The Old Testament is a collection of religious texts that are considered to be the foundational scripture of Judaism and Christianity. It contains many stories and allusions that are also found in Beowulf, a renowned Old English poem. In this poem, Beowulf embodies many of the heroic traits found in characters from the Old Testament.
Some of these include his strength and courage, as well as his willingness to fight for what is right. Beowulf’s battle against the dragon, for example, can be seen as an allusion to the story of David and Goliath. Similarly, Beowulf’s death at the hands of the dragon can be seen as an allusion to the story of Moses and the Pharaoh.
While there are many Old Testament allusions in Beowulf, some of the most notable ones are found in the characters of Grendel and the dragon. Grendel, for example, can be seen as an allusion to the biblical figure of Cain.
Just as Cain was banished from society after killing his brother Abel, Grendel is exiled from Heorot after attacking Beowulf and his men. The dragon, meanwhile, can be seen as an allusion to the biblical figure of Satan. Just as Satan tempted Eve into eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, the dragon tempts Beowulf with promises of power and riches.
Ultimately, Beowulf’s interactions with these characters can be seen as a way of exploring biblical themes and stories. By studying Beowulf, we can gain a deeper understanding of the Old Testament and its impact on medieval society.
Many writers have referred to Biblical stories in the past through literature. Writers have paid homage to Biblical tales from both the Old and New Testaments. This is known as an allusion in literary study. The Oxford Encyclopedic English Dictionary defines an allusion as “a reference, especially a covert or indirect one,” (37). In the case of Beowulf, the allusion is to Bible stories. The author references specific biblical accounts during the epoch of Beowulf’s poet. There were many Anglo-Saxon pagans during this era.
As a result, the references to the Old Testament would have been more familiar to them than to us today. There are several allusions in Beowulf that refer to the Old Testament. The first reference is found in Beowulf’s fight with Grendel. In lines 826-827, Beowulf says “Grendel began his attack then, as God had ordained/him, avenging the death of his kin by slaughtering many Danes” (Heaney).
In this passage, Beowulf is referring to the story of Cain and Abel from the Bible. In the story, Cain kills his brother Abel out of jealousy. God then punishes Cain by making him wander the earth forever. Beowulf is saying that Grendel is doing God’s will by attacking the Danes.
Another Old Testament allusion can be found in Beowulf’s fight with the dragon. In lines 3159-3160, Beowulf says “I am seeking to save my people, as God commands me./So I must risk my life and fight this dragon” (Heaney). Here, Beowulf is referring to the story of Moses. In the story, Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. However, before they can enter the Promised Land, they have to defeat a giant dragon known as Canaan. Beowulf is saying that he is risking his life to save his people, just like Moses did.
The last allusion is found in Beowulf’s death scene. In lines 3182-3183, Beowulf says “Fate goes ever as it must./Let man not whine nor weep” (Heaney). Beowulf is referring to the story of Job from the Bible. In the story, Job is a faithful man who is tested by God. Even though he suffers great losses, Job does not complain. Beowulf is saying that man should accept his fate and not complain about it.
These are just a few examples of Old Testament allusions in Beowulf. There are many more scattered throughout the poem. By understanding these allusions, we can get a better understanding of Beowulf and the time period in which it was written.
The pagans are those who do not adhere to any of the world’s major religions. Christianity was introduced in this region at this time as well. Religion, therefore, is taught through stories such as the Old Testament. In order to educate the Anglo-Saxon pagans about the new religion, the Beowulf poet incorporates Old Testament allusions. The Biblical reference made in the epic poem is about Cain. Cain was a character from the Old Testament who murdered his brother for no reason.
Beowulf hears about Cain while he is in the mead hall. When Beowulf goes to Hrothgar’s aid, he thinks of himself as a modern day Abel. Beowulf is compared to Abel because, like Abel, Beowulf also faces great danger in order to protect others. Beowulf’s battle with Grendel can be seen as Beowulf’s self-sacrifice for the good of others. This allusion teaches the Anglo-Saxon pagans about Christianity and its ideas of self-sacrifice.
Another allusion related to religion that appears in Beowulf is the story of Jonah and the whale. Jonah was a character from the Old Testament who was swallowed by whale. This story is alluded to when Beowulf is swallowed by the mother of Grendel. Beowulf’s time in the whale can be seen as a type of baptism. By surviving in the belly of the whale, Beowulf is purified and reborn. This allusion would have been used to teach the Anglo-Saxon pagans about Christianity and its ideas of baptism and rebirth.
The Beowulf poet uses Old Testament allusions in order to teach the Anglo-Saxon pagans about Christianity. Through these allusions, the pagans are able to learn about new religious concepts such as self-sacrifice and baptism. These allusions would have been valuable in helping the pagans to understand the new religion.
He is the first real malevolent action perpetrated by a man against another man in the Judeo-Christian tradition. This is alluded to in Grendel’s Tale, which recounts his tale. The people of Herot suffered for many years at the hands of the Grendel monster, who came into their city and murdered them with his sword and even consumed some of them. Because he committed the same crime as Cain, Grendels actions may be linked back to him.
He was ugly, deformed, and rejected by society. In many ways, Grendel can be seen as a symbol for the outcasts of society. He is an example of what can happen to someone who is not accepted by others. Beowulf, on the other hand, represents all that is good in humanity. He is strong, courageous, and noble.
Beowulf’s character stands in stark contrast to that of Grendel. Beowulf fights for what is right and protects those who cannot protect themselves. In many ways, Beowulf can be seen as a symbol for everything that is good in humanity. The Old Testament allusions in Beowulf help to underscore the themes of good vs. evil and human nature.
