Allusions In Beowulf Analysis

In Beowulf he is not interested in being Christian or following the Christian morals, Beowulf is stuck in between his Christian backbone to help the people and his selfish prize of paganism. Even though he wants respect from Christians he has a passion and drive for fighting.

Beowulf is an old story that originated from the Anglo-Saxon time period. It was often told by a Scop, a man that memorized stories and told them to the entire tribe, and each story often had a message that was supposed to be given to the warriors or the king. These stories were often told to younger generations for it to be remembered, and every time it was passed down, it had some changes made to it. It was finally recorded by two monks. Since then, there have been many movies of Beowulf, with the most recent being made in 2007 as an animated movie with somewhat related plot, but it had many revisions to make the movie mostly different from the poem itself, and with those changes it shows how our society is different from the Anglo-Saxons. In the Beowulf movie and poem, there are similarities and differences in Beowulf himself, religion, and themes, which reveals themes that reflect both Anglo Saxon and modern societies.

The epic poem “Beowulf”, translated by Burton Raffel, focuses on a hero by the name of Beowulf who goes on a quest to rescue King Hrothgar and his people from an egregious monster by the name of Grendel. This Anglo-Saxon tale gives insight into the values and beliefs of the people from whom the story originated. Their war-centered ideology and views on loyalty and courage were the principles that the Anglo-Saxon culture was founded upon. While warfare was a focal point in their lifestyle, it was far from a savage, barbaric state of fighting. Honor and prestige were bestowed upon those who died during battle and selflessness for fellow warriors was a fundamental belief. Boasting and self-possession were another common custom of the Anglo-Saxons. (“Anglo-Saxon Warfare Group”). Beowulf represents a quintessential Anglo-Saxon hero through his confident poise, his willingness for self-sacrifice, and his tenacity through near-impossible odds.

In the Anglo-Saxon poem “Beowulf”, the author’s used multiple different literary devices, three in particularly stuck out throughout the entire story, being alliteration, kenning, and imagery; the literary devices were used to connect the story, and help the reader understand the life of Beowulf, and emphasize the parts that were not clear throughout the story.

“...So massive no ordinary man could lift its carved and decorated length. He drew it from its scabbard, broke the chain on its hilt, and then, savage, now, angry and desperate, lifted it high over his head and struck with all the strength he had left, caught her in the neck and cut it through, broke bones and all….” Pg72. With ancient understandings and tales in the early times, Beowulf sings of times long forgotten, the times where the only tombs men sought was the battlefield, and their legacies, glory from the most extraordinary of feats. Eras filled with monsters, demons and selfless devotion towards the Glory of God.

Being an epic hero, Beowulf was very brave and battled many immortal creatures. One monster he came across was Grendel. “Conceived by a pair of the monster born of Cain, murderous creatures banned by God..,”(44), Hrothgar’s men would say. This is a reference from the Bible, showing the evil portrayed in the monster Grendel. This monster went to Herot and killed thirty men just because he was hungry. The battle between the good and evil was vigorous, but

A hero does not fight for fame and glory but for the greater good. A hero is someone who goes through adversity to help others in desperate times. A hero fights evil, and defends people. Beowulf should be considered a hero because he is a strong, brave warrior who defended his people and slayed evil monsters.

The story of Beowulf successfully follows every step of an Archetypal Hero Quest; the hero, Beowulf, answers a call, makes a decision, prepares, faces obstacles, reaches a climax, and returns home. Beowulf is met with three large battles within Beowulf, first with Grendel, then with Grendel’s mother, and his last fatal battle, with a dragon. Each battle carries aspects that add to the Hero Quest but do not fully create one until all are together.

elements found in Beowulf and how this depicted culture in the early medieval ages. Broadly

The poem remarks a biblical reference as “Grendel … A kindred of Cain” first surfaces. Moreover, the poem often alludes to God as well as the worlds of Heaven and Hell further elucidating the Anglo Saxon views. Beowulf clearly demonstrates his acknowledgement of God countless times: In fact, Beowulf could well have been slayed by Grendel’s fiendish mother had “God not saved him [Beowulf].” The presence of religious influences are reinstated by the glut of glorifications and innuendos of Christianity and the concept of God within the Anglo Saxon society. Even the mighty King Hrothgar depicts these values showing his scarce concern for material objects “Sharing the gifts God had bestowed on him” signifying his compassion, a requisite for Christian

The conventions of an epic tale consist of allusions, archetypes, foils, symbols, and parallels. The use of the literary devices of an epic tale are strewn throughout the plot of The Natural and are utilized very well throughout the movie. The Natural, starring Robert Redford as Roy Hobbs, demonstrates the same examples of allusions, archetypes, foils, symbols, and parallels as the classic epic tale Beowulf.

A god amongst men. Monster bowed their decapitated heads to Beowulf, the mightiest of Geats. This 6th century story took a powerful Geat by the name of Beowulf, who answered the melancholic call of the king of the Danes, Hrothgar, and ruler of a victimized Denmark. With the eighteen strongest Geats, Beowulf crossed the Baltic to do battle with Hrothgar’s fiercest horrors. The progenitor of storytellers describe Beowulf as a heroic and valiant warrior, a champion of Christ, with the dauntlessness of an immortal man using dichotomy and cacophonous, euphonious, and especially connotative diction.

If you haven’t noticed, there are a lot of religious references in Beowulf. Their affection for God is greatly elaborated in the text. It is stated in the text, “King Hrothgar’s glorious throne, protected by God’ that piece of evidence concludes to my idea that religion was important to their people. Another example would be the nobel Queen of Danes, Welthow. She among all the people was subtle to boast on Beowulf. Instead, Wealthow paised God for “answering her prayers.” She knew that Beowulf was the hope of defeating the demon-like Grendel, but she pasied God for bringing Beowulf to them.

Beowulf also praises God, trusts in him, and always seems willing to submit to Gods will this juxtaposition is found throughout the poem. Hrothgar even tells Beowulf “It is wondrous to tell how the mighty God in the strength of his spirit sends wisdom to mankind and grants position and authority-he holds dominion over everything” (Unknown 60). The two belief systems are integrated in this poem and in some ways can coexist, but in many ways they cause conflict. The warrior culture that is present at the time of “Beowulf” dictates that it is always better to retaliate than to mourn on a loss. This warrior culture value is presented each time Beowulf fight Grendel, Grendel’s mom, and the dragon. Christianity advocates a peaceful forgiving attitude towards enemies. Throughout the poem there never seems to be any mention of a

The first point in this essay about how beowulf is an allgory for salvation is. Salvvation means being saved from certain death, in the Bible Jesus is the savior from the Devil and sin. Just as beowulf is the savior of the Danes from Grendel and Grendels mother and the savior of the Geats from the dragon.