Paganism and Christianity in Beowulf Essay examples

Beowulf is an epic poem that centers around the hero Beowulf, a Geat from Sweden who crosses the sea to Denmark in a heroic quest to save King Hrothgar, king of the Danes and the builder of Herot, and his men from the demonic monster Grendel who kills and feasts on Hrothgar’s warriors. Beowulf’s adventure does not end when he defeats Grendel though, he must also kill Grendel’s mother because she seeks revenge for her son’s death. Once Beowulf kills Grendel’s mother, he goes home and soon becomes the king. However, his last adventure in old age leads him to his death. He fights and slays a vicious dragon with the help of a Geat warrior named Wiglaf. Beowulf pays a heavy toll for his last victory since he dies from the great wounds that the†¦show more content†¦Beowulf believes in fate and â€Å"knew the sea, would point the prow straight to that distant Danish shore† (3 123-124). When Beowulf arrives at Herot, he boasts about himself and brags by saying, â€Å"’the days of my youth have been filled with glory’† (4 142-143). Beowulf describes all of the monsters that he killed and explains that â€Å"’death was my errand and the fate they had earned’† (4 158-159). Beowulf requests to fight Grendel alone and promises to do it without any weapons because he wants all the glory to himself and wants to prove that he is the strongest man on earth. He also seems to know that he will win and says, â€Å"’Fate will unwind as it must’† (4 189). Beowulf is concerned with how people view and perceive him. This shows that Beowulf is concerned about glory and fame rather than morality and right and wrong. If Beowulf was truly a Christian, he would only be concerned with God’s view of him. Unferth, one of Hrothgar’s courtiers, is extremely â€Å"vexed by Beowulf’s adventure, by their visitor’s courage, and angry that anyone in Denmark o r anywhere on earth had ever acquired glory and fame greater than his own† (6 235-239). He challenges Beowulf by saying that Beowulf is foolish and has too much pride and that Beowulf owes his victories in battles to luck. Beowulf replies simply by saying that Unferth’s accusations are false and that â€Å"’No man swims in the sea as IShow MoreRelatedChristianity And Paganism In Beowulf1005 Words   |  5 Pageshero named Beowulf. Beowulf is an epic poem about good versus evil written by an anonymous Christian monk. Paganism was the Geats first religion, and once Christianity became introduced, the religion slowly shifted from paganism to Christianity. Beowulf has successfully exhibited the transition from paganism to Christianity. The epic poem has a shift from Christianity to paganism throughout the poem. There are many symbolic examples that successfully display the transition from paganism to ChristianityRead MoreChristianity And Paganism In Beowulf775 Wor ds   |  4 Pages In Beowulf the differences between Heorot and Grendel’s swamp are personified through setting descriptions, religious context and Beowulf’s heroic traits compared with Grendel’s anathematic characteristics by highlighting the major conflicts between Christianity and Paganism, emphasizing the contrast of man against monster. Christian ideas are ingrained in different characters, the glorious and brave Beowulf exemplifies good Christian values, while Grendel personifies evil in a devil-like characterRead More Beowulf, Christianity, and Paganism Essay963 Words   |  4 PagesBeowulf, Christianity, and Paganism The poem Beowulf is a renowned story that displays many different surroundings and religious beliefs. Some may believe the story of Beowulf portrays pagan beliefs or customs and others believe that the poem is more in agreement with Christian ethnicity. The author of Beowulf uses both Christian and pagan elements in the poem to define the heroic warrior, Beowulf, and the evil dragons. After reading Beowulf the author clearly shows how Beowulf is a man whoRead MoreEssay on Beowulf (Christianity vs. Paganism)689 Words   |  3 PagesChristianity vs. Paganism In the story of Beowulf, there is a noticeable struggle between Christianity and Paganism, and the characters personal battle between the two. Throughout the story the characters display actions that lead towards Paganism and Christianity. Contrary to Pagan belief Beowulf is seen as the epitome of good and beneficent to all of mankind. In Beowulf, the people showed their faith and love in God, however due to horrific events, paranoia caused them to look for a quickRead MoreEssay about Beowulf (Christianity vs. Paganism)664 Words   |  3 Pages Christianity vs. Paganism nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In the story of Beowulf, there is a noticeable struggle between Christianity and Paganism, and the characters personal battle between the two. Throughout the story the characters display actions that lead towards Paganism and Christianity. Contrary to Pagan belief Beowulf is seen as the epitome of good and beneficent to all of mankind. In Beowulf, the people showed their faith and love in God, however due to horrific events, paranoia causedRead More Christianity and Paganism in the Epic of Beowulf Essay1800 Words   |  8 PagesChristianity and Paganism in Beowulf The story of Beowulf shows