Langland-Hayes 1

Kelsey Langland-Hayes

Dr. Elam

ENGL 211, British Literature: Middle Ages through the 18th Century

20 October 2018

Beowulf: A Symbol for Christ

John 3:17 declares, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,

but to save the world through him” (New International Version). God sent His Son, Jesus Christ,

into the world to rescue mankind. The Scriptures offer countless examples and verses that

display Christ’s perfect character. The qualities of His character include, but are not limited to,

His generous giving, His never-ending kindness, and His unmerited favor. The main character in

Beowulf, Beowulf, exhibits some of these characteristics of Jesus Christ and experiences similar

situations as Jesus Christ. This literary work illustrates character traits such as a God-given

purpose and exaltation, generous giving, resemblances to the crucifixion, and sacrificial,

savior-like qualities. As a result of the Christ-like qualities the poem describes, Beowulf presents

Beowulf as a symbol for Christ.

Fitting the role of God’s agent and giving the glory to God for his triumphs, this work

portrays Beowulf as a type of Christ. Whilst Beowulf never claims to fulfill this role, Hrothgar,

king of the Danes, argues otherwise. According to Edward B. Irving, Jr., writer of “The Nature of

Christianity in Beowulf,” “Hrothgar invariably sees Beowulf as an agent sent by God expressly

to rescue him from disaster and humiliation” (10). In other words, Hrothgar views Beowulf as a

messenger placed on the earth by God Himself. Likewise, John 17:3 points out, “Now this is

eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” God
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sent both Beowulf and Jesus Christ as His messengers and agents. In addition to this, Jesus

Christ and Beowulf give their glory to God. Richard Bodek emphasizes how Beowulf’s “victory

would have been impossible, save for the grace of God” (130). Realizing that his successes can

only come through completing God’s work, in Beowulf, Beowulf proclaims that God “‘will give

war-glory / to whichever side He thinks the right’” (686b-687). If God’s will is for Beowulf to

have success, then Beowulf will have success. Making claims about Himself in John 8:50, Jesus

says, “‘I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge.’”

Jesus and Beowulf return the glory to God when they receive glory for their accomplishments.

Beowulf portrays Beowulf as a form of Christ by the manner in which his character resembles an

agent of God and returns the glory to God. Beyond fulfilling the role as an agent of God,

Beowulf’s generosity resembles Christ’s giving nature.

Because of Beowulf’s distribution of his treasures, he exhibits qualities of Christ. Joseph

E. Marshall affirms how the anonymous poet of Beowulf identifies “Beowulf’s ideal lordship by

describing his penchant for dispensing treasure” (4). Throughout the text, Beowulf gives treasure

to those who assist him on his journey (Marshall 4-5). After receiving treasures from Hrothgar,

for instance, Beowulf decides to present them to King Hygelac. Beowulf declares that “‘the son

of Healfdene / gave me [treasures] at my own choice, / which I wish, great king, to bring to

you’” (Beowulf 2146b-2148). Conveying his generous heart, Beowulf manifests his Christ-like

attitude toward wealth. Sitting on a mountainside, in Matthew 5:42, Jesus teaches about the

importance of giving and lending to those in need. Similarly, in Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus tells a

parable about bags of gold. This parable illustrates the significance of dispensing treasures to

one’s servants. The Scriptures demonstrate Christ’s generous attitude toward giving.
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Furthermore, William Reynolds explicitly states that when it comes to the rewards Beowulf may

traditionally receive as a hero, “Beowulf's actions are basically unselfish” (31). Generosity is a

characteristic that is evident within Beowulf’s character. Sharing this selfless quality of generous

giving and wealth distribution with Christ, Beowulf presents Beowulf as a type of Christ.

Additionally, Beowulf’s similar experiences to Christ portray him as a mode of Christ.

One of the most significant events in Scripture is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

During Christ’s crucifixion, a darkness lasted from the sixth to the ninth hour (Whallon 83).

Soon after, Jesus commends His spirit and the temple curtain tears. In a similar manner, William

Whallon writes, “At the ninth hour too Beowulf is still hidden from view in the mere,” which

makes Beowulf “a type of Christ resurrected” (83-84). Like Christ, Beowulf shares a similar

experience to Christ as described in the three Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

When the men discuss the idea of Beowulf not returning from the lair of the monsters, his “ninth

hour came” (Beowulf 1600a). Portraying Beowulf as a symbol for Christ, the poet illustrates

these similarities both through Beowulf’s experiences and his savior-like qualities.

Based on Beowulf’s sacrificial and savior-like qualities, this poem portrays him as a type

of Christ. In Beowulf, Beowulf becomes a type of savior and a form of Christ for the Danes.

