Beowulf- Essential 2

Discuss biblical allusions and religious symbolism in Beowulf.

There are countless biblical implications in this portion of the text. First off, Hrothgar seems to regard Beowulf as God, or at least the son of God, for he often praises the Lord for bringing him such a warrior: "the old king [...] poured out his gratitude to God Almighty for the Geat's words" (1383-1384). This God-given fighter brought peace to the Danes, and resembles an angel who destroys the evil of Grendel and his mother. Since the story tries to convey a message to follow God, the author tries to show how faith in God is auspicious. Beowulf continually refers to having courage, which can be translated into having faith in God. Faith, as we can see, has helped Beowulf thus far.

Since Beowulf is God-given, it seems his fate is predestined: "had not holy God granted him victory; the wise Lord, Ruler of the Heavens, settled the issue" (1537-1539). He even says the battle against Grendel's mother may have been lost "if God had not guarded [him]" (1640). There is also a somewhat divine encounter when a light shines upon Grendel's corpse. This symbolizes how good wins over evil, God over the Devil. There is also the scene when the giant sword melts from Grendel's mother's blood. There is an ambiguous pronoun use that may be intended to foreshadow Beowulf's deification: "He is the true Lord" (1594). The author also mentions about the end of the giant race to instill fear of God: "they were opposed to the Eternal Lord, and their reward was the downpour and the flood" (1675-1676). Lastly, Hrothgar warns of the corruption with power as Beowulf continues on his deification process and realizes his strengths: "always swallow pride" (1743). Beowulf is similar to Jesus fending off the Devil's temptations.

Beowulf- Essential 1

What are the social obligations of a hero? Is Beowulf aware of his deification process?

The social obligations of a hero are rooted in the people the hero serves. A hero has to act with an always selfless manner, and defend the rights of the people around him or her. A hero protects the people when in danger or are hurt by injustice. The hero's role in the community is to forever exact justice and maintain peace. A hero is someone who people can rely on to give advice or help with their problems. A hero has to have the hindsight to see potential consequences or problems that may occur, and prevent them from happening. Therefore, a hero does not have to be called upon to help others, but can find their service necessary through their own judgment, as Beowulf does with Hrothgar. All in all, a hero is a caretaker for the people he or she serves.
Beowulf should be aware of his deification process, but does not let that be the motivation for his actions. With a lineage renowned for their leadership and heroism, Beowulf follows the footsteps of his great ancestors. He helps Hrothgar because he sees an injustice occurring, not to fulfill a requirement for his deification. Though he may act without regard for his deification, we see how he gathers the strongest Geats to embark on the journey to the Danes, similar to Beow's deification, in which "a young man must ensure that in later years his companions will support him, serve their prince in battle" (Line 22-24). Beowulf is also respected by the Geats: "a man who wins renown will always prosper among any people" (Line 24-25). Beowulf is definitely on the road to becoming a god.