As we discussed in class, the Beowulf poet is Christian, and there are Christian references. What do you think the poet's attitude is towards the obviously pagan Beowulf and others? How does the poet introduce Christian references? What is the effect of the references that follow descriptions of the battle with Grendel, for example?
Do you agree the "the entire poem could be viewed as the poet's lament for heroes like Beowulf who went into the darkness without the light of the of the poet's own Christian faith" (31).
A note on my prompts: I will tend to ask a series of questions in a prompt--but as in this prompt, they are meant to serve as appositions. The questions following the main question (or comment) are meant to help explain the first one.
