Religion in Beowulf - 1385 Words

David (Kwang Min) Kim Dr. Hadley History 101 – Spring 2013 10 April 2013 Religion in Beowulf Throughout the story of Beowulf, the concept of religion plays a significant role. The Christianity ideology views state that man can survive and do great things through the protection of God. A strong desire of pride is also represented in the form of a hero in Beowulf, which in a sense goes against Christian morals. This clash with Christian morals in Beowulf was in the context of pride vs. humility and selfishness vs. sacrifice. In the book, Hrothgar first explained to Beowulf that pride without humility will only kill him. Beowulf struggles to find his roots as a follower of God, as well as maintaining his views and actions of Paganism.†¦show more content†¦The idea of fame and fate was also evident in Beowulf. After 50 long years of nothing, Beowulf just sat at his throne with fame, but he knew this fame wasn’t the same as it was back in the past, when he killed Grendel and his mother. He wanted this fame back which becomes one of the reasons to go and slay the dragon, later on in the story. When the dragon destroyed much of Beowulf’s land, Beowulf became angry and hostile towards the dragon. He desired for revenge and vengeance, which again is another reason for his action to slay the dragon. In a way he used fame and vengeance to motivate his plan to slay the dragon. All these things were influenced as pagan ideas. Throughout the story Beowulf struggled with his Christian ideology while Pagan ideas clouded his judgment. Since he was human it was difficult for him avoid the pagan ideas as they were so easy to practice, while following God’s righteous yet restricted path. Instances of fate are scattered throughout Beowulf. Something seems to be in control of Beowulfs life, and it drives him to achieve things that no one else has ever been able to achieve. Though he is a mere mortal, he defeats monsters even when it seemed like he was doomed to failure. Further, he rises to the level of King of the Geats even though he is not directly in line by birth to do so. Whether Beowulf is meant to be a Christian piece or a pagan one or not a religious piece at all, Beowulf becomes theShow MoreRelatedRoles Of Religion In Beowulf1369 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout the story of Beowulf, the concept of religion plays a significant role. The Christianity ideology views state that man can survive and do great things through the protection of God. A strong desire of pride is also represented in the form of a hero in Beowulf, which in a sense goes against Christian morals. This clash with Christian morals in Beowulf was in the context of pride vs. humility and selfis hness vs. sacrifice. In the book, Hrothgar first explained to Beowulf that pride without humilityRead MoreThe Portrayl of Religion in Beowulf Essays814 Words   |  4 PagesIn the story Beowulf, there are a few different religions that are represented by the author. All the religions are portrayed in the story through the author’s eyes and his beliefs. The author makes clear what religion he believes in and his views. Some instances in the story also relate to the conflict between Christianity and the code of warriors. Throughout the story, the author is faced with the challenge of trying to portray his beliefs with a character whose actions are in conflict with hisRead MoreEssay on Religion in Beowulf814 Words   |  4 Pagesperiod, the epic Beowulf contains many pagan ideals, in addition to several references to Christian philosophy. Beowulf is a tale of dual ordeals; an external fight against treacherous enemies, and an internal struggle with human tendencies of pride, g reed, cowardice, and betrayal. The story intertwines them with both pagan and Christian beliefs. The pride of Beowulf was a personal characteristic that was not commonly shared with others during his time of living. This pride caused Beowulf to feel theRead MoreChristianity And Paganism In Beowulf1005 Words   |  5 PagesHave you ever wanted to have super strength? Have you ever wanted to be a savior? Well, that is every day for one epic hero named Beowulf. Beowulf is an epic poem about good versus evil written by an anonymous Christian monk. Paganism was the Geats first religion, and once Christianity became introduced, the religion slowly shifted from paganism to Christianity. Beowulf has successfully exhibited the transition from paganism to Christianity. The epic poem has a shift from Christianity to paganismRead MorePaganism In Beowulf953 Words   |  4 PagesChristianity and Paganism in Beowulf Beowulf was composed when England was transitioning from a pagan to a Christian culture. In chapter 3 of A Little History of Literature, it is said that Beowulf was likely written by a Christian monk who inserted Christian themes into the story. This is why Beowulf reflects both Christian and pagan views. These two religions and their elements affect the story in different ways. There are pagan views of fate and fame in Beowulf, but there are also ChristianRead MoreComparison Between Beowulf And The 13th Warrior1691 Words   |  7 PagesWilliams World Literature April 27, 2015 Christopher Tamigi Comparing different Religions in Beowulf and The 13th Warrior Religions play various different roles throughout literature, the most common one I think of is Christianity. We will discuss what the role of Religion is in Beowulf translated by Seamus Heaney and the role in the movie The 13th Warrior. Christianity, Islam, and Anglo-Saxon Paganism are the various Religions’ that are expressed in both the literature and the movie. Since both worksRead MoreAnglo Saxon Culture as Reflected in Beowulf Essay943 Words   |  4 Pagesas reflected in Beowulf Every culture has its own set of beliefs values and customs. Cultural beliefs, values, and assumptions are directly and indirectly acquired throughout a lifetime. A culture is the sum of a group’s way of life and this is no different with the ancient Anglo Saxon culture. Cultures usually have distinct figures that reflect their culture as a whole. The importance of religion, values, and heroes are reflected a great deal in the epic poem of Beowulf accurately showingRead MoreTheme Of Christianism In Beowulf843 Words   |  4 Pages700, Beowulf is considered the mother poem of England. The tale is based in Sweden, as well as the small Danish island of Zealand. The poem follows the title character, Beowulf, in his battles with various monsters. Beowulf comes to the aid of Hrothgar to defeat the monster Grendel that had been terrorizing Herot Hall for twelve years. Beowulf also defeats Grendel’s mother at the bottom of the lake, in what is referred to as the †˜battle hall’. Fifty years after his initial triumphs, Beowulf suffersRead MoreStrengths And Weaknesses Of Beowulf1056 Words   |  5 PagesBeowulf, presumably written by a Christian monk, (Circa 700 A.D.), accurately depicts the strengths, weaknesses, and overall flaws that ultimately lead up to the protagonist’s demise. Rising from Geatland, Beowulf, the legendary warrior who has ended countless monsters reign of terror, gets word of an evil being tormenting Denmark, modern day New Zealand. Not one to be outdone, Beowulf sets sail to with fourteen of the finest warriors he could find. Arriving, he and his men are met by a loyal subjectRead MoreCultural Elements Of Beowulf By William Shakespeare866 Words   |  4 PagesCultural Elements in Beowulf Beowulf ,the story, was handed down orally by mouth for centuries. However, in 1000 AD, Beowulf was written down for the first time as a poem. Beowulf is a story about a hero with supernatural powers. His strength surpasses any man, and he is the king of his people(the Sweden). Beowulf defeats and kills monsters to protect the people and the land of the Geats and Danes. Beowulf defeats the monster named Grendel. Grendel kills and eats Beowulf s men who sleep in

