УНИВЕРЗИТЕТ ,,ГОЦЕ ДЕЛЧЕВ“- ШТИП

ФИЛОЛОШКИ ФАКУЛТЕТ
Англиски јазик и книжевност

ПРОЕКТНА ЗАДАЧА ПО ПРЕДМЕТОТ

АНГЛИСКА КНИЖЕВНОСТ ОД ПОЧЕТОЦИТЕ
ДО КРАЈОТ НА XV ВЕК

ТОPIC:
,,CHRISTIAN INFLUENCES AND VIKING/SCANDINAVIAN
ELEMENT IN BEOWULF”

Ментор: Изработил:
Проф. Крсте Илиев Марио Ристовски
Број на Индекс: 162918

Штип, 2023
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 CONTENT:

1. Introduction……………………………………..…………………………………………p. 2
2. Christian Influences in Beowulf………………………………..…………………………. p.4
3. Viking/Scandinavian Elements in Beowulf…………………………..………………… p.5-6
4. Results and Discussion……………………………………………………………...……p.7-8
5. Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………….p.9
6. References…………………………………………………………………..…………….p.10

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INTRODUCTION:

Beowulf is an Old English epic poem that dates back somewhere between the seventh and the tenth
century.

It is the most important and most translated poem of Old English literature, and it consists of 3,182
alliterative lines. The story is set in the 6 th century In Scandinavia, it tells the story about Beowulf, a
great hero of the Gates, who goes to help Hrothgar, king of the Danes, whose mead hall Heorot has
been attacked by the evil monster, Grendel for many years.

After Beowulf manages to defeat Grendel in an epic battle, he faces Grendel’s mother, eager to
avenge her son’s death, battles Beowulf, but is defeated. The hero Beowulf returns victorious to his
homeland, Geatland, and he becomes king, and rules for fifty years. After fifty years of peace and
harmony, Beowulf defeats a dragon, but due to his age and depleted health, he was mortally
wounded, and dies of his wound. After his death, a barrow was built in his memory, next to the sea,
so that it would guide the sailor to there destination.

The influence of Christianity in Beowulf is very important, due to the fact that has helped him
defeat the deadly monsters that were on his path.

Throughout the poem, he show courage, moral and sacrifice, which are very similar to Christian
teaching. Also Viking/Scandinavian elements are present, such as ships, kings, feasting, hospitality
and burial methods.

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 1. Christian Influences in Beowulf

The poem takes place in the 6 th century, were Christianity plays a vital role in everyday life. In the
poem we see that God was creating earth and giving life on it, from plants and trees, to the first
humans on it. When Grendel first attacked, he was compared to Cain, Adam an Eve’s son, who
killed his own brother, Abel. Said that he was banished from God for his murderous crimes, and
sought to kill anyone who goes his way.

Grendel would attack anything but the throne, who was protected by God. Hrothgar, who is wise
and very intelligent, is teaches Beowulf the power and importance of Christian philosophy, who
which would help him in defeating him.

As Beowulf spends more time with Hrothgar, he keeps getting closer to God and his powers, and he
sees Beowulf as godsend bless and a protector to his kingdom. When the attack on Herot began,
many men fled, but Beowulf attacked Grendel, his courage, loyalty, selflessness, and the
willingness for victory is a big part of Christian influence.
The battle between Beowulf and Grendel can also be seen as a battle between good and evil,
referring to Beowulf as good and Grendel as evil. During the battle he trusts God for his victory
and he trust himself with the help of his sword.

After he defeated Grendel, the Danes saw Beowulf as a faint image of Christ, as he managed to save
them from Grendel’s destruction. During the battle with Grendel’s mother at the bottom of the lake,
his sword, Hrunting, which was said that have never failed anyone who uses it, it was ineffective
with fighting Grendel’s mother, which who he must discard it.
But on the wall he saw a sword not like any other, forged and built only for the strongest of men,
like as God has placed it there for him.
Only he managed to lift it, with the strength give to him by God, and with he’s guidance, he defeats
Grendel’s mother. His bravery and determination on protecting the others is aligned to the Christian
ideals of selfless heroism.
The victory is also seen as a triumph of of light over darkness, and as good conquering evil.
As the battle ended he and his twelve Gates thanked God, for keeping them safe and for his help
and guidance.