the effect of the spread of Christianity in the early Danish paganistic society that values heroic deeds and bravery above all else. The mythical creatures that Beowulf kills with his supernatural strength make the story into an epic celebrating the life of a great hero. However, blending in among Beowulfs triumphs against the three key creatures, we also see Christian virtues being instilled upon the listeners. The goodRead MoreHow Christianity and Paganism Coexisted in Beowulf Essay634 Words   |  3 PagesBeowulf is a great example of how Christian beliefs and pagan views could coexists so well in a poem. The poem Beowulf written by an unknown Christian monk around A.D. 700 compares the beliefs of many to the new beliefs that are beginning to form around the world. The poem shows how the people of the time thought about their world and how the things around them happened and they think that the devil controls these things.In Beowulf, we explore bo th Christian and pagan beliefs, and how they were ableRead MoreTheme Of Christian And Pagan Elements In Beowulf978 Words   |  4 Pageselements Beowulf was written during the time that society was in the process of converting from Paganism to Christianity. Early Christianity developed in the Roman Empire, where many religions were practiced and formed into paganism. Paganism is commonly used to refer to various, largely unconnected religions and beliefs from that time period. Beowulf was written in England between the 8th and 11th century. The name of the author is unknown, but referred to as the Beowulf Poet. Beowulf is consideredRead MoreThe Dream Of The Rood And Beowulf1488 Words   |  6 Pagespieces â€Å"The Dream of the Rood† and Beowulf there are two powerful kings being represented that are set in overlapping values that benefit their true courageous deeds. Both are considered good, but do they mean the same thing in Christianity and paganism contexts? Specifically, the two pieces both fuse together Christian and pagan ideals to show their two powerful kings represented in two completely different manners. In the literary work Beowulf the character Beowulf is known as the king along withRead MorePaganism In Beowulf953 Words   |  4 PagesThe Impact of Christianity and Paganism in Beowulf Beowulf was composed when England was transitioning from a pagan to a Christian culture. In chapter 3 of A Little History of Literature, it is said that Beowulf was likely written by a Christian monk who inserted Christian themes into the story. This is why Beowulf reflects both Christian and pagan views. These two religions and their elements affect the story in different ways. There are pagan views of fate and fame in Beowulf, but there are

Rape A Common Form Of Violence Against Women - 1871 Words

Khoi Nguyen C02332607 Sociology G100 Nina Chapman Rape In almost every part of history, women have been fighting for their rights to be recognized, including the ownership of their own bodies. For the past centuries, it was believed that after a marriage of a woman, she would be owned by her husband, by another words, she gave her husband the authority over her, including her entire body. Therefore, raping his wife for any reason was not considered to be wrong thing to do because upon marriage, the wife had given irrevocable consent. In marriage, rape is a serious and a common form of violence against women. Rape can be defined as intercourse or penetration (vaginally, anally, or orally) forced with violence, threat of force or when the wife is unable to give the consent. In fact, rape can be seen to be more prevalent in patriarchal societies with the rapidly increased of sexism from it. Patriarchy is often defined as a system of male dominance. According to Merriam and Webster, patriarchy is defined as a family, group or government cont rolled by a man or a group of men. In addition, in such societies, men dominate women through the control of female sexuality. Men are kings, they conquer so seize land and treasures, in such, women, will be their property and men have their right to rape women. These could be understood that marital rape is far less violent than acquaintance or stranger rape, as believed are not illegally sexual threatening another person until the 1970s.Show MoreRelatedGender Based Violence Against Women1238 Words   |  5 PagesGENDER BASED VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: A CLOSER LOOK AT INDIA’S RAPE PROBLEM Background When the sex of a girl or a woman drives the infliction of violence towards them, it is regarded as a form of gender based violence (Heise et al., 2002). Violence against women, regardless of the form, can occur in various stages of the woman’s life (Murthy and Smith, 2010), and refers not only to physical and sexual acts of violence, but also encompasses verbal abuse, emotional torture, economic deprivation, andRead MoreThe Effects of Violence on Women Essay1662 Words   |  7 PagesThe Effects of Violence on Women Violence affects the lives of millions of women worldwide, in developing, as well as in developed countries. It cuts across cultural and religious barriers, restricting women from fully participating in society. Violence against women has many forms in which it comes in, from domestic abuse and rape to child marriages and female circumcision. All are violations of the most fundamentalRead MoreViolence Against Women s Violence872 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Violence against women unfortunately is a very prevalent and critical issue in our society. It is a worldwide but still hidden problem. Freedom from the threat of harassment, battering, and sexual assault is a concept that most of us have a hard time imagining because violence is such a deep part of our cultures and our lives. