Death and Darkness: a Way of Life

Death and Darkness: a Way of Life

  • Submitted By: tomkane
  • Date Submitted: 12/28/2009 9:41 AM
  • Category: English
  • Words: 772
  • Page: 4
  • Views: 488

Tom Kane
Mr. Rogai
British Literature
13 October 2009
Beowulf
In the Anglo-Saxon period of time, death and darkness was just a way of life which people based their lives on tocome in the near future. Throughout Beowulf there are lights in this darkness shown towards Christianity and the fate of their people. The constant appearance of Christianity with Praising God after winning a battle, Symbolizing Old Testament stories, or the burial of fallen heroes played a major role in the development in the plot of this poem. Along with Christianity, the judgment of fate is alluded to in explaining the possible outcomes of an action. These together conjoin a strong point in which the use of faith and fate can be found even in such a dark time.
“Afterwards a boy child was born to shield, /a cub in the yard, /a comfort sent by God to that nation/He knew what they had tholed, /the long times and troubles they’d come through without a leader;/ so the Lord of Life, /the glorious almighty, / made this man renowned. /Lines 12-17”
From the beginning, Beowulf was shown as a Christ like leadersent by God as the Messiah to save his People. This image runs through the poem until the end when he does as Christ did and sacrificed himself for the good of his people. Beowulf’s instant famousness that showed how everyone knew who he was and he would be a great leader mirrors exactly what happened to Christ when he came into the world. Beowulf led by example and He was a brave man that had confidence in the midst of his battles that he would come out on top, attributing this to God.
The appearance of Old Testament stories and symbols throughout the poem referencing to these stories show a strongpresence of Christianity. Specifically, with the hilt of the sword depicting the image of how war first came into the world along with the story of the flood. Along with these images came conflict with when Beowulf had to go Slay the Dragon because of another sin. In this...

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