Beowulf and Grendel (book)
Encyclopedia
In Beowulf & Grendel: The Truth Behind England's Oldest Legend (2005), John Grigsby
interprets Beowulf
as "the recounting in poetic form of a religious conflict between two pagan cults in Denmark around AD 500" (p. 5). Grigsby argues that the poem reflects the violent ending of the native fertility religion
of Nerthus
. As summarized in the course of a film review in The Independent
:
"Grigsby sees the work as a poetic account of forceful suppression of an older fertility cult, with human sacrifice central to its religion, in 5th-century England, and its replacement by an incoming warrior cult. Grendel stands for a vibrant English pagan religion as rich and complex as that of the early Celts. Grendel's mother represents the outgoing fertility goddess in whose sacred Danish lakes, Tacitus recorded, human victims were drowned."
John Grigsby
- Biography :Grigsby received a Bachelor's degree in Prehistoric European Archeology and History and a Master's degree in Celtic Studies. He made contributions to 's Heaven's Mirror and the television series based upon the book, Quest for the Lost Civilization. He is co-author of The Mars Mystery...
interprets Beowulf
Beowulf
Beowulf , but modern scholars agree in naming it after the hero whose life is its subject." of an Old English heroic epic poem consisting of 3182 alliterative long lines, set in Scandinavia, commonly cited as one of the most important works of Anglo-Saxon literature.It survives in a single...
as "the recounting in poetic form of a religious conflict between two pagan cults in Denmark around AD 500" (p. 5). Grigsby argues that the poem reflects the violent ending of the native fertility religion
Mother goddess
Mother goddess is a term used to refer to a goddess who represents motherhood, fertility, creation or embodies the bounty of the Earth. When equated with the Earth or the natural world such goddesses are sometimes referred to as Mother Earth or as the Earth Mother.Many different goddesses have...
of Nerthus
Nerthus
In Germanic paganism, Nerthus is a goddess associated with fertility. Nerthus is attested by Tacitus, the first century AD Roman historian, in his Germania. Various theories exist regarding the goddess and her potential later traces amongst the Germanic tribes...
. As summarized in the course of a film review in The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
:
"Grigsby sees the work as a poetic account of forceful suppression of an older fertility cult, with human sacrifice central to its religion, in 5th-century England, and its replacement by an incoming warrior cult. Grendel stands for a vibrant English pagan religion as rich and complex as that of the early Celts. Grendel's mother represents the outgoing fertility goddess in whose sacred Danish lakes, Tacitus recorded, human victims were drowned."