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), it is estimated that 84,376 forcible rapes were reported to law enforcement in 2012, estimated at 52Read MoreDomestic Violence : South Africa1709 Words   |  7 PagesDomestic Violence in South Africa Love is looked upon as a beautiful thing but within beauty lies darkness in South Africa. There is an unspoken violence against women going on within the communities of south Africa that is now coming to light; domestic violence. Husbands, not strangers or men with guns, are now the biggest threat to women in post-conflict South Africa, according to a report by the International Rescue Committee. Attacked beaten, abused, killed these are sometimes words to describeRead MoreViolence Against Women s Violence1553 Words   |  7 Pages Violence Against Women by Ines Alvarez Mrs. Madrell English 4, Honors, Period 6 Miami Coral Park Senior High School March 18,2016 Mrs. Madrell English 4, Honors, Period 6 Miami Coral Park Senior High School March 18,2016 Violence Against Women Women have been and continue to be victims of violence in all of its faces. The purpose of this research is to explore the many ways in which women are abused and mistreated, focusing on the effects that violence causes to the victimsRead MoreThe Women s Rights Movement Essay1561 Words   |  7 Pagestowards the elimination of violence against women under the United Nations Crime Prevention and Justice Program. As it pertains to Canada, Lakeman (2006) affords that The Vancouver Rape Relief Center shelters over 100 rape domestic abuse victims each year. However, in spite of the great, motivating, and inspiring strides that have over the years been made towards the realization of gender parity and women’s empowerment (Human Rights Watch, 2006), a large number of women around the world are traffickedRead MoreViolence Against Women Within The Family1252 Words   |  6 PagesViolence against women within the family is an ongoing issue. Marital rape is a very serious form of intimate violence. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the definition for marital rape is defined as, â€Å"sexual intercourse forced on a women by her husband, knowingly against her will.† (Oxford University Press). However, the legal definition varies from state to next; marital rape is commonly defined as unwanted penetration or intercourse (oral, anal, or vaginal) taken by force and/or threatRead MoreMEDIA VIOLENCE Essay1374 Words   |  6 Pagestrapped! And the worst part of this scenario is that we’re addicted to it. Violence is everywhere and we all have an addiction for it. We’re exposed to it in everyday and we love to watch violence on television. There are many different representations of violence evident in movies and Television. Media violence can best be described in the words of Gerbner and Signorelli: â€Å"Most research studies have defined media violence as the depiction of overt physical action that hurts or kills or threatensRead MoreEssay on Sexual Abuse on Women1250 Words   |  5 PagesSexual abuse, also known as sexual assault, is any sort of sexual activity that one doesn’t agree to which includes, inappropriate touching, vaginal, anal, or oral penetration, sexual intercourse that one says no to, rape, attempted rape, as well as child molestation. Sexual abuse is usually verbal or visual. It can also be anything that forces a person to be in unwanted sexual contact. There are many examples of sexual abuse like voyeurism, exhibitionism, incest, and sexual harassment. VoyeurismRead MoreMarriage Is The Most Neglect Form Of Abuse Against Women1384 Words   |  6 PagesJessica Cenatus ANT 2301 Professor Cervone 15 April 2015 Marital Rape Marriage is rape is the most neglect form of abuse against women. It has been stated that marital is motivated by laws,the reportings, and gender inequality . History: Marital rape and the foundation of exemption has dated back to the 1700’s, where the first documented legal statement of marital rape occurred in 1736. Sir Matthew Hale, who at the time was the chief justice of England published a statement stating that a

