Beowulf Group

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javi
javi
Student
High School - 12th Grade

Why must good and bad exist in our world?

To whom it may concern: Can you please site reason/examples in Beowulf.

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Posted by javi on Wednesday August 26, 2009 at 7:24 PM and tagged with bad, beowulf, good, site examples.

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  1. amy-lepore Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    The Anglo-Saxons' literature is a mixture of pagan and Christian beliefs.  The main ideas embodied in their culture include a belief in Fate (all roads lead to death, and it is inescapable no matter what you do), Fame (pre-Christian beliefs include that great deeds worthy of being retold in stories are the only way to remain alive after physical death), Loyalty and Valor (warriors pledged their lives to their King or Lords, and likewise the Kings and Lords pledged to care for and provide for those who fought for them) and Religious Faith (both of multi-gods in the pagan beliefs and God in Christianity).

    Having this information, we understand and can hypothesize that in order for the nomadic peoples of this time period to honor their belief systems, there would need to be trials and tribulations to test them.  Great deeds--the deeds of heros--are normally completed in the face of danger or the "bad" in the world.  For instance, the appearance of Grendel and the murders the creature commits call for the courage of a hero to rid the countryside of its evil predator.  The hero would have faith in the good in the world to protect and support him, to render him successful and to have a good fate. 

    So, for Beowulf who represents the good, the "evil or bad" in the story includes the sea monsters he defeats during his swimming match with Brecca, Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the Dragon.  The "good" includes the honor, valor, and loyalty of the people, faith in God, and the blessings of strength, courage, and good health.  It is all necessary to bring balance to the world.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/beowulf

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    Posted by amy-lepore on Thursday August 27, 2009 at 6:56 AM


  2. jillyfish Student
    Doctorate

    ??? Anglo Saxons weren't nomadic!!

     

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    Posted by jillyfish on Friday August 28, 2009 at 2:10 PM