Free Will And Religion An Epic Hero - 1478 Words

Fated Encounters and Desired Results Throughout history, free will and religion are two concepts often interwoven together. For example, in cultures where religion is a huge influence in an individual’s daily life, one will choose to believe that one’s actions are already determined by an omniscient being. Contrary to this, cultures where religion is less of an influence tend to believe more in the concept of free-will. Fatalism is a concept often used in older literary texts, as it ties in with God’s will and His influence in people’s lives. Such is the case in the epic poem, Beowulf. The story’s protagonist must endure many trials throughout his journey as an epic hero, defeating his opponent each time. However, Beowulf believes it is not his own strength, but the will of God that he is able to become victorious. As his journey through life continues, from warrior to king, fatalism is present time and time again in all his actions. In Seamus Heaney’s translation of Beowulf, th e theme of fate dictates the outcome of each battle Beowulf must overcome in order to continue his journey as an epic hero, as seen before his fights with Grendel, the demon’s mother, and, most important of all, the battle with the dragon that fate decides is his last. Fatalism is a significant theme in the poem, and is present even in the commencement of Beowulf’s epic hero journey. However, God has already decided the outcome of his first trial, as seen when Beowulf and his men are preparing forShow MoreRelatedThe Unexpected Epic Of Bilbo Baggins s The Odyssey 1297 Words   |  6 PagesLiterature October 15, 2015 Period 2 Bilbo Baggins: The Unexpected Epic Hero Praised for his or her brave deeds and noble qualities, a hero has distinguished courage and ability. An epic hero is a unique type of hero who is often depicted in an epic poem. Homer initiated the concept of an epic hero in the person of Odysseus in the epic poem The Odyssey. 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