Government by the People for Politics & Relations - MyAssignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theGovernment by the Peoplefor Politics International Relations. Answer: Over 150 years ago, the government by the people term| came along as the then President Abraham Lincoln addressed an audience of over 15000 citizens. The term just meant that the primary government interest was to safeguard all the interests and demands of their citizens. This concept meant that citizens, elected government officials that would represent all their issues and guarantee their ultimate survival. Government by the people was founded under the principles of democracy where each citizen had a right, responsibility and their problems were the main agenda as they were the government because there would be no government without the citizens (Nun, 2009, p. 56). The concept of government being owned by the people revolves about handing the power to the subject individuals and citizens. Peoples power is significantly exercised through the electoral system where they elect their representatives to present them and their demands on all levels of administration. Social, political and economic issues affecting the citizens are taken by these representative leaders or agents and addressed at the policy making level. Democracy falls under two descriptions, namely direct and representative, where direct democracies are where people ideas, suggestions, complaints and demands are represented by non-elected individuals who all sit together to solve the issues at hand. The modern representative way is provided for in most of the world constitutions where citizens have elected intermediaries who represent them. Direct systems have faded as a result of new complexities of society both in populations and issues. Thus representatives are the only way. The representative formation is expected to carry out the demands of the people as they are elected by the electorates and given the power to make legislation, administration and political decision for the betterment of their societies (Bulley, Sokhi-Bulley, 2014). Peoples government is deeply explained for in the constitutions as it provides them with their rights and responsibilities. The powers and the responsibility of the government toward their citizens are clearly stipulated in the same document. Complex aspects of the laws simply explain how the majority have their rulings while minority rights are safeguarded by laws. People majority rule is visible during electoral processes such as referendums and political position elections. Numbers and percentage of the people voting particular direction will determine the results thus proving that the citizens have the power. Minority and vulnerable sections of the citizens are well protected by the constitution thus meaning that they are protected against discrimination on the basis of their statuses or condition (Petriwskyj, Cuthill, 2017). Law experts have extensively explained that the government by the people phenomena can only be accomplished through the above ways where the governments powers are significantly limited and reduced while the peoples rights and powers are promoted. Regardless of the land or country if the Constitution is based and followed on the principles of we the people and there is control of government powers, then the Abraham Lincoln ideology would prevail. Peoples freedom and government control is not limited to individual rights but also extend to legal groups and organizations that are protected by the constitution. While a government is making a decision, it is likely to consider this organizations as they are part of the people who elected them and are well protected for in the constitution. The main difference between peoples government and a totalitarian government is based on freedom and political understanding that people should be given the right to control their lives, as totalitarian culture promotes obedience and apathy (Qvortrup 2002, p. 67). Civilization was the mother of democracy; however, civilisation would not be accomplished if people are ignorant. Education is a fundamental principle of ensuring that people are taught about their rights and powers toward the government. Dictatorship seeks to develop acceptance attitudes and limit citizens questioning by suppressing information and education systems that would enlighten the masses. The government is the peoples servant; however, this will all be in vain if people are not empowered to ask questions to their leaders. In this 21st century, most of the governments in the world are based on democratic principles and foundations that hand over the power to those respective principles and its subject. Several questions have been asked whether this power to the people is just a saying or implemented ideology along all departments and levels of the government. When the foundations of these principles were formed, the complexities of our societies was not as it is today. Environmental regulations were not there because the population was not huge as it is, slavery was still legal, labour transgressions were not present, food and water security were a nonissue. However, this has changed due to the massive increase in populations while civilization has reached every corner of the globe. Economic concepts are beginning to be more dynamic and complicated thus raising of new laws that may conflict with fundamental values of people's government and freedom. These complexities were obviously not present during the days of the familiar Gettysburg Address. Social freedoms such as sexualities free will were not critical issues to be addressed then ,since the social culture had not evolved as now (Nu'uhiwa 2013, p. 78). Modern governments around the world have promised their citizens a government run by their wills and not of the few