Pagans

 Some Background on Norse Pagan practices in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway: The Germanic tribes, like those in Beowulf practiced blót, a form of worship (by the ancient Germanic and Scandinavian people) that occurred in sacred groves. It could also take place at home and/or at a simple altar of piled stones known as a hörgr. They had priests, or magical women known as völur. There were also chieftain-priests called goðar who arranged religious festivals at their own estates for their followers like a member of the clergy. It is often said that the Germanic kingship evolved out of a priestly office. This priestly role of the king was in line with the general role of goði, who was the head of a kindred group of families and who administered the sacrifices. Sacrifice could be objects, animals or humans. ( it's was a noun they'd burn it for the gods) Among the Norse, there were two types of human sacrifice. Sacrafices performed for the gods at religious festivals, and Retainer sacrifice that was performed at a funeral( the sacrifice of a slave girl of the dead man who may have volenteered to go with him to the next world.)

Where the symbolizm may have gone/come from: It is possible that when missionaries first introduced the Christian ideology to the Anglo-Saxons, they left the people with a clear choice; Pagan deities could not coexist with the Christian God. Therefore, they must abandon these ancient icons in order to hold a more monotheistic view. It makes sense then that Beowulf at one point was the story of a Pagan hero and that the Christian symbolism, which is so apparent, was added later.

Points to looks at- > The raven is a messenger for the Norse gods, where in Christianity it's a symbol of hell but here it must be a pagan symbol of good because "brightness overran the shadows". Ravens can be found throughout the epic of Beowulf. The raven was a symbol from Norse mythology; it was the messenger for a war god named Odin.
 * __PAGANISM: WHY?__**
 * //Revenge//:Beowulf avenges many characters deaths throught the story.--"In the days he had come he contrived to avenge the fall of his prince." pg. 163 Revenge is against Christian morals.
 * //Murder//: Many people are killed by Beowulf for his own gain or for revenge--" The fued was settled on a comfortless campaign when he killed Onela."-pg. 163
 * //Nature//: Grendel and Grendel's mother are both described as troll -like creatures. The "baptism at the end of the poem--"And now that thane unequalled for goodness with his own hands washed the lords wounds."-pg. 183 Takes into account the Pagan belief of the elements and the water is symbolic for them in nature, The water is to soothe the fire of the dragon. Nature also shown in the haunted mere, full of trees--"a maze of tree roots and something uncanny happens: the water burns."- pg. 95. Also at Beowulf's funeral, the poem talks in great description about the funeral fires and the smoke and wind that comes from it. These elements are very important in Pagan philosophy--"On a height, they kindled the hugest of all funeral fires; fumes of woodsmoke billowed darkly up..wind died down and flames wrought havoc."-pg. 211. "The hall towered, gold-shingled and gable, and the guest slept in it until the black raven with raucous glee announced heaven's joy and a hurry of brightness overran the shadows."pg 123
 * //Supernatural:// Beowulf is personified as this giant hero that can fight anything. He swam across a whole ocean to escape getting killed and he was said to have the strength of 30 men.--"But Beowulf"s prodigious gifts as a swimmer guaranteed his safety: He arrived at the shore."-pg. 161 He wins battles against Grendel and Grendel's mother who are huge monsters which shows how extensive Beowulf's supernatural abilities are. " Hrunting. The iron blade with its ill-boding patterns had been tempered in blood" the idea of blood apeasing the gods and giving an inanimate object strenght.pg 101
 * //Pagan Worship:// When Grendel attacks the Danes, Hrothgar and his conselors worship stone gods in an attempt to rid the country of Grendel.--"sometimes at pagan shrines they vowed offerings to idols, swore oaths that the killer of souls might come to their aid and save the people."- pg. 13 Also, Beowulf is cremated on a funeral pyre at his funeral which is against the Christian religion at the time and hung on the pyre were helmets, war sheilds and shining armor. The Christian philosophy is that when someone goes to heaven, everything will be provided for them which is not shown at Beowulf's funeral.--"The Geat people built a pyre for Beowulf...hung with helmets, heavy war-sheilds, and shining armour."-pg. 211." Take delight in this torque, dear Beowulf wear it for luck" pg 85. This one is the idea of fate and luck something that is not see or encouraged in christian practices.
 * //Fate:// " Take delight in this torque, dear Beowulf wear it for luck" pg 85. This one is the idea of fate and luck something that is not see or encouraged in christian practices. "What occurs on the wall between the two of us will turn out as fate, overseer of men."-pg. 171 In this quote, Beowulf shows that he knows he will die fighting the dragon but believes that it is his fate.