Tormenting the Danes for twelve years, Grendel is a descendent of Cain, the first murderer.

Beowulf, an agent sent by God, enters the story to save the people. Over the course of this

literary work, Beowulf fights Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and a dragon. Beowulf’s character

seeks to protect the people and to rescue them from all evil that comes their way. Portraying

Beowulf as a sort of protector, this poem emphasizes that Beowulf’s will is God’s will. Hrothgar,

the protector of the Danes, declares that “‘Holy God / in the fullness of mercy has sent’”
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Beowulf to rescue them from “‘Grendel’s terror’” (Beowulf 381b-384a). Beowulf, a savior-like

character sent by God, offers to give up his life for the people in order to fight off this evil. As

for Christ, John 3:16 expresses, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,

that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Giving up his life for the

sake of humanity, Christ manifests this perfect, selfless, never-ending love. Because of the Fall

of mankind, darkness and evil lurks over the earth. However, in John 12:46, Jesus cries out, “‘I

have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.’”

Jesus Christ, the light of the world, was sent by the Father to rescue mankind from the darkness

and evil that resides over the earth. Beowulf depicts Beowulf as a symbol for Christ since

Beowulf and Jesus Christ share these sacrificial and savior-like qualities.

The poet of Beowulf portrays Beowulf as a mode of Christ by the God-given purpose and

exaltation, generous giving, resemblances to the crucifixion, and sacrificial, savior-like qualities

illustrated in this literary work. Similar to Jesus Christ, God sent Beowulf as His agent and

messenger on the earth. Even though Beowulf deserves glory from the triumphs he has

accomplishing God’s will, he returns the glory to God. In addition, Christ teaches about the

importance of dispensing treasures to one’s servants. Assisting Beowulf on his journey, those

who give Beowulf aid receive wealth and treasures from him. Beowulf has a Christ-like attitude

toward giving. Experiencing similar situations to Christ, furthermore, Beowulf’s circumstances

resemble the crucifixion and darkness described in the three Synoptic Gospels. Finally,

Beowulf’s sacrificial, savior-like qualities resemble the qualities of Jesus Christ. As an agent sent

by God, Beowulf is sent to be a savior for the Danes. Tormented by Grendel for twelve years, the

Danes are in desperate need for a hero. Like Jesus Christ, Beowulf is the light that his dark world
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longs for. By crafting Beowulf the character to resemble the character traits of Jesus Christ, the

poet brilliantly incorporates Christian undertones into Beowulf. Throughout this work, the poet

emphasizes these Christ-like qualities for the readers. Comparing the main character to Christ in

an implicit manner can help the author to reach a more secular audience. Describing qualities

like Beowulf’s sacrificial, savior-like nature can help to display Christ’s same desire to offer

Himself up as a sacrifice. Jesus Christ wants to save the world from its darkness by covering it

with His light. Creating a character similar to Christ can help evangelize and reach a

non-Christian audience. Similar to Jesus Christ, Beowulf’s character was not written to condemn

readers, but his Christ-like qualities express his desire to rescue those in need.
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Works Cited

Beowulf. Translated by Howell D. Chickering, Jr., Anchor Books, 2006.

Bodek, Richard. "BEOWULF." The Explicator, vol. 62, no. 3, 2004, pp. 130-32, http://eres.rege

nt.edu:2048/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.regent.edu/docview/2167821

52?accountid=13479. Accessed 12-14 Oct. 2018.

Irving, Edward B., Jr. "The Nature of Christianity in Beowulf." Anglo-Saxon England, vol. 13,

1984, pp. 7-21, https://www-jstor-org.ezproxy.regent.edu/stable/44510785. Accessed

12-14 Oct. 2018.

Marshall, Joseph E. "Goldgyfan or Goldwlance: A Christian Apology for Beowulf and

Treasure." Studies in Philology, vol. 107, no. 1, 2010, pp. 1-24, https://www-jstor-org.ez

proxy.regent.edu/stable/25656034. Accessed 12-14 Oct. 2018.

Reynolds, William. "Heroism in Beowulf: A Christian Perspective." Christianity and Literature,

vol. 27, no. 4, 1978, pp. 27-42, http://journals.sagepub.com.ezproxy.regent.edu:2048/loi/c

ala. Accessed 12-14 Oct. 2018.

The Bible. New International Version, 2014.

Whallon, William. "The Christianity of Beowulf." Modern Philology: A Journal Devoted to

Research in Medieval and Modern Literature, vol. 60, no. 2, 1962, pp. 81-94, https://ww

w-jstor-org.ezproxy.regent.edu/stable/434846. Accessed 12-14 Oct. 2018.