intrest and thoughts. United Kingdom citizens were given a chance to vote whether to remain or exit the European Union in a referendum. This act in itself shows that the government recognizes that their citizens are the primary and core stakeholders of their government. However, democracy and will of the people are contradicted when several reports and experts say that the citizens of this country were given contradictory and misleading information about the referendum repucurssions. The leaders have been given a role in educating and presenting all credible material facts to their citizens so as to inform them on decisions that they are about to make and their consequences. Such a case present a conflict because wrong or misleading information may have influenced the decision making of the voters thus limiting free will values. (Pretorius 2006, p. 78). Several countries in the world are practicing nuclear and war malpractices, but many would ask if these leaders are apparently representing the will of the people or theirs. Government overthrows and coups are happening at an alarming rate in Africa and Asia where leaders elected by the masses are ousted by military powers. These states rise under these foundations are usually questioned about their loyalties, whether it lies in their interest or to their citizens .The ideology of people's government is almost insignificant in some republics as there have been reported cases all over the world where leaders are voted out by people but refuse to hand over their offices. Economic crisis all over the world due to corrupt and exploiting leaders is becoming usual and rampant. People are forced to go on demonstrations to have their demands heard and dealt with as their systems of administrations are not working for their betterment. Chaos, protest, and complaints of ordinary citizens all over the world have raised many questions whether their governments still remember that their the utmost priority is their electorates. Epstein (2011) has argued that modern USA systems are not based on democracy and the will of United States citizens. He has stated that conflict of people's will and the government will have been relevant in the voting systems where referendum process are limiting people's power to control and check their states. Epstein has stated that contrary to the basic understanding of government run by citizens, now citizens are accorded individual rights and protection other than being treated as a group. He has argued that we the people term has been restrained of its power by the courts so as to promote the powers of the arms of government thus limiting peoples voice. Epstein is indicating that the modern governments are using strategic legal moves such as referendums so as to limit the power handed over to the people. Referendum creates a dilemma where voters rights are exercised, but for democracy to take place these rights has to be limited so as to limit the laws that reduce the power o f the people for the sake of the government. A perfect example of how judiciary as an arm of government limited peoples power was in 2008. California state constituents had overwhelmingly passed the vote to legalize gay couples, but judges there disagreed with the case because the state attorney general could not explain and defend the decision made by the California state citizens. This was a clear indication that the ideas and beliefs of Abraham Lincoln about people having the final say were at risk from the government administration system. Founders of democracy stressed out that people were to given power to dictate both their economic, social and political independence and freedom. The freedom in question would only be achieved if the people were given the right to vote and elect political leaders, who would present their ideas and issues by forming administration arms that would run affairs of the country (Tierney, 2015). The leaders were also given the legal power to formulate and amend laws governing the citizens, but this has proved inefficient as these leaders are occasionally seen passing legislation that explicitly undermines people will. The developed administration arms of the government posed a significant threat to will and the power of the people thus raising the need to form ways to control and check the powers of these arms to safeguard the majority interest. Democracies go deeper than giving citizens the right to vote leaders and referendums. There are unexplained entanglements in laws and freedoms that average ordinary citizens are not aware, this gives them a right to vote but limits their powers as they have been robbed of the right to understand and information about what they are voting for or against (Spicker, 2008). The percentage of Americans turning out for election is becoming less, as tight social-economic constraints force them to forego the political process for other personal activities, thus influencing electoral outcomes that will affect their lives. Technical reduction of peoples power has been seen through electoral and legal processes, where referendums are the perfect example where people rights are limited without their knowing. Truth and trust between the people and the government are most important