In the 19th Century Christianity was starting to be introduced to the Seats and surrounding Cultures. Verbal stories were the main form of literature do to the fact that many could not read or write. One of the most famous and first recorded stories of the time, Beowulf, tells the story of a young heroic prince who defeats evil by having unwavering faith in God. The speaker uses diction, vivid imagery, and parallelism to Juxtapose Christianity and Paganism and how Paganism is a heathen, ineffective religion, while through Christianity and faith in God anything can be accomplished, even the most impossible of tasks.The use of kenning's and alliteration are ever present in Beowulf.
In lines 62-64 the speaker uses the kenning "hell-forged hands" to describe Greened and emphasize his Hellish evilness. The speaker also uses "Shadow of death" and " keeper of evil" to parallel the Devil and how the bible describes him, to Greened, the monster. The kenning in 291, "gold-shinning Hall", refers to King Hoarder's mighty mead hall.This kenning is used to mean that the hall in anointed by God and even on the blackest of night its holy light shines through the darkness. Mentioning the holiness of the mead hall serves to prove a point that even the most holy and faithful of followers of God can still be harmed by evil but to keep faith in God and seek out his protection instead of turning and trying to follow ones own path, for only God can overcome all evil. The speaker also uses alliteration in line 289-291.
He describes Grenade's movements while heading towards Hero. He moved quickly through the cloudy night,] Up from his swampland, sliding silently/ Towards That gold-shinning Hall. " The 's' alliteration gives the impression of a snake, where in this story that could be in reference to the Devil, in snake form, in the bible, meaning that Greened could be viewed as a demon or the Devil himself. In The Battle With Greened, a sub-section of Beowulf, the speaker describes Greened and Beowulf fight. Now he(Greened) discovered- once the affliction/ Of men, tormentor of their days- what it meant/ To dude with the Almighty God" (383-385).
The use of diction here serves to show the reader that because Greened is of evil origin and knew nothing of God's power and wrath, he was doomed to hell even before the fight, but is only Just realizing this fact before his ultimate demise. Imagery Plays a large role all throughout Beowulf. In the first 29 lines the speaker describes both Greened and the kingdom of Hero.In describing these two the speaker Juxtaposes the light and holiness of Hero with Grenade's pure and inevitable evilness. In lines 6-15 the speaker depicts Hero as a happy, God-loving kingdom, whereas in lines 16-29 he defines Greened as born of Cain, banished and cursed by God for all of eternity.
Explaining Grenade's origin proves his depravity and helps the reader understand his wicked tendencies. The speaker then tells how due to Hero's holiness and happiness, Greened is enraged and decides to attack the kingdom repetitively.When Grenade's attacks continue to occur unerringly the people of Hero sacrificing to old stone gods", making "heathen vows", and even hoping for "Hells support", "the Devil's guidance" in driving Greened away (90-93). By turning away from God, Hero doomed itself to be continuously and hopelessly afflicted by the demon, Greened. The speaker then uses this explanation to lead into his lesson in lines 98-103.
The speaker says: Beware, those who are put into danger with no hope in their heart because they cannot hope to ascend from it, but to keep God in their hearts and seek His peace and help with the problem being faced.
