From: Studies in Philology: Goldgyfan or Goldwlance: A Christian Apology for
Beowulf and Treasure
Initial and traditional views of Beowulf as a character cast him as a pagan hero,
obsessed with treasure and gold and using it as leverage for his men; new studies
and understanding of Biblical allusions reveal that Beowulf embodies many
characteristics of Christian doctrine.
Attacks on
Beowulf, Pagan
Ideal Hero
Dispersion of
Treasure as
Christian Ideal
Appropriate use
of gifts/treasure
as Christian
Elements of
missionary
Christian fusion
Symbolism
“Beowulf seems particularly fond of the Dragon’s
hoard” (2) theme of avarice (2-) “Beowulf
captures ‘the futility of trying to bind men to
their honor with gold-giving’” (3) “forgets that Beowulf seen as
God alone dispenses gifts [wealth/treasure]” (4) ideal pagan hero,
“ideal pagan because of his manly
covets gold and
courage…lacking in Christian virtue” (4)
manly courage
“Beowulf’s behavior in part 2 seems to [be]
irreconcilable with Christian doctrine and belief”
(7)
“Beowulf exemplifies lordship…gives treasures
to his worthy retainers” (5) “…neither the
New light shed
Church fathers, nor the Bible, nor the Beowulfon the lordly
poet condemn earthly riches properly used” (8)
qualities of
“Given the prominence of Ambrose, Chrysostom,
Beowulf,
and Augustine, it is possible that the Beowulfselflessness and
poet expresses their concept of appropriate use
giver of gifts
instead of an outright condemnation of “all”
earthly riches” (9)
Mention of Ecclesiastes 29:13; “if one dispenses Giving of
earthly wealth in order to benefit those around treasure and
him, one uses wealth properly” (9) Parable of the wealth put to
talents (9-10) “In the early middle ages, the use good use
of one’s gifts, both physical…and natural
embodies
endowments…embodied faithful service” (10)
Christian ideals
Gregory the Great – “key transmitter of
Evidence of
Christianity to an Anglo-Saxon world” (11) “poet Christian
may have been familiar with the parable of the influence early
talents through old English poetic tradition” (11) on
“passing of the cup perhaps the most
Christian and
important…symbol of the community” (15)
Pagan symbols
Anglo-Saxon literature is a material symbol of
united in story
the immaterial quality of virtue” (20) “t
Ramifications:
The influence of Christian doctrine in early Anglo-Saxon poetry and culture is
evident in this new understanding of Beowulf as a Christian lord and a selfless,
giving ruler. Taking into account the influence Gregory the Great had in early
missionary times and the trickle down effect of such evangelism, we can trace a
binding thread of pagan tradition and epic poem with a Christian doctrine and
approach to society and community.
From: Studies in World Christianity - Book Review of Religion and its Monsters
by Timothy K. Beal
Monsters have always been an offset to cast good and light into the theological and
physical world, and have remained interpreted that way. Monsters actually are
important in solving complex theological problems and possess elements of
humanity most feared and coveted that further outline the importance of
community and good focused doctrine.
Monsters as
Chaos
“Contemporary Western perceptions of
theological normality concerning the
world order have been heavily
influenced by M. Eliade’s opposition of
cosmos and chaos, with gods and
various monsters being seen in
perpetual opposition.” (128-9)
Monsters always seen as
bad for no reason,
simply exist to oppose
good/light
“Monsters are indeed symbols of Chaos”
(129)
Monsters as
Human, real
Paradoxes and
Monsters contain
elements of humanity
that pose problems for
society and community,
“they…contain an element of what ought
and thus work their way
to be familiar and safe” (129)
under the skin
“Their irruption into the world becomes Something understood
“in some respects, monsters are more
congenial to us than God” (129)
new
understandings
a kind of theophany” (129)
“..cosmogonic and eschatological
traditions in the ancient Near East and
the bible..” (129)
“’pagan’ traditions” similar to biblical
accounts (130)
“Beowulf and St. George are seen as
derivatives of Michael, slayer of the
dragon in Revelation 12” (131)
“Monstrous symbolism is an
appropriate medium for later
exploration of the same old dilemmas”
(131)
in society since ancient
times, in several
traditions
Almost necessary part
of cultural tradition
Congruity between
biblical and “pagan”
accounts of monsters
Influence of Christian
monster stories on later
epics
Beowulf, problem of
community and pagan
ideas about heroism and
treasure
Ramifications:
Particularly with an epic like Beowulf, the problem of a monster is symbolic of a
problem with greed and hoarding. Understanding the Beowulf is not simply a
monster story with good guys and bad guys, it uses Grendel and the Dragon to teach
the solution for problems concerning wealth and justice. It is set in a pagan
environment, however, which yields credence to the melding of Christian beliefs
within Anglo-Saxon culture at an early time.