http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN6TNj4bqW0&feature=plcp

Beowulf: Advancing the Christian AgendaBEOWULF:

ADVANCING THE CHRISTIAN

AGENDA

THESISBeowulf advances

the Christian agenda by

Typifying Beowulf a Christ-like character

Depreciating pagan and blood feud society

1. Beowulf : A Type of Christ

Relationship with God Lines 927-930              

“First and foremost, let the Almighty

Father               

be thanked for this sight. I suffered a long

harrowing by Grendel. But the Heavenly

Shepherd

can work His wonders always and

everywhere.” Lines 1270-74                “But Beowulf was mindful of his mighty strength,         the wondrous gifts God had showered on him:                he relied for help on the Lord of All,              on His care and favor.”

Analogous Characteristics Lines 2802-2808            

“Order my troop to construct a barrow   

on a headland on the coast, after my pyre has cooled. 

 It will loom on the horizon at Hronesness 

 and be a reminder among my people—       

 so that in coming times crews under sail      

 will call it Beowulf’s Barrow, as they steer   

 ships across the wide and shrouded waters.”

Christ’s institution of the sacrament

BEOWULF 196-There was no one else like him alive.In his day, he

was the mightiest man on earth, highborn and powerful.    956- son of Ecgtheow (1383, 1550, 1651, 1817, 2397,

2587 1190- Beowulf the Ge 2463- lord of the Geats (2550 2575- king of the Geats  

2415- The veteran king sat down on the cliff-top. He wished good luck to the Geats who had shared his hearth and his gold. He as sad at heart, unsettled yet ready, sensing his death. His fate hovered near, unknowable but cerain: it would soon claim his coffered sould,

part life from limb. Before long the prince’s spirit would spin free from his body.

 

2468- Heartsore, wearied, he turned away from life’s joys, chose God’s light and departed, leaving building and lands to his sons, as a man of substance will. 

        2529- Men-at-arms, remain here on the barrow, safe in

your armor, to see which one of us is better in the end at bearing wounds in a deadly fray.This fight is not yours, nor is it up to any man except me to measure his strength against the monster or to prove his worth.

      2804- It will loom on the horizon at Hronesness and be a

reminder among my people- so that in coming times crews under sail wil lcall it Beowulf’s Barrow, as they steer ships across the wide and shrouded waters. 

CHRIST 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten

Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3)

  Son of man (Matt 8:20, 9:6, 10:23, 11:19, 12:8, 13:37, 16:13,

17:9, 18:18....) Jesus the Christ. (Matt 16:20) Lord of the harvest (Matt 9:38) King of the Jews (Matt. 2:2)   1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven,

and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. (John 17)

  8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high

mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (Matthew 4)

  36 ¶Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called

Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. (Matthew 26)

  19 ¶And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and

gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. (Luke 22)

 

INTE

R-TE

XTPA

RAL

LEL

2. Pagan/Heroic society discourageda. as personified by Grendel and motherb. inevitability of the end of pagan/heroic society

Grendel and Mother personify pagan traditions. Grendel’s attacks lead the people to

forget their Christian beliefs and turn to “pagan shrines, “ vowing to idols and asking the devil to save their people. (l. 175-8)

Grendel offers no mercy to his foes an is terribly strong: “Then his rage boiled over, he ripped open/the mouth of the building, maddening for blood.” (l. 723-4)

Grendel’s mother perpetuates the blood feud, as goes pagan tradition. When her son dies, she comes to Heorot and kills one man in revenge: “She had pounced and taken one of the retainers/ in a tight hold, then headed for the fen.” (l. 1294-5)

The death of Grendel and mother : symbols for inevitable societal failure

“…holy Goddecided the victory. It was easy for the Lord,the Ruler of Heaven, to redress the balanceonce Beowulf got back up on his feet.”(l. 1553-6)

Grendel and his mother, not in harmony with ‘God’s will,’ are exterminated.

Lingering spiritual monsters within Beowulf and heroic society“The warrior determined to take revengefor every gross act Grendel had committed. . . .Beowulf in his furynow settled that score.”

(l. 1577-85)

“The hall towered,its gables wide and high and awaiting a barbarous burning. That doom abided,but in time it would come: the killer instinct unleashed among in-laws, the blood-lust rampant.”

(l. 81-85)

Demise of Pagan/Heoric Ideals

“For all they that

take the sword

shall perish with

the sword.”-Matthew

26:52

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trKLAJXRbPE&feature=context-cha