Examples of Pagan and Christian traditions are presented all throughout literature. Many of the influences deal with what it going on in the world, when the piece is written. When Beowulf was written, St. Augustine had just come over to try and convert the Anglo-Saxon people to Christianity; although the conversion succeeded it was a shallow conversion, and there were still people following the Pagan ways.
There was a Pagan concept known as fame, which was how the soldiers wanted to be remembered, they wanted a story about them, thus achieving immortality. “He bore it ill that any man other in all earth should ever achieve more fame under heaven then he himself” (386-388) Beowulf succeeded in achieving fame, his story is living all throughout the world, and it has lasted many years.
Fate is still a common concept; one can still hear people talking about fate, how our life revolves around it, and if things happen it is because they are meant to. “Fate often delivers an undoomed earl if his spirit be gallant!” (441-442) Throughout the story, there are many examples of fate, this quote could be interpreted as meaning, fate can change at anytime and change life completely. There were many times where fate changed Beowulf’s life.
As much as Paganism is presented in the story, there are still many references to Christianity. Such as Grendel was an ancestor Cain, which is a story in the Old Testament. There is also a quote in the story that combines Pagan and Christian views, “Since God has granted him glory and wealth he forgets the future, unmindful of Fate.” (1197-1198).
The Essay on The Role of Fame, Fate, and Destiny in Beowulf
Beowulf dedicated his last breath to save his people from the ravages of a deadly monster. Despite the frailties of old age, he hastened once more to save the day. Unfortunately, the terrible earth dragon was too much for him. Beowulf succumbed to his wounds and died. The last lines of this great Anglo Saxon epic was a tribute to him, “Thus the men of Geatland, his hearth-companions, mourned ...
The quote relates to the shallow conversion of the Anglo-Saxons that was happening around this time.
Today, one can still see the Pagan influences in common life. Each time Beowulf succeeded he related it to either Paganism or Christianity. Whether it is one God, or many Gods, the people all had their common belief system
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“PinkMonkey”;”“The Sun Also Rises””;” Although not a single shot is fired throughout the novel, The Sun Also Rises is about The Great War.The high point in this book is the festival. When Brett, Jake,Robert, Mike, and the Countess go to the bullfights. To know that the book was written during World War One was also a helpful tip in deciding this. These people are now shown as drunk, fun loving, aimless, and careless.These people were known as the new generation.•It is the war and its effects they are fleeing when they descend into the forgetfulness of alcohol. They flee it continually by refusing to discuss its horrors directly. They flee it by running from one cafe, one country, and one party to the next. They are prisoners of their own attempts to escape the war, which maimed them physically and psychologically. They are attempting to flee their shattered selves.
Jake cannot be sexually active, due to a problem during the war. He can still attain sexual desire. The problem that he is faced with the most is the war. He is fleeing, being cruel, and being an alcoholic due to the war itself. Brett is engaged to Mike, and she is sleeping with everyone else, trying to be a rebel against the usual generation morals. She was a drunk along with all of the characters of this book.
The main idea of this novel, is that no matter what happens to a generation, during a war, or during a depression, the normal function of the world still happen. The sun will still rise and set. The oxygen will still settle in the air, and the trees will still produce it. “The Sun Also Rises” was chosen for the book because with everything that happens in the book, nothing in the usual world, will change.
The Review on The Chocolate War book report 3444
The Chocolate War "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier is a realistic fiction book about one boy's struggles to fight for what is right in a school ruled by a group of sharp-witted, clever individuals. This group, known as the Vigils, play the largest role in the story. True, they're not exactly the people you want to be rooting for in the end, but they keep the story interesting. Because of this ...
