Question

Why are different cultures and beliefs represented in Beowulf?

Answer 1

Beowulf raises controversial religious issues because it is set in Christianized late-medieval Anglo-Saxon Britain yet is about pagan early-medieval Scandinavia. The poem's narrator compromises by frequently mentioning God's commands in generic terms but never mentioning Jesus or any of the specific doctrines of Christianity.

Answer 2

Religion is a touchy issue in Beowulf, because the story is told in late medieval Anglo-Saxon Britain, which has been Christianized, but it's about early medieval Scandinavia, which is pagan. The narrator of the poem compromises by making constant references to God's decrees in general terms, but never discussing Jesus or the specific tenets of Christianity.

Step-by-step explanation: