Is a gift from God, that even the human body is "loaned" (5.17), and that it eventually "weakens, falls Is one who "recklessly gives precious gifts, not fearfully guard them" (5.18). The phrase "he covets" is strongly reminiscent of the Christian TenĬommandments, that material desire leads to wanting more and more until nothing will suffice.
Wielder of Heaven, has given him before, his portion of glories" (5.13). Hrothgar tells Beowulf of a selfish king: "What he has long held seems toĬovets, no plated rings does he give in mens honor, and then he forgets and regards not his destiny because of what God, Sharing or the earthly king will bring on his own doom. Moreover, Hrothgar tells Beowulf that earthly success, given by God, must be handled with humility and a sense of Man enjoys here on earth is achieved only through the grace of God. In other words, a king's earthly power is only an illusion. At times He lets the thought of a man of high lineage And again, "It is a wonder to say how in His great spirit God gives wisdom to Strength, had set him up over all men" (4.4). Turned away from the joys of men, alone, notorious king, although mighty God had raised him in power, in the joys of Who falls victim to pride and selfishness, Hrothgar tells Beowulf "he Given to God: "But the Wielder of Men granted me that I should see hanging on the wall a fair, ancient great-sword" (1.5).Īnd later in the passage, Hrothgar tells Beowulf that even the status of king is achieved through the grace of God. But he does not take credit for this perception. For example, whenĪbout to fight Grendel's mother in her cave,īeowulf sees a great weapon hanging on the wall. In addition to earthly protection, there is also the sense that all earthly good, be it success or wealth, derives from God. However, there is also a strong sense that God's protection must be earned Ī warrior must first be true to his values, courage, honesty, pride, and humility and only then will he earn God's protection. Mystical protection permeating all of Beowulf's actions. When Beowulf relates hisīattle with Grendel's mother, he states that "The fight would have ended straightaway if God had not guarded me" (1.4).įurther exemplified by the powerfully stated "most often He has guided the man without friends" (1.5), there is a sense of Throughout the story Beowulf repeatedly acknowledges God as his protector. But he also teaches the lessons of Christian philosophy: that wealth, accumulated through the grace of God, must Tragedians: that pride, untempered by humility, will result in the tragic fall. In "Further Celebration at Heorot", Hrothgar reminds Beowulf of the lessons of the Greek Sense of heroic pride within Beowulf which is at times in direct conflict with these Christian values. That all earthly gifts flow from God, and that the proper bearing of man is to be humble and unselfish. Throughout the story of Beowulf, one finds many elements of Christian philosophy: that man survives only through the protection of God, ".Most often He has guided the man without friends"
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