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<small>(See also [[Beowulf (Character)]] and [[Beowulf the Dane]])</small>

<small>(See also [[Beowulf (Character)]] and [[Beowulf the Dane]])</small>

'''''Beowulf''''' is an early medieval [[Old English]] epic poem, and the most important piece of surviving literature in the Old English language.  The story is set in the 500s AD, and historians have traditionally speculated that ''Beowulf'' was written in the 700s AD. The oldest copy of the manuscript dates to a time between 1075 and 1125, and there are some who now contend that ''Beowulf'' was written during that time period. <ref>http://www.library.unr.edu/subjects/guides/beowulf.html</ref> But the consensus view is that no one really knows who "wrote" ''Beowulf'' and that the tale was based upon an oral tradition that predated the written version of the story. Oral poetry was performed by bards or singers for warriors when they gathered in mead halls to celebrate their prowess. This is presumed because of certain scenes described in ''Beowulf'', and much of the details we have constructed about Anglo-Saxon life come from the text of ''Beowulf''. <ref>http://www.neh.gov/news/humanities/1999-03/yeager.html</ref>

'''''Beowulf''''' is an early medieval [[Old English]] epic poem, and the most important piece of surviving literature in the Old English language.  The story is set in the 500s AD, and historians have traditionally speculated that ''Beowulf'' was written in the 700s AD. The oldest copy of the manuscript dates to a time between 1075 and 1125, and there are some who now contend that ''Beowulf'' was written during that time period.<ref>http://www.library.unr.edu/subjects/guides/beowulf.html</ref> But the consensus view is that no one really knows who "wrote" ''Beowulf'' and that the tale was based upon an oral tradition that predated the written version of the story. Oral poetry was performed by bards or singers for warriors when they gathered in mead halls to celebrate their prowess. This is presumed because of certain scenes described in ''Beowulf'', and much of the details we have constructed about Anglo-Saxon life come from the text of ''Beowulf''.<ref>http://www.neh.gov/news/humanities/1999-03/yeager.html</ref>

The story follows the life of a great warrior named [[Beowulf (Character)|Beowulf]].  [[Hrothgar]], King of the Danes, and his queen Wealhtheow built a great mead hall called Heorot.  The Danes proceed to spend most of their time in the hall drinking and celebrating.  An angry outcast monster called Grendel is jealous of the Danes' happiness, so one night he devours several of the best warriors while they sleep.  These attacks continue, and soon the Danes abandon Heorot.<ref>http://www.timelessmyths.com/norse/beowulf.html</ref>

The story follows the life of a great warrior named [[Beowulf (Character)|Beowulf]].  [[Hrothgar]], King of the Danes, and his queen Wealhtheow built a great mead hall called Heorot.  The Danes proceed to spend most of their time in the hall drinking and celebrating.  An angry outcast monster called Grendel is jealous of the Danes' happiness, so one night he devours several of the best warriors while they sleep.  These attacks continue, and soon the Danes abandon Heorot.<ref>http://www.timelessmyths.com/norse/beowulf.html</ref>

== Creationist Implications==  

== Creationist Implications==

Reference is also made to creation itself.  The scop, the Anglo-Saxon minstrel who recited poetic stories to the accompaniment of a harp, relatged "the beginning of men far back in time," said the Almighty made earth, a bright field fair in the water that surrounds it" (Genesis 1:6?).  He set up the lights of sun and moon to lighten land-dwellers (Genesis 1:6?) and adorned the surfaces of the earth with branches and leaves, created also life for each of the kinds that move and breath ("after its kind"?).  Thus most of the major events of Genesis 1-6 are alluded to, many in striking detail.

Reference is also made to creation itself.  The scop, the Anglo-Saxon minstrel who recited poetic stories to the accompaniment of a harp, relatged "the beginning of men far back in time," said the Almighty made earth, a bright field fair in the water that surrounds it" (Genesis 1:6?).  He set up the lights of sun and moon to lighten land-dwellers (Genesis 1:6?) and adorned the surfaces of the earth with branches and leaves, created also life for each of the kinds that move and breath ("after its kind"?).  Thus most of the major events of Genesis 1-6 are alluded to, many in striking detail.

Another striking reference in Beowulf is the description of the dragon.  Many creationists have expressed the viewpoint that the almost universal tales of dragons in early literature represent remembrances or traditions of actual encounters of humans with dinosaurs.  God, Creation, Cain, Abel, Giants, Dragons, Demons, and the Flood--the pic is full of Genesis 1-6 imagery.  Rouster asks, why the abrupt break?  If the Beowulf epic represents Christian teaching of even the most elementary type, why is there not one reference to Christ or the New Testament?  For that matter, why is there no reference to any of the later Old Testament history after the Flood?  Why such an obsession with antediluvian themes and characters?<ref>Rouster, p. 222</ref>

Another striking reference in Beowulf is the description of the dragon.  Many creationists have expressed the viewpoint that the almost universal tales of dragons in early literature represent remembrances or traditions of actual encounters of humans with dinosaurs.  God, Creation, Cain, Abel, Giants, Dragons, Demons, and the Flood—the pic is full of Genesis 1-6 imagery.  Rouster asks, why the abrupt break?  If the Beowulf epic represents Christian teaching of even the most elementary type, why is there not one reference to Christ or the New Testament?  For that matter, why is there no reference to any of the later Old Testament history after the Flood?  Why such an obsession with antediluvian themes and characters?<ref>Rouster, p. 222</ref>

Most conservative Bible scholars consider the Germanic peoples, along with other Europeans, to be the descendants of Noah's son Japheth.  Rouster proposes that perhaps that remnants of the stories of creation, other antediluvian events, and the Flood itself, with its giants and dinosaurs (dragons) were preserved among these northward migrating peoples even before the coming of Christianity.  Cut off from the influence of Judaism to the south, the stories undoubtedly were embellished through continual retelling.  Yet as they were set down in Beowulf, at least a partially historical poem, they are amazingly accurate, as judged by the Biblical account.<ref>Rouster, p. 222</ref>

Most conservative Bible scholars consider the Germanic peoples, along with other Europeans, to be the descendants of Noah's son Japheth.  Rouster proposes that perhaps that remnants of the stories of creation, other antediluvian events, and the Flood itself, with its giants and dinosaurs (dragons) were preserved among these northward migrating peoples even before the coming of Christianity.  Cut off from the influence of Judaism to the south, the stories undoubtedly were embellished through continual retelling.  Yet as they were set down in Beowulf, at least a partially historical poem, they are amazingly accurate, as judged by the Biblical account.<ref>Rouster, p. 222</ref>

==See Also==

==See also==

* [http://www.humanities.mcmaster.ca/~beowulf/main.html Actual text (old and modern) and other Beowulf resources]

* [http://www.humanities.mcmaster.ca/~beowulf/main.html Actual text (old and modern) and other Beowulf resources]