The Christian faith is a strong reoccurring element in much of early and contemporary literature. Though other early religions, such as paganism, do come into play, Christianity is most prevalent because the early monks were the scribes of civilization, often shaping oral legends to fit Christian beliefs. This Christian storytelling is obvious in Beowulf and in "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight". In contemporary literature, the Christian aspect is obvious in A Prayer for Owen Meany. These three works all include bits and pieces of Christianity, while drawing slightly upon other aspects, most often paganism's idea of fate.

In Beowulf, Beowulf represents good, while Grendel, his mother, and the dragon represent evil. This connotation of the characters draws strongly on the idea that Grendel is a descendent of Cain, the condemned son of Eve in biblical lore. A connection, however vague, can be made between the maternal relations of Eve and Cain and Grendel and his mother. Grendel's mother can be considered to personify man's fall from grace and Grendel himself might embody sin. Furthermore, the dragon Beowulf battles can be said to be a picture of Satan and the dragon's tower, Hell: "

The first major way in which Beowulf's likeness to Christ is revealed occurs after Beowulf tells Hrothgar that he will fight Grendel; there is a celebration. During the celebration, Welthow, the queen poured "a portion from the jeweled cup For each" (31). When she got to Beowulf, she "thanked God for answering her prayers" (31). This event is strikingly similar to the Last Supper when Jesus passed around a cup of wine and gave thanks to God. Then, the crucifixion is portrayed when Beowulf fights Grendel's mother. During the struggle, other monsters come to watch and beat at "His mail shirt, stabbing with tusks and teeth As they followed along" (40). Similarly, when Jesus was crucified, crowds drew near laughing at him, hurling insults, and spitting on him. Also, Beowulf's soul is said to have "Left his flesh, flew to glory" (45). This is similar to the Christian belief of the resurrection of Jesus. All of these events clearly parallel the events of Jesus' day. Lastly, after Beowulf dies, "twelve of the bravest Geats Rode their horses around the tower," (46), mourning Beowulf, "Crying that no better king had ever Lived, no prince so mild, no man So open to his people, so deserving of praise." (46). Just as these twelve men did, the apostles preached about Jesus after his death.

To start the story, the Green Knight rides into the Round Table's hall. He mirrors Lucifer in God's court, and more; he is full of scorn and insults. He is described in massive imagery, which is commonly attributed to the anti-Christ. The Round Table cannot abide this affront to the King so Gawain steps in to intercede. Here Gawain is like Christ or Michael, going out to battle the enemy. He severs the Green Knight's head. The giant has freely offered his neck to the blow and bound Gawain by oath to come to the Green Chapel and do likewise one year later. In his quest a year later to find the Green Chapel, Gawain stays in the castle of a lord and his lady. The lady through her sexual advances, makes it difficult for Gawain to keep his promise of trading the day's produce with the lord of the castle. Gawain refuses these advances both because of the code of chivalry and because he is afraid to commit sin before he faces God because his death is almost certain once he meets with the Green Knight. This shows what an important role religion played in the lives of men at this point in time. The fear of God far exceeded that of any mortal man. She succeeds in forcing him to take a green sash from her, in order to protect himself from any blow.

Against Grendel's mother, the symbol of original sin, Beowulf becomes the Christian soldier. When Beowulf struggles against Grendel's mother, God grants him a precious gift: a sword that is described as "a heavy Sword, hammered by giants, strong And blessed with their magic, the best of all weapons" (41). The sword used to slay Grendel's mother is work of her ancestral giants, who were godly until they fell from grace. Therefore, the sword was god-forged and godly. Here the hero is using "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" to prevail (The Book of Ephesians 6.17, Bible). In his battle with the dragon (which may represent Satan) Beowulf is martyred, losing his life in the killing of the dragon. Beowulf is the Christ figure; the monsters are sin personified; and, moreover, the work Beowulf effectively becomes the sword of the Spirit and the word of God.

Owen is given precognitive powers that allowed him to see into the future. Owen's first prophecy comes to him on New Years Eve 1953 during the community production of "A Christmas Carol". The most obvious inference concerning the play was that Owen plays the part of the ghost of Christmas yet to come. In reaction to Owen's portrayal of this character, the audience's faces which are "so amused, so curious, so various-were rendered shockingly simila

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Approximate Word count = 2596
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)