Chrstianity Influences in Beowulf Essay

Christian Influences in Beowulf

The epic poem Beowulf is a story of an ambitious hero named Beowulf. In the story of Beowulf there are many Christian influences that are in the text. Beowulf himself has no set religion throughout this story but many Christian values find their way into the poem. This epic allows the reader to recognize and view the religious and symbolic references their own way. The Christian influences that stood out within this story were self-sacrifice for the good of others, loyalty, and also the sympathy for those less fortunate.

An example of Christianity found within Beowulf is how Beowulf relates to Jesus. Beowulf demonstrates that he is willing to sacrifice his own life for the well being of others. When Beowulf fought Grendel, and Grendels mother he put his own life on the line for the sake of the Danes. This is similar to Jesus crucifixion, in which he gave up his life in order to save mankind. So Beowulf risking his life for the Danes is a direct comparison with Jesus sacrificing himself for all of mankind. The Christian value of self-sacrifice is a very important to the religion because without it Christianity would not have existed.

Another Christian value that was quite evident throughout the story was the value of loyalty. When Beowulf traveled into the dragons lair to fight the beast he took a group of soldiers with him who he thought would be helpful. When the fight between Beowulf and the dragon turned bad all of the warriors except a young soldier by the name of Wiglaf left him to die. Even though Wiglaf was scared he stayed loyal to his king until the very end. Wiglaf showed his loyalty when he said, I remember how we sat in the mead-hall, drinking and boasting of how brave wed be when Beowulf needed us, he who gave us these swords and armor: all of us swore to repay him, when the time came, kindness for kindness with our lives, if he needed them (Beowulf Poet, lines 708-713) This is like when the apostles stuck beside Jesus Christ even though the government was persecuting him. The comparison between the loyalty of Wiglaf and the apostles confirms that Christianity is present in the story.

Yet another piece of Christian influence that is located in the story is the sympathy Beowulf has for the less fortunate. Beowulf helped the Danish people by killing off the horrible creature that was terrorizing the mead hall, Herot. Beowulf was a great warrior and he understood that the Danes were in need of his assistance. Therefore, Beowulf came to their rescue and saved the Danes from the viscous monster, Grendel.

This helpful nature is very similar to the acts that Jesus Christ performed on the less fortunate. Jesus would often heal the sick, diseased, blind, deaf, and handicapped. So it was like Jesus would kill the monsters within those people who were less fortunate.

In Conclusion, the three Christian values that were most evident and jumped off the page was self-sacrifice for the good of others, loyalty, and sympathy for those less fortunate. By fighting the creatures Beowulf sacrificed himself for the Danish people. Wiglaf was loyal to Beowulf by sticking by his side after the other men fled. And Beowulf showed sympathy for the Danish people by killing off the creatures. This epic gives the reader a chance to interpret the story in their own way and recognize their own values.