Beowulf was written in England sometime in the 18th century. "This provides us with an idea of a poem that was .
written during a time when the society had converted from paganism to Christianity"(Cohen 138). "We know that .
paganism did exist alongside Christianity during the approximate era that Beowulf was composed"(Hall 61). "The .
Christian influences were combined with early folklore and heroic legends of dramatic tribes, early Beowulf .
scholars began to investigate whether or not Christian and biblical influences were added later to originally pagan .
influences"(Hall 61). "The Christian elements are almost without exception so deeply ingrained in the fabric of the .
poem that they cannot be explained away as the work of a reviser or later interpolator"(Klaeber 2). The fact that the .
two values are so closely intertwined in the poem, I believe that is the reason Beowulf has both Christian and pagan .
influences. .
The pagan elements in the epic poem Beowulf are evident in the characters superhuman personifications. Beowulf is .
depicted as a superhero. Beowulf takes it upon himself to save the Danes from Grendel. In his battle with Grendel, .
Beowulf chooses not to use weapons; he relies on his super strength. During the fight, Beowulf's strength takes over .
and Beowulf wrestles with Grendel until he is able to rip one of the monster's arms out of its socket. Superhuman .
feats also appear in the fight with Grendel's mother. When Beowulf enters the water, he swims downward for an .
entire day before he sees the bottom. He does this without the use of oxygen. During the battle with Grendel's .
mother, Beowulf realizes that Unferth's sword is useless against the monsters thick skin. He grabs an enormous .
sword made by giants, almost too heavy to hold and slashes through the monster's body. This superhero strength .
continues into the battle with the dragon. By this time, Beowulf is an ! .
old man. He stands up to the dragon and wounds him.