Gender Roles During The Puritan Colony - 990 Words

In 1637, gender roles in the Puritan colony were very limited for women. In the case of Anne Hutchinson, all odds seemed to be against her when she was put on trial. Trying to argue she had done nothing wrong, Hutchinson was found guilty. Despite the ministers claiming her religious beliefs were the main reason for her punishment, there seemed to be an underlying message directed towards Hutchinson. Living in a time and place where women were not in a position of power, had no political leadership, and no religious authority, Anne Hutchinson was banished from the Puritan colony due to challenging and threatening widely accepted gender norms. Women were not in a position to influence others. According to the transcript, the only woman present during the â€Å"examination† was Anne Hutchinson herself (42). The extreme lack of women at the Court of Newton suggests the verdict was entirely conducted from a male’s point of view. This lack of perspective displays the ignorance the men had, and how they could have otherwise been enlightened if there were women voicing their opinions. However, in allowing women to speak their truth, they would be breaking the gender norm that explains why women were not considered to be in an influential position. If Anne Hutchinson had been found not guilty, it would give the impression that some women could be as, if not more, powerful and influential as men. Women also had no political authority. During Anne Hutchinson’s life, all womenShow MoreRelatedEssay on The Threat of Anne Hutchinson915 Words   |  4 Pagesnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In Puritan led Massachusetts Bay Colony during the days of Anne Hutchinson was an intriguing place to have lived. It was designed ideally as a holy mission in the New World called the â€Å"city upon a hill,† a mission to provide a prime example of how protestant lives should have subsisted of. A key ingredient to the success of the Puritan community was the cohesion of the community as a whole, which was created by a high level of conformity in the colony. Puritan leaders provided leadershipRead MoreEssay about The Threat of Anne Hutchinson909 Words   |  4 PagesHutchinson In Puritan led Massachusetts Bay Colony during the days of Anne Hutchinson was an intriguing place to have lived. It was designed ideally as a holy mission in the New World called the city upon a hill, a mission to provide a prime example of how protestant lives should have subsisted of. A key ingredient to the success of the Puritan community was the cohesion of the community as a whole, which was created by a high level of conformity in the colony. Puritan leaders provided leadershipRead MoreThe, The Salem Witch Trial Essay1020 Words   |  5 PagesEnglish Colonies began to settle on the eastern region of the United States (Duboi and Dumenil 2016, 47). 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The seniority of men over women lay within both the household and the public sphere. The household, immediate family living in the same dwelling was subject to the male as head figure of the house. The public sphere also known as the social life within the Puritan community consisted of two echelons. These echelons consisted of formal and informal

