Christianity And Pagansim In Beowulf

The epic poem Beowulf, written in the Eighth Century, is predominantly written based on pagan beliefs. It is evident, as the story traveled by word of mouth, many Christian beliefs were added. Christianity, at the time this epic was written, was on a steady incline. Many missionaries were traveling all over England preaching the word and leaving their mark. Beowulf can be analyzed for both its pagan motifs- fate, superhuman behavior, reparation, and many gods- …

…of the Anglo-Saxon people, their beliefs, and their customs. The Christian additions represent the conversion many of the Anglo-Saxon people were making to the Christian faith at the period in which Beowulf was written. The pagan and Christian overtones directly reflect the society of the Anglo-Saxons, and the work Beowulf directly reflects this concept. Without the influences of both paganism and Christianity, Beowulf’s story and parallels would greatly be lacking sufficient meaning and depth.