He did not take the treasures that were in Grendel’s mother’s lair, due to his seeing it as
dishonorable and greed, something in Christianity is seen as a sin.

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In his final battle with the dragon, we see Beowulf old and weakened, as although he’s believes in
God, cannot grant him immortality and he will await the faith as every human.

As he battles the dragon, Beowulf is mortally wounded, and he relies to God for guiding his battle
against evil. The solders that came with him, fled, meaning that he was left alone, only to God and
fate. The solders were ashamed, saying to God that they would rather burn than to see there lord
die, and cannot carry his dead body, the fact that they ran away from the battle.
As Beowulf was Injured, he knows that he’s days are over, as much as God would give him. As he3
was dying, Beowulf thanked God for the treasures he acquired for the Gates, after defeating the
dragon. He blames fate for his death, but when victorious, he praises God, and feels that God is
assisting him in his battles against the evil.

In his last battle is seen that Beowulf, despite his age and depleted strength, has sacrificed his live to
protect his people, such as Jesus has sacrificed his live for the sins of the others. In his last battle
there is a part of pagan idea of fate and a christian part of divine intervention.

As mourning Beowulf after his death, elements of lamentation, grieving, and honoring the
deceased, which aligns with Christian traditions of mourning and paying respects to the dead. With
Beowulf’s final request is to burn his body and to build a mound on the cliffs that are visible to the
sea, so that the sailors can see it and for his people can remember him we see christian influence as
remembering his heroic actions against the evil monsters that he had fought, and honoring his
legacy and passing it from generation to generation to come.

Beowulf is compared to Jesus, as he rose from his grave, to prove that nothing can kill him, and that
the evil man is once again defeated. Although, Beowulf did not rose from his grave, he continued to
live on through song and tales and that he died not for the sins, but for killing the greatest evil, the
dragon.
Beowulf was seen as Jesus on his land and among his people. Jesus died for his sin, Beowulf for
evil, and both lived among the people for centuries to come. The poet did use Christian influence in
the poem to shape and represent both storie.

2. Viking/Scandinavian Elements in Beowulf

Those who hold to this view argue that Old English language proves its "English" origins.
Therefore, the Anglish tribes who came into England (Angle-land) from Germanic lands brought
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this folktale with them from 420 AD onward. The story somehow survived the christianization of
England (that was complete by 655 when the last Heathen king Penda was killed), and survived
Danish Rule in what was known as the DaneLaw. The issues with this view are many.

The historical people in the poem Beowulf are dated to the late 6th century, after the Migration to
England by the Anglish was over. Arguing Anglish peoples from Germany in the 400s AD brought a
Scandinavian poem containing historical Danes, Geats, and Swedes from the 580s AD, has obvious
difficulty.

It is more plausible that the Danes brought a story of their ethnic past, and Danish rule in England
did coincide with the only manuscript of Beowulf that we have. The Danes had reasons to care
about these people. The English did not, especially post christianization.

This is the view I hold, and I personally do not think the Anglish origins view holds any water. To
quote Dr. John Niles, "the probable role of ethnic Danes in bringing the story across the North Sea
in its primitive form can really no longer be questioned."

Beowulf is about Geats, Swedes, and Danes. It is set in Denmark and Scandinavia, and Angles and
Saxons are never mentioned in the poem. The story bears resemblance to the Danish Saga Hrólfs
saga kraka, or the Saga of King Hrolf Kraki.

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While there are many differences between the story of Beowulf and the Saga of Hrolf Kraki, there
are many similarities. Many of the same characters appear in their corresponding Old English
forms: Hrólfr Kraki appears as Hroðulf, his father Helgi as Halga, his uncle Hróarr as Hroðgar, his
grandfather Halfdan as Healfdene and their clan, the Skjöldungs, as the Scyldings.

Moreover, some of their enemies also appear: Fróðo as Froda and king Aðils of Sweden as the
Swedish king Eadgils. Considering the length of time the Danes ruled England, and considering the
story of Beowulf is set in Denmark and Scandinavia, and the fact that England was so thoroughly
Christian for a considerable time before the "Viking Invasions" and the arrival of the Great Heathen
Army, Scandinavian origin is more plausible, especially given the Scandinavian willingness to learn
the vernacular language of the places they conquered and resided.

