Beowulf As Christian Allegory :: Epic of Beowulf Essays

Beowulf As Christian AllegoryBeowulfs story is somewhat of an legend in which he is depicted as the Christ figure. The theme of Beowulf is a contrast of good and evil which is manifest in both Christian and pagan elements Beowulf represents good, while Grendel, his fuss, and the cream of tartar represent evil. The first monster our hired gun, Beowulf, faces is Grendel. Grendel is state to be a descendant of Cain. Unhappy creature (Grendel), he lived for a time in the home of the monsters race, after perfection had condemned them as kinfolk of Cain (Norton, 28). Cain is the son of Eve, the woman who bore sin into the world. A connection, however vague, tooshie be do between the maternal relations of Eve and Cain and Grendel and his mother. Grendels mother can be considered to personify mans finalize from grace and Grendel himself might embody sin. Furthermore, the dragon Beowulf battles can be say to be a picture of Satan the smooth hateful dragon who flies at night wrapped i n flame (56). When veneering Grendel, Beowulf relies on God alone to protect him, saying, may wise God, sacred Lord, assign glory on whichever hand fascinatems good to Him (36). When Beowulf tears hit Grendels arm, Hrothgar remarks, I endured much from the foe, many griefs from Grendel (39). It could be said that the Christian foe is sin, which causes much grief.Against Grendels mother, original sin, Beowulf becomes the Christian soldier. When Beowulf struggles against Grendels mother, God grants him a precious gift The Wielder of Men granted me that I should see hanging on the wall a fair, ancient, great- stigma most often He has guided the man without friends that I should wield the weapon (Norton, 48). This great sword is further described as a victory-blessed blade, an old sword made by the giants the work of giants (Norton, 47). The sword used to slay Grendels mother is work of her ancestral giants, who were godly until they fell from grace. From (Cain) sprang all bad bre eds, trolls and elves and monsters in addition the giants who for a long time strove with God (Norton, 28). Therefore, the sword was god-forged and godly. Here the hero is using the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God to prevail (The Book of Ephesians 6.17, Bible).In his battle with the dragon (which may represent Satan) Beowulf is martyred, losing his life in the of the putting to death the dragon.