I believe when Beowulf dies he goes to heaven because he lived his life heroically and always seemed to come to help the people. He is always referencing before his battles that God Almighty holds the fate of who should be victorious in his battles.
Just because Christianity, at that time, was still being thought about and developed and there were several Gods being worshiped I do not think that Beowulf was believed to have gone to heaven in the story. However, in modern time I think he would because he was such a hero.
If the author had his way, and if Beowulf actually believed in God he would have gone to heaven for his devout fellowship. However, realistically Beowulf would have not had the same view of "Heaven" as the Christian world does, so he would have not. Living the life of a here does not mean an automatic entrance to Christianity's heaven, it means that a hero is beloved by the people...of earth, or outer space if you're an alien or something. By including Christianity within the poem, the author wanted to encourage faith through the hero that is Beowulf. This thought is similar to an add capaign featuring a certain brand of jeans where a celebrity is seen wearing them...and BOOM...so is everyone else....like tatoos.
Yes, he had lived a good live with morals and had faith in god. He often claims that his power came from god himselve and without he would have failed to do the great deeds he had done in life.
I believe Beowulf goes to heaven. He lived a heroic life with values and great deeds. He worked hard to have what he did and I think that is deserving. He was extremely helpful and that itself is the best quality. Also the characteristics he displayed were very Christian and I think he showed great faith and value that he deserved to go to Heaven.
Without getting into a huge theological debate, I think it is safe to assume that based upon his people's concept of a commendable and worthy hero, Beowulf's soul did reach the respectable afterlife. I couldn't say that he went to Heaven, because his people most likely did not believe in such a place. Their version of Heaven may have been like the Norse Viking's Valhalla in which you only made it there by dying honorably. It isn't enough to say that because he was a hero of good moral quality that he went to Christian Heaven. That would be like a Buddhist telling a Christian their ancestors went through reincarnation until they reached Nirvana, or to Jannah (Islam). To affirm Beowulf went to Heaven, is to me, disrespectful of his beliefs. I except that he went to a good place in accordance, but won't call it Heaven, because I wouldn't want someone telling me that my ancestors went to someplace I nor they believe in.
I believe when Beowulf dies he goes to heaven because he lived his life heroically and always seemed to come to help the people. He is always referencing before his battles that God Almighty holds the fate of who should be victorious in his battles.
ReplyDeleteJust because Christianity, at that time, was still being thought about and developed and there were several Gods being worshiped I do not think that Beowulf was believed to have gone to heaven in the story. However, in modern time I think he would because he was such a hero.
ReplyDeleteIf the author had his way, and if Beowulf actually believed in God he would have gone to heaven for his devout fellowship. However, realistically Beowulf would have not had the same view of "Heaven" as the Christian world does, so he would have not. Living the life of a here does not mean an automatic entrance to Christianity's heaven, it means that a hero is beloved by the people...of earth, or outer space if you're an alien or something. By including Christianity within the poem, the author wanted to encourage faith through the hero that is Beowulf. This thought is similar to an add capaign featuring a certain brand of jeans where a celebrity is seen wearing them...and BOOM...so is everyone else....like tatoos.
ReplyDeleteYes, he had lived a good live with morals and had faith in god. He often claims that his power came from god himselve and without he would have failed to do the great deeds he had done in life.
ReplyDeleteI believe Beowulf goes to heaven. He lived a heroic life with values and great deeds. He worked hard to have what he did and I think that is deserving. He was extremely helpful and that itself is the best quality. Also the characteristics he displayed were very Christian and I think he showed great faith and value that he deserved to go to Heaven.
ReplyDeleteAngela--I really like your answer :-)
ReplyDeleteWithout getting into a huge theological debate, I think it is safe to assume that based upon his people's concept of a commendable and worthy hero, Beowulf's soul did reach the respectable afterlife. I couldn't say that he went to Heaven, because his people most likely did not believe in such a place. Their version of Heaven may have been like the Norse Viking's Valhalla in which you only made it there by dying honorably. It isn't enough to say that because he was a hero of good moral quality that he went to Christian Heaven. That would be like a Buddhist telling a Christian their ancestors went through reincarnation until they reached Nirvana, or to Jannah (Islam). To affirm Beowulf went to Heaven, is to me, disrespectful of his beliefs. I except that he went to a good place in accordance, but won't call it Heaven, because I wouldn't want someone telling me that my ancestors went to someplace I nor they believe in.
ReplyDelete