Happiness the Science Behind Your Smile free essay sample

If this is true, which is more debatable than it might seem, then happiness becomes the overarching explanatory concept in all of psychology, and surely the most urgent of personal questions for any human being to solve. More than this, happiness also moves to the centre of political and economic 1 introduction decisions. If maximizing happiness is the point of individual lives, then the point of systems of government and economy should be to maximize collective or aggregate happiness. This position is a pure form of the doctrine of Utilitarianism, which was made famous by moral philosopher Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832), but foreshadowed in the thought of Francis Hutcheson who claimed, ‘That action is best, which procures the greatest happiness for the greatest numbers’. This form of utilitarianism has an enduring appeal. The government of the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan recently announced that the goal of public policy there would be to increase not the Gross National Product, but the Gross National Happiness. We will write a custom essay sample on Happiness: the Science Behind Your Smile or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The Bhutanese are obviously on to something. Happy people live longer than unhappy people and are less vulnerable to disease. And there are enduring differences in happiness between nations, between the rich and the poor, and between the married and the single. However enlightened it may seem, though, the Bhutanese strategy immediately raises questions. Can people’s happiness actually be changed by public action? Come to think of it, can it be changed by any means at all? If so, how? And how should we assess the Gross National Happiness? The early Utilitarians had recognized that implementing their programme required a device for meas2 introduction ring happiness—a hedonimeter. No such device exists, of course. We can ask people how happy they feel. This turns out to be a surprisingly revealing exercise, as we shall see. However, happiness has multiple senses. Its function in the sentence, ‘I was happy to see Bob’, may be rather different from that in the sentence, ‘I was happy with the foreign policy of the government’. So before we could use judgements of happiness as a touchstone for public life, we would need to undertake a great deal of empirical work on people’s thoughts and feelings about happiness, and how the feeling of happiness relates to the quality of life. This is work that psychologists have begun over the last few decades, and its illuminating results will be reviewed in this book. In Chapter 1, we examine the concept of happiness and attempt to tease apart its various senses. Some varieties of happiness may be more measurable than others, and some, perhaps not the same ones, more worth pursuing. Chapter 2 examines the question of whether people are basically happy or basically unhappy, and why. Chapters 3 and 4 turn to the question of why some people seem to be happier than others: are people happy because good things happen to them, or do good things happen to them because they are happy? We shall see evidence that people’s enduring levels of happiness come at least as much 3 introduction from themselves and the way they think as they do from the objective facts of their circumstances. Chapter 5 turns to the brain systems underlying emotions and moods. The feeling of well-being emerges from the interplay of neural circuits that are the products of millions of years of evolution. In men as in mice, positive and negative emotions rely on separate, dedicated neural circuits, which respond to status, to threats, and to rewards in the environment. The systems controlling pleasure are not identical to those controlling desire. This is an important lesson; the psychology of aspiration is not that of satisfaction. We do not always want what we like or like what we want. Chapter 6 considers the problem of how to be happier, from the kinds of remedies on offer to the ways in which they can work. Finally, Chapter 7 attempts to synthesize brie? y what we know about the often paradoxical psychology of happiness, and consider why we might be set up the way that we are.