Beowulf, Faustus and Paradise Lost Essay

In Beowulf, Faustus and Paradise Lost undergo a phantasmal transition, from Paganism to Christianity, Christianity to Reformation and Rebel. These changes aptly reflect the historical shift from a boastful and violent view to a more humble and worthy perspective.We see a shift in consciousness from the writers point of view, root word during the Medieval epic poem Beowulf and trace the religious shift in this consciousness between Beowulf and Paradise Lost. It can be seen in these texts, (including Faustus) that although Christianity was rattling much a powerful model against which society was built in the Middle Ages, it is in like troopsner contradictory in party ways.William Shakespe are is known for his books on Denmark for his work in Hamlet and it is seen in Hamlet how heathen believes were rolled together with Christianity. However, Beowulf deals with a more sinister form of the hedonist/Christianity shift and that is of occult and demonic existence. The monster call ed Grendel causes great devastation to the mankind and inhabitants of Denmark, much to the dismay of King Hrothgar who has continued a long phone line of good and mighty kings.At this stage of literature, there was still a vast amount of fierceness placed on mythology and the belief in demons and monsters. One also has to be aware in this case of the parallels to Christian stories that follow the like lines as Beowulf does. For instance, Beowulf does not come from the same kinfolk as the king and his tribe are known as Geats. If we olfactory sensation at the subtle nature of this story, we can form a contact lens between David and Goliath or even Saint George and the Dragon.Beowulf lies in rest for the monster to arrive at the court and slays Grendel with his bare hands. The same is square but in varying degrees of the Biblical David and Goliath pr overb. St George and the Dragon also has the same connotation in it. Beowulf also struggles with Grendels mother who comes to revenge her sons death.Beowulf slays her besides but has to swim to the depths of a lake in order to find her. In this tale there is also a sentimental relationship to the story of King Arthur, a legend that has been intertwined with Christianity over the years. In Arthurian legend, Avalon is situated in the middle of a lake from which a lady is reputed to hoist the sword of Excalibur the sword that rules Camelot. Arthurian legend canonizes the same tale found in Beowulf, altogether making it appear less(prenominal) savage and pagan.A throng of sorrows I have borne from Grendel but divinity fudge still workswonder on wonder, the Warden-of-Glory.(Beowulf, cardinal 920-923).There is perish reference above that divinity fudge was indeed used and referenced in this poem, but God is also used manywhat as a talisman rather than as an all powerful supernatural being. In the same passage, God is referred to as the God of ages and the Mighty Maker (Beowulf, XIV 936 & 985). Despite th ese references to God, there is still a great deal of emphasis placed on the monster who is representative of demonic power.There is a symbolic reference to the mother of Grendel and also to the Queen, whom in Christianity can be seen as Delilah and Mary. Grendels mother is the dark side of the young-bearing(prenominal) Christian form, the one that is corrupt and subject to failure, while Wealhtheow is the mother take in who bestows upon her minions the strength and capability to fight savage.In typically pagan stories, evil and good are not conceptual, but have to be referred to in terms of something tangible. It is for this reason that the numerous offenses undertaken by Beowulf are always against some horrific being such as a monster or a dragon and are never the inner most battles that are truly fought against evil. In Christianity, evil is possessed by every man and woman and the only way to thwart this inner evil, is to have God on your side. The pagan beliefs and mythology create physical representations of the inner battles that mankind faces.The sad History of Dr. Faustus is Christopher Marlowes best known work. Unlike Beowulf, Faustus is aware of the dangers of the put on he is getting into because he is forewarned that the occult is not to be trifled with. Dr. Faustus essentially sells his soul to Lucifer in exchange for success as a practitioner of the magical arts.Dr Faustus, despite numerous misgivings at various stages of the pledge, accepts that he has now signed his soul to the devil in a product line contract. Together with Mephastophilis, Lucifers own right-hand man, Faustus is richly rewarded and begins a series of assaults on humanity which includes the harassment of the Pope himself. In this dramatic event the symbolism of power is a great driving force for mans downfall. Adam and Eve were instructed not to eat from the tree of experience upon which forbidden fruit grew, they ate of the fruit and were afflicted. In this story, F austus too is warned against delving too deep into the occult, but his quest for knowledge and power is too great.Faustus signs the pact with his own family which is symbolic of Christs blood only that in Faustus case the blood threw him into sin, while Christs blood cleanses it. There is, in the Quatro of 1616 a dialogue between the Good nonpareil and the Evil Angel. This is extremely important when considering that there had been a deep impinge between Medieval paganism and Renaissance Christianity.