The poem Beowulf was written in England sometime in the 8th century. It was written during a time when the society was in the process of being converted from paganism to Christianity. The Christian influences are combined with early folklore and heroic legends of Germanic tribes. Yet, the pagan elements in the epic poem Beowulf clearly overshadow the Christian elements, and it is visible in the characters superhuman personifications, their hunger for revenge, and their strong belief in fate. The main character, Beowulf, is depicted as a superhero in many of his extraordinary battles. During the battle with Grendel's mother, when Beowulf realizes that Unferth's sword is useless against the monsters thick skin, he grabs the best of all weapons / But so massive that no ordinary man could lift / Its carved and decorated length(1558-1561). This shows the significance of Beowulfs strength, because if it were any other man, they would not be able to lift this sword and kill Grendels mother. His strength is far superior to any other human, and therefore Beowulf fits the epic and pagan quality of being "head and shoulders" above the rest. Another instance where Beowulf demonstrates his superhero abilities, is his final battle with the dragon. Beowulf is a very old man by now and although he is, in the end, fatally wounded, he manages to deliver the final blow that kills the dragon. His lack of fear to fight the dragon by himself, is portrayed when he tells his friends to stay outside so they will not get injured. Even as an elderly person, Beowulf still has the same extraordinary courage and strength as earlier in the poem. And even with age, he has not lost the qualities that make him universally well known, and an outstanding hero. These battles are examples of epic folklore during pagan times. Another pagan element is visible in the craving for revenge by many of the Anglo-Saxons. Beowulf illustrates this wish for vengeanc...