To quote Dr. Niles again: "Stories generally move with people; they do not waft through thin air. To
the extent that people were crossing between Denmark and Britain during the period beginning
circa 835 AD and continuing well into the tenth century, conditions were favorable for the
dissemination of Danish cultural elements of all kinds into Britain." This certainly is true in the
DaneLaw period almost a century in length, and the period when the Danish King Cnut the Great
and his heirs ruled all England for over 25 years.

3. Results and Discussion

Еxcavations at Lejre, Denmark between 1986-1988 found a large hall, and a grave mound. The
poem of Beowulf mentions a large grave-mound next to Heorot. This hall is dated to circa 630 AD.
In 2004-2005 more excavations were done and a second large hall was found one kilometer away
which is dated to circa 550 AD, the exact time period of the story of Beowulf.

The Scylding kings of Beowulf are universally acknowledged to be the far-famed Skjöldung kings
of Danish tradition which is firmly localized at Lejre.

There are zero other major settlements pertaining to the Viking Age in Scandinavia where there is
evidence of two halls being built on separate but nearby sites, the second in succession to the first.
The size of the two halls is significant, both being half a football field in length (48 meters, over
150 feet). Beowulf claims King Hrothgar as building ‘the biggest of halls’ and "best of halls" in five
different locations in the poem of Beowulf.

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Characters in Beowulf are, "drawn in grotesque caricature"(19), exaggerating features of the
character's persona.

The hero was not meant to be read simply as Beowulf's protagonist, therefore, but to represent and
defend Scandinavian culture. Beowulf represents qualities that were valued in Scandinavian culture;
he is courageous, loyal and honors kinship.

As the author of Beowulf states, "the son of Ecgtheow showed himself brave, renowned for battles
and noble deeds, pursued honor, by no means slew, drunken, his hearth-companions; he had no
savage heart".

Characters in Beowulf are, "drawn in grotesque caricature", exaggerating features of the character's
persona. The hero was not meant to be read simply as Beowulf's protagonist, therefore, but to
represent and defend Scandinavian culture. Beowulf represents qualities that were valued in
Scandinavian culture; he is courageous, loyal and honors kinship.

As the author of Beowulf states, "the son of Ecgtheow showed himself brave, renowned for battles
and noble deeds, pursued honor, by no means slew, drunken, his hearth-companions; he had no
savage heart"

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 CONCLUSION:
The poetic text of Beowulf is preserved in a single manuscript dated to ca. AD 1000 known as the
Beowulf Manuscript.

Nearly destroyed in a fire, the manuscript is a fragment. In the late 20th century, Canadian scholars
at the University of Toronto questioned an early date for the poem.
The epic belongs to the Germanic heroic tradition in terms of style, meter, and theme. However, the
composition may also be reminiscent of a Christianised slant.

Thus, Beowulf is more altruistic than the garden variety of the fatalistic Scandinavian hero engaged
in blood feuds. Also, the poem has been characterised as a lyrical elegy more than an epic. Perhaps
it was composed as a 6th-century dirge, a sombre song or lament expressing mourning or grief, such
as would be appropriate for performance at a funeral.

However, careful linguistic studies of the text have afterwards successfully argued that the poem
was written down ca. AD 700. A recent archaeological study of the poem argues that this written
transmission was based on an oral version brought to England in the early 7th century together with
the “Swedish” objects in the grave at Sutton Hoo ca. AD 625. It has been speculated that the poem
accompanied the famous helmet found in the grave, which may have held the remains of Raedwald.

The manuscript holding the poem of Beowulf belongs to the British Library. Beowulf has been
made available for scholars and historians in two forms – a full digitises version and an electronic
edition, The Electronic Beowulf, a collaboration between the British Library and the University of
Kentucky.

RЕFERENCES:

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1. https://www.aldsidu.com/post/the-danish-origins-of-beowulf
2. https://www.medieval.eu/beowulf-an-old-scandinavian-heroic-poem/
3. https://csis.pace.edu/grendel/projs1d/CHRIST.html
4. https://www.bartleby.com/essay/Christian-Influences-In-Beowulf-FJR7LJFZDT

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