Anglo-saxon Belief In Fate And Christianity :: essays research papers

The Unity of the Unknown and the Eternal Security The Anglo-Saxon Beliefin Christianity and Fate Imagine a living in which one is simply a pawn at thehands of a mysterious higher force stumbling and meandering through lifestribulations. Until Pope Gregory the great(p) was sent to spread Christianitythroughout England, the Anglo- Saxons believed solely in this passive,victimizing philosophy. These pagans still clung to practically of their heathenculture after the wave of Christianity swept through England difference no onebehind. Literature derived from this period (including Beowulf, "The Seafarer,"and "The Wanderer") directly reflects the maintaining of Christian ideals, aswell as the belief in designates unknown and often grim path. For example, the epicpoem, Beowulf , declares, "...Fate will unwind as it must" (line 284).Meanwhile, the equivalent work implies paragon has the authority in this great worldby stating, "And all his glorious band o f Geats/Thanked God their leader hadcome hold up unharmed," (598-599) as if God was the deciding factor in thegreat protectors health. The connexion convincedness in God and fate influencesthe culture, outlook on life, and the various autarkical life paths of Anglo-Saxons. These early Germanic people believe "fate"- an anonymous power -controls the present, future and past yet, they also believe the power of Godis a resolute supremecy not to be denounced. Our earliest warriors put deviationtheir heroic independence and let wyrds foreign agency control their viewsand their lives paths m and time again. These pagans even allow destiny toinfluence their view of life which was fatalistic and desolate. "The Wanderer"proves the Anglo-Saxons had little to live for and much to fear as it tells thetale of an anonymous man stripped from his gold-lord. This literary workillustrates unemotional person solitude and grim hopelessness by using phrases like, "...what a sulphurous companion/Shoulder to shoulder sorrow can be,"(lines 26-27) and"Wretchedness fills the terra firma of earth," (98). Along with their outlook on lifeas a whole, fate controls the pagans decisions and lack there of. "TheSeafarer" shows an example of the Anglo-Saxons submissive role by voicingthe story of a sailor suffering through hardships because he was meant to be asailor and is drawn to the familiar sea. The sailor explains his annoying lifestyleby stating, "...my soul/Called me eagerly out..." (lines 36-37) implying thisharrowing lifestlye is not a conscious choice, but more of an obligation tosomething other than his mind and heart. heretofore the bravest warrior fell victim tothis unsafe and unpredictable fortress. Beowulf, who is "...-greater/Andstronger than anyone anywhere in this world, " (110-111), explained on his