Beowulf is an ideal hero of the eighteenth century. ... The most explicit example of this is seen in Beowulf. ... Beowulf lives in a pagan society where human beings are directed by a power outside of their control. These pagans believe in a type of uncertain destiny that is ruled by fate alone. ... Though it is quite evident that Sir Gawain places great faith in the aid of god on his journey, he does seem to resort to a pagan means in the later details of his journey. ...

• Word Count: 1559
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

Truly Beowulf is the quintessence of the Anglo-Saxon man of that era. ... Proud and humble, Christian and pagan, Beowulf's character encompasses many seeming contradictions. ... Honor was an important aspect of Beowulf's fight also. ... Perhaps the most important virtue in this world of newly blossoming Christianity was Beowulf's devotion to god, in a very pagan setting nonetheless. ... It was faith that was the backbone of Beowulf's strength. ...

• Word Count: 613
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

Long after the splendor of Greek culture, the earliest heroic tradition in English literature evolved from the pagan tradition. The pagan tradition "stressed the necessity of endurance in the face of adversity and the importance of the deeds of courage performed by individual warriors in the world ruled by inexorable "Wyrd"" (Mazur and Bela 1997:2). ... One of the earliest heroic epics in English Literature is Beowulf. ... "Beowulf possesses the qualities of valor, military prowess, loyalty, generosity, and honor. ... Heroism for Beowulf seems to be more physical in nature, where heroism ...

• Word Count: 2885
• Approx Pages: 12
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate