Good vs. Evil in Beowulf Essay - 931 Words

In the epic poem Beowulf, the struggle between good and evil reveals its omnipresence in even the oldest of tales. The many allusions and symbols throughout the story relate to Christianity and other Pagan beliefs. By looking at them, it becomes apparent that the author of Beowulf believed that the constant war between good and evil is not only fought by the common man but also in the ranks of their highest esteemed rulers and warriors, and even in their dreaded nightmares where monsters lurk and wait for the death of man. Beowulf was written during the budding of Christianity in England, when it was newly forming. In the story there are obvious references to Christian rituals. The very opening page is an allusion to the Creation, also†¦show more content†¦This Christian reference symbolizes that when Satan disrupts the lives of God’s people, the people call upon Jesus to save them and stop the madness. When Beowulf enters the kingdom of Hrothgar, the procession is si milar to that of Jesus’ entrance to Jerusalem. There is a great feast where they celebrate Beowulf’s already many triumphs. Before he leaves for Denmark though, Beowulf needs a crew and he chooses â€Å"the mightiest men he could find, the bravest and best of the Geats†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (120-121) as is the same when Jesus carefully chose his disciples. When Beowulf and Grendel finally fight in Herot, the battle is similar to that of Jesus and Satan’s exchange of words in the garden of Gethsemane. Satan has tempted many men, but has never come across one so stubborn in his beliefs. Satan is unable to move Jesus and this shows Jesus’ triumph over the ultimate evil. Grendel, when he comes to Herot that fateful night is expecting an easy meal, but instead is thrown in face to face with a man of incredible strength and fighting skill. â€Å"That shepherd of evil, guardian of crime, knew at once that nowhere on earth had he met a man whose hands were harder†¦this was a different Herot than the hall he had emptied.†(433-439). The cave where Grendel and his mother live represents their heritage and direct association to Satan and evil. As descendants ofShow MoreRelatedGood vs. Evil in Beowulf1456 Words   |  6 PagesGood vs. Evil in Beowulf Beowulf is longest and greatest early Anglo-Saxon poem which was composed in England sometime in the eighth century AD by a literate scop. This poem was created in the oral poetic tradition. This poem is considered as an epic because it is a long narrative poem which composed in an elevated style, dealing with the glories of hero (Tolkien 24). The setting of this epic is the six century in Denmark and southern Sweden. The protagonist, Beowulf is a noble warrior representsRead MoreGood Vs Evil In Beowulf1618 Words   |  7 Pages Bertha 2 Caroline Bertha Mrs. Morris English 11 28 August 2017 Beowulf The Anglo-Saxon people seemed very spiritual. They seemed to support proper burials of the dead, as seen when Shield passed away at the beginning of the story. They tried to live by peace and only get involved in conflict when necessary. Some similarities between their culture and our culture wouldRead MoreGood vs. Evil Found in Beowulf807 Words   |  3 PagesGood vs. Evil Found in Beowulf In the story of Beowulf, there are many different themes found. Many people argue the main theme found in this story. This has been argued for a very long time and will go on for many more years to come. Although many themes in this story stick out and a main theme will never be accepted, one main theme is very noticeable in the story of Beowulf. The main theme found in Beowulf is good versus evil. 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One of the reasons of why the book â€Å"Beowulf† is so well known is because of the fact that it is one of the first stories of good vs. evil, or light vs. dark. In modern good and evil stories, there are super heroes with super powers. They use these powers for the good of the world and to help innocent people. In most cases there is a villain