of is death, the rest is given to him by God, is the inclination of Christian morals. Beowulf is constantly seeking after worldly goods and Hrothgar specifically warned him that his part in the world would come to an end, like all great men. It is Beowulf’s pride that brings him to confrontation with the dragon. It is the pride symbolized by the acceptance of the single cup that forces him to battle with the dragon. His pride is also inherent in that he will allow no one to help him fight, he thinks his aging body is able to overcome the dragon because of his legacy with Grendel and his mother. Both the dragon and Beowulf refuse the counsel of God and rely on their past accomplishments and neither succeeds. Beowulf’s prosperity and title was his because God willed it so and the fact that he was so prideful was a sin in itself. Pride is also inherent in the dragon because he begins to kill Beowulf’s people in order to find the single missing

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