I'm certainly not an expert on Norse mythology/religion or
ancient Christianity, for that matter; however, I'll share what I believe to be the
characteristic of each is which is most exemplified in the epic poem
Beowulf.
The Norse pagan beliefs of
the day centered around the concept of fate. They believed what did or did not happen
was more a matter of fate or chance (accident) than anything humans did or planned.
This belief made for fierce warriors and passive kings in Beowulf, it seems to me.
Beowulf is a rather reckless fighter, taking more risks than he probably should. He
does so because he believes he will live or die as fate will have it. Knowing that, he
is more apt to be less prudent when fighting (as in fighting Grendel without any
weapons). This concept of fate is prevalent throughout the poem, seen in such lines
as:
But death
is not easily escaped from by anyone; all of us with souls, earth-dwellers and children
of men, must make our way to a destination already
ordained.
In contrast,
Beowulf is also a Christian text which reflects Christian beliefs
and practices such as prayer and God's protection for those who pray. Because this is
an ancient poem, it wasn't written down for literally centuries. when it was, it was
the Catholic monks who did so, routinely inserting the contemporary doctrines of the
church into the written text. Lines such as the following were not reflective of the
more pagan beliefs of the day:
And the Geat [Beowulf] placed complete trust in
his strength of limb and the Lord's
favour.
As an epic hero,
Beowulf does exemplify some characteristics of the Christian tradition, as well. He
enters the battle with Grendel unselfishly, recognizing another's need and meeting it
because he can. He fights for his own honor, but he is also quick to give honor to his
King. He is loyal and true to that King until he
dies.
Perhaps this will give you a start, at least, as you
think about more comparisons on your own.
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