Pagan/Christian Images

Paraphrase the following lines. Tell how these lines represent Pagan and Christian elements and blend them together. What is the effect on the reader?

From The Wrath of Grendel

Lines 86-100

… But Hrothgar’s

Heart was bent. The best and most noble

Of his council debated remedies, sat

In secret sessions, talking of terror

And wondering what the bravest of warriors could do.

And sometimes they sacrificed to the old stone gods,

Made heathen vows, hoping for Hell’s

Support, the Devil’s guidance in driving

Their affliction off. That was their way,

And the heathen’s only hope, Hell

Always in their hearts, knowing neither God

Nor His passing as He walks through our world, the Lord

Of Heaven and earth; their ears could not hear

His praise nor know His glory.

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Pagan/Christian Element

Effect on the Reader

From The Coming of Beowulf

Lines 270-285

…God must decide

Who will be given to death’s cold grip.

Grendel’s plan, I think, will be

What it has been before, to invade this hall

And gorge his belly with our bodies. If he can,

If he can. And I think, if my time will have come,

There’ll be nothing to mourn over, no corpse to prepare

For its grave: Grendel will carry our bloody

Flesh to the moors, crunch on our bones

And smear torn scraps of our skin on the walls

Of his den. NO, I expect no Danes

Will fret about sewing our shrouds, if he wins.

And if death does take me, send the hammered

Main of my armor to Higlac, return

The inheritance I had from Hrethel, and he

From Wayland. Fate will unwind as it must!”

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Pagan/Christian Element

Effect on the Reader

From The Battle With Grendel’s Mother

From 578-585

-Then the sword

Melted, blood-soaked, dripping down

Like water, disappearing like ice when the world’s

Eternal Lord loosens invisible

Fetters and unwinds icicles, and frost

As only He can, He who rules

Time and seasons, He who is truly

God.

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Pagan/Christian Element

Effect on the Reader