Pagan and Christian Influences in Beowulf Essay examples -- Epic Poems,

The author of the grand meter Beowulf is unknown, and similarly to the Illiad by Plato its origins remain a mystery. Throughout the poem there are many clues that Beowulf has become a tradition and was passed down viva voce for centuries, and finally have been translated from the old side of meat that it possibly could have been originally recited as, to the English we know today. In the poem Beowulf a bard recites poetry orally, or in a song, usually telling stories about historical triumphs and adventures. These poets were referred to in this epic poem as carriers of tales..., traditional singers deeply schooled in the lores of the past (Beowulf 50). This was common in Germanic culture. Scops would keep folkloric heroes alive in the oral tradition. They passed down stories orally from one generation to the next. The Beowulf poet himself imagines such oral performances by having King Hrothgars court poet recite a heroic lay at a feast celebrating Beowulfs cudgel of Grendel (Be owulf 29). A thane of the kings household...linked a new theme to a strict meter. The man started to recite with skill, rehearsing Beowulfs triumphs and feats in well-fashioned lines, entwining his words (Beowulf 50). This poet of Hrothgars goes on to tell of Sigemund and of Waels son. This section of the oral poetry is actually in the text, giving an example of the Germanic oral tradition.In the same celebration at the mead hall the author illustrates again the oral tradition. This time the kings poet performs with the saga of Finn and his sons, unfold the tale of the fierce attack in Friesland where Hnaef, king of the Danes, met finis (Beowulf 54). These eighty-nine lines tell a detailed historical story, which is also engrossed i... ... fiend. Whichever one death fells must deem it a just judgment by divinity fudge (Beowulf 41). Here Beowulf gives the outcome to God. As mentioned earlier, Grendel met his fate the night Beowulf was waiting for him. This clearly is contradicti ng since both(prenominal) dogmas are used to describe the same occurrence. In the fight against Grendels mother Almighty God would ... turn the tide of his misfortunes (Beowulf 61). He also says that God determined the victory in the same fight. It was easy for the Lord, the Ruler of Heaven, to redress the balance once Beowulf got back up on his feet (Beowulf 66). Beowulf also claims in this fight that God helped him. After the fight with the dragon the poet says what God judged right would rule what happened to every man, as it does to this day (Beowulf 93). How could there be so many discrepancies in this poem if only one poet wrote it?