ef of the Devil and Hell. Beowulf, the God-empowered hero, shows how good will triumph over evil in the end, and all other routes lead to destruction. Yet even Beowulf, the personification of good, was rooted in pagan tradition. All brave men, and even most cowardly men, are labeled righteous and holy in this tale. Beowulfs strength alone granted him a god-like status. The fact that he was a celebrated personage ensured his righteousness in the eyes of his people. This does not follow Christian beliefs that the only way to heaven and righteousness is Jesus Christ, therefore it may be labeled pagan. There is evidence of this type of belief in the funeral of Beowulf. This passage, though open to interpretation, shows a mix of pagan and Christian beliefs. Then the warriors began to kindle that greatest of funeral fires; smoke rose above the flames, black and thick, and while the wind blew and the fire roared they wept, and Beowulfs body crumbled and was gone. A gnarled old woman...groaned a song of misery, of infinite sadness...and Heaven swallowed the billowing smoke.Here it is implied that Heaven automatically swallowed the billowing smoke, or Beowulfs soul. It is treated as something to be expected; such a great man deserves no better. This can be labeled a pagan belief. Also, notice that the gnarled old woman sang a song of misery, of infinite sadness. Christians believe that death is sad, but not infinitely, because the saved persons soul is in a better place. Therefore, there is a distinct combination of Christian beliefs and pagan ideals.Beowulf is a great English literature classic. It is an epic battle between the ultimate Good and the ultimate Evil, with Good triumphing in a grandiose way. The mixed religious overtones provide an interesting subject for discussion and reflection. It not only serves as a historical reference, but also as a representation of the hopes and dreams of the people of the Anglo-Saxon per...
