Beowulf Essay

Embers Must Fade, Wood Must Rot, and Warriors Must Die

Embers Must Fade, Wood Must Rot, and Warriors Must Die

Sitting around a campfire late at night, young, foolish fighters are listening to a wiser, battle-hardened warrior. As dozens of Scops told stories of this cocky warrior slaying dragons, monsters, and witches, they invariably showed a transition of societies. Beowulf is an allegory for the change from a Pagan society to a Christian society because it is depicted through the opening lines, the connotative diction, and the symbolic imagery between light and darkness.

Within the opening lines of the Beowulf manuscript, it starts to show a transition between prayer to the gods of old, to accepting and embracing Christianity. In lines three to five it asserts, "As day after day the music rang / Loud in that hall, the harps rejoicing / Call and the poet's clear songs, sung . . . " (3-5). As young and old warriors gathered around the campfire, they would listen to the one person who could grant them immortality- the Scop. In this Pagan belief system, there was no Hell or Heaven, but there were stories. If a soldier carried out an especially courageous deed, and a Scop told stories about it, then that man would gain eternal life. On the other hand, the Christians believed differently. In lines six to seven of this manuscript it expresses, ". . . Of the ancient beginnings of us all, recalling / The Almighty making the earth . . ." (6-7). As the Christians started to spread their beliefs; they taught that there was one God and one way for eternal life. The Christians did not teach on just one set of values; or on tales of strong men from the days of old. Instead they taught that humans were responsible for good and evil based on the choices that were made.

As allegories and imagery were woven like a fine tapestry, the inner meanings of Beowulf was created. From allusions about the Pagan's worship practices, to Almighty God, the translator sets the tone to the conflict that is being resolved. In lines 93-94 of Beowulf it says, " . . . The Devil's guidance in driving / Their affliction off. That was their way, . . ." (93-94). As these heathens looked for peace, they sacrificed to gods of stone and wood. These idols were never able to speak, taste, smell, or see. They could never solve the problems that the old warriors presented to them; nor could the gods bring solace to their graying heads. Instead, more grief and pain follows throughout the theme of the story. In addition, line seven declares, " . . . The Almighty making the earth . . ." (7). When the Pagans moved further away from their old gods, they started to believe in a singular, all powerful God. The diction of this line of the epic embodies this belief.

As this oral epic was passed down from one legend telling fighter to another, the symbolic imagery between good and evil was mastered. Darkness and Light have, for thousands of years, fought many battles, and this legend is no different. As the men in Beowulf went on their quests, many showed the conflict that comes between the opposing sides. In lines one to two of this epic it reveals, "A powerful monster, living down / In the darkness, . . . " (1-2). This darkness represents the evil of Pagan society, the monster in each individual that wants to do harm to another living creature. In the minds of many, life is seen with an "Us against Them" mentality, which is portrayed perfectly by the men who told this generation's old tale. And yet, the compassion of men, and the virtues of these battlers can triumph any evil that rears its head. In lines nine to ten of Beowulf it explains, " . . . Then proudly setting the sun and the moon / To glow across the land and light it: . . . "(9-10). This sun-or light- represents the light of Christianity, the hope that it brings. To many the sun represents the rising of a new day, the ability to have a new beginning. As the Anglo-Saxons told this story, they looked forward to the hope of becoming immortal and gaining the respect, and fame, that others had. To have the light of hope and life shine on their country once again as they fought.

A reader can only imagine how it felt all those years ago, to hear such a powerful epic. To hear this thought provoking epic based on the transition from a Pagan society to a Christian society because of the rich allusions between day and night, the seriousness of the opening lines, and the connotative diction woven in this story must have been awe inspiring. But even a campfire must pass away, wood must decay, and warriors must meet the end. Through the rich allegories woven into this millennia old tale, history is repeated, and immortality is bestowed.

Works Cited
Raffel, Burton, translator. "From Beowulf." Prentice Hall Literature: The British Tradition, Grade Twelve, Prentice Hall, 2013, pp. 40-64