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Discuss biblical allusions and religious symbolism in Beowulf.

There are many instances of biblical allusions in Beowulf. One example is that Beowulf is regarded as being “chosen by God” to do great things. Beowulf himself often says that he is only able to survive these ferocious battles because God protects him. He also says that he has courage to be victorious in battle, and this courage can be compared to faith in God’s protection. This is similar to the role of a prophet in the Bible, who is chosen by God to accomplish a certain task. Beowulf’s task is saving the Danes from the evil of Grendel and Grendel’s mother. Beowulf follows Christian beliefs so far, and this has made him very successful.

There is another instance in this reading that seems to be a direct Biblical reference. After Beowulf uses the sword that belonged to the race of giants to kill Grendel’s mother, he returns with the hilt. Then a story is told of how the race of giants was destroyed by a massive flood in ancient times. This is exactly like the story of Noah in the Bible. When people turned away from God, a massive flood destroyed them all, just like the giants.

Beowulf 1

What are the social obligations of a hero? Is Beowulf aware of his deification process?

A hero is a person who is admired for their achievements and noble characteristics. These characteristics usually include bravery, courage, strength, persistence, and loyalty. Based on these qualities, a hero is expected by their community to act in a certain way. This makes the hero obligated to protect the standards of being a hero. They must live up to the expectations that society has for them. Heroes must be willing to take leadership roles during times of crisis. Heroes should only place their trust in others of whom they are certain to be loyal. They should never abandon their people, or give up. If a hero gives up, then they are no longer a hero. They must also be willing to sacrifice themselves in order to protect the greater good. They must be completely selfless.

Beowulf is not yet aware of his deification process. Many characters thus far have recognized his name, and known him to be strong and brave. These seem to be similar to characteristics of a hero, but not yet a god. He is aware that he is viewed as a hero, but he does not seem himself as a god. He is taking on the characteristic of a hero by journeying to a foreign land, and intending to slay the evil beast, Grendel. Beowulf is respected by his fellow Geats, so they follow him towards his goal. Beowulf is seen as a hero, and may be on the road towards becoming a god, but as of now he is not aware of it.