Iacobus Posted September 7, 2004 Share Posted September 7, 2004 This was my English essay and because I am a nerd I am going to post it. Tell me what you think, lol. *Beowulf as an allegory of the life and death of Christ* The epic Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf, likely composed by a Catholic missionary, is infused with many statements on Christian belief and to some extent could be read as an allegory of Christ. The poem could be broken into four parts, the baptism, life, death and impact. Both the lives of Beowulf and Christ are highlighted with the baptism. Christ headed to John the Baptist to be baptized in the river Jordan, whereas Hrothgar baptizes Beowulf when he battles the evil facing the Danes. It is a time for Beowulf to prove himself. His response to the plea for help from Hrothgar is his calling. He proves himself by fighting and killing both Grendel and Grendel’s mother. These slayings are also part of his life and ministry. Christ, as we are told in the Gospel of Luke, cast demons out of Mary Magdalene and other people. He freed them of their sins and demons. Beowulf, in a way, does this to the Danish state. The Danes were under the attacks of sin and evil manifest in the monster Grendel. When Beowulf kills Grendel, he is exorcising one demon from the Danes, much as Christ did with Mary Magdalene. Beowulf than defeats Grendel’s mother, another manifestation of sin and evil, under the water in her cave. Again, Beowulf frees the Danes from sin and evil much as the ministry of Christ did. After ruling Geatland for fifty years, Beowulf’s kingdom is challenged. A dragon is awoken by a thane who stole a chalice from the dragon’s treasure. Beowulf seeks out to kill the dragon. In religious art, the devil is often represented as a dragon or serpent. Beowulf seeking out to kill the dragon is much like the mission of Christ to go out and kill the triumph of sin. In addition, Christ was betrayed by Judas for earthly profit. The thane stole from the dragon for the value of the chalice. Both Beowulf and Christ were betrayed by those close to them for temporal items. When Beowulf sought out the dragon, he said he would slay it alone but brought his twelve thanes with him. Beowulf engaged the dragon and was nearly defeated. Wiglaf, one of the thanes, called to the other to be close to Beowulf in his time of need. The other eleven were scared and ran off to hide. Wiglaf, a symbol for Saint John, went to Beowulf’s side. This is much like what happened at the time of Christ arrest and crucifixion. Of the twelve apostles, all but Saint John left Christ on the cross out of fear of death. This allegorical reading, on first sight, breaks down at and after the resurrection. However, on closer inspection it holds true. The letters of Paul and the Revelation of John demonstrates that the early Church was having problems after Christ left. John in his letters to the seven churches in Revelation tells them to stay true to the teachings of Christ. This is much like what happened in Geatland after the death of Beowulf. Many of the people failed to obey what Beowulf left for the Geats. Soon they were taken over by other tribes, similar the churches were taken over by the influences of the world. The religious convictions of the author of the surviving manuscript of the epic Beowulf influence the poem with symbols to the life, death and resurrection of Christ. There are symbols in the numbers, the monsters and the actions. Beowulf is easily a Christian allegory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colleen Posted September 7, 2004 Share Posted September 7, 2004 Wow, that's really interesting. Very well written! Tolkien loved Beowulf. Just another random fact that you probably really wanted to know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iacobus Posted September 7, 2004 Author Share Posted September 7, 2004 [quote name='Colleen' date='Sep 6 2004, 11:32 PM'] Wow, that's really interesting. Very well written! Tolkien loved Beowulf. Just another random fact that you probably really wanted to know. [/quote] See why I don't like LOTRs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colleen Posted September 7, 2004 Share Posted September 7, 2004 [quote name='Iacobus' date='Sep 6 2004, 11:33 PM'] See why I don't like LOTRs? [/quote] Aww, you just need to give it another chance. If **** liked LOTR, would you read it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oik Posted September 7, 2004 Share Posted September 7, 2004 [quote]See why I don't like LOTRs?[/quote] No, why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
immaculata Posted September 7, 2004 Share Posted September 7, 2004 ugh.. Beowulf. *shudders at memories of Brit Lit last year* :skitzo: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmom Posted September 7, 2004 Share Posted September 7, 2004 I'll have to reread it. I only read the abridged children's version last year for our history lesson... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theculturewarrior Posted September 7, 2004 Share Posted September 7, 2004 [quote name='Colleen' date='Sep 6 2004, 11:32 PM'] Wow, that's really interesting. Very well written! Tolkien loved Beowulf. Just another random fact that you probably really wanted to know. [/quote] Tolkien formed one of the most enduring critical theories for interpretting Beowulf. Unfortunately...I don't know it! But if your university subscribes to JSTOR...you can probably find it on there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelly_freak Posted September 7, 2004 Share Posted September 7, 2004 dude Jacob, you got some mad writing skills! I'll have to re-read it, I read it last year in Brit Lit and I could never really pay attention in that class Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iacobus Posted September 7, 2004 Author Share Posted September 7, 2004 [quote name='Colleen' date='Sep 6 2004, 11:36 PM'] Aww, you just need to give it another chance. If **** liked LOTR, would you read it? [/quote] LOL! Well I want to say no. But I know that is a lie. LOL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VeraMaria Posted September 7, 2004 Share Posted September 7, 2004 [quote name='Colleen' date='Sep 7 2004, 01:32 AM'] Tolkien loved Beowulf. Just another random fact that you probably really wanted to know. [/quote] Really? Cool I love Tolkien Knowing he loved Beowulf will probably make me feel better about reading it this year Fun fun English year ahead....*continues typing essay on Arthur Miller's "the Crucible"* :ph34r: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iacobus Posted September 8, 2004 Author Share Posted September 8, 2004 [quote name='VeraMaria' date='Sep 7 2004, 05:31 PM'] Knowing he loved Beowulf will probably make me feel better about reading it this year [/quote] I found Beowulf kinda of intresting because of the mixture of Pagan and Catholic beliefs in it and the alleorgical reading. LOL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VeraMaria Posted September 8, 2004 Share Posted September 8, 2004 You know, I would have complimented your writing style if I didn;t think it would make that already over-swollen head burst Mr. Ego Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iacobus Posted September 8, 2004 Author Share Posted September 8, 2004 [quote name='VeraMaria' date='Sep 7 2004, 08:27 PM'] You know, I would have complimented your writing style if I didn;t think it would make that already over-swollen head burst Mr. Ego [/quote] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colleen Posted September 10, 2004 Share Posted September 10, 2004 Guess who has to write an essay about Beowulf tonight. -_- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now