components in the developed democracies. A lot of political leaders believe that common citizens cannot be trusted with serious issues and truths that affect them; hence putting peoples government at risk (White, 2008). It is essential for the citizens to understand that democratic processes such as referendum will not solve all the issues and may be the primary threat to democracy in itself. Abraham Lincoln regime is popular for giving power to the people rather than taking it away from them, and this would need to happen in modern systems for democracy to prevail. List of References Bulley, D, Sokhi-Bulley, B 2014, 'Big Society as Big Government: Cameron's Governmentality Agenda', British Journal Of Politics International Relations, 16, 3, pp. 452-470, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 18 May 2017. Epstein, RA 2011, 'Direct Democracy: Government Of The People, By The People, And For The People?', Harvard Journal Of Law Public Policy, 34, 4, pp. 819-826, Business Source Premier. Nun, J. (2000). Democracy: government of the people or government of the politicians? Lanham, Md, Rowman Littlefield. Nu'uhiwa, BS 2013, 'Government of the People, by the People, for the People: Cultural Sovereignty, Civil Rights, and Good Native Hawaiian Governance', Asian-Pacific Law Policy Journal, 14, 3, pp. 57-106, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 18 May 2017. Petriwskyj, Cuthill, M 2017, 'Barriers to older peoples participation in local governance: The impact of diversity', Educational Gerontology, 43, 5, pp. 259-275. Pretorius, L 2006, 'Government by or over the People? The African National Congress's Conception of Democracy', Social Identities, 12, 6, pp. 745-769, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 18 May 2017. Qvortrup, M 2002, A comparative study of referendums: government by the people. Manchester [u.a.], Manchester Univ. Press. Spicker, P 2008, 'Government for the people: the substantive elements of democracy', International Journal Of Social Welfare, 17, 3, pp. 251-259, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 18 May 2017 Tierney, S 2015, 'Direct Democracy: A Comparative Study of the Theory and Practice of Government by the People', Political Studies Review, 13, 3, pp. 408-409, Academic Search Premier. White. R 2008, Government for the people: reflections of a White House counsel to Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. Lanham, Md, Hamilton Books.

Effects of Bullying free essay sample

The victim is perceived by the bullies to be weak and unable to defend his or her self. The victim feels as if he or she cannot retaliate to the aggressive behaviors and senses the bullies to be more powerful. There are many reasons why children bully other children. Typically it starts at home. In Jenney Cheevers article online she states, Children who lack adult supervision or who are abused at home are more likely to become bullies. If a child comes from an unaffectionate or inefficiently supervised home, he or she is more likely to become a ully. Children whom have been abused or neglected are also more likely to push others around. Other reasons for bullying include having low self-esteem/self- confidence, or having a need to feel dominant and powerful. There are four main types of bullying on school-aged children. The first is physical, which includes physical violence and destruction of property. We will write a custom essay sample on Effects of bullying or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Next is verbal, this is the most common type of bullying, which includes any type of verbal harassment like name-calling, insults, sexual, homophobic, or racial remarks, or abusive language. An online database for bullying states Verbal bullying is the most frequent from of bullying, and can involve negative language that is sexual in nature Sometimes, refers to another persons actual or perceived sexual orientation (Teenage Bullying). The third form of bullying is cyber bullying, which is becoming more common now that the majority of school-aged kids use cell phones and the internet. Last, but definitely not least, there is emotional bullying. This includes taunting and rumor spreading. All of these types of bullying can have long-term lasting effects on children. No one type is less serious or less harmful than another. There are many different effects that bullying can have on children. Social isolation is a major problem in kids today. If children are bullied for any period of time, it can make them feel small and insecure in themselves, which can have a negative effect on the way they interact socially. Dr. Mark Dombeck states in his article at Mental Help Bullying is an attempt to instill fear and self-loathing Being the repetitive target of bullying damages your ability to view yourself as a desirable, capable and effective individual (Dombeck). Bullying can set children up for life-long helplessness and depression by making them feel like they are not good enough, and that they cannot defend themselves. Bullying may also lead to suicide in teenagers who fall into deep depression and feel like they have no friend in the world. Bullying is a form of abuse, and is also a narcissistic act. Dombeck states