Essay Comparing Beowulf and A Knights Tale :: comparison compare contrast essays

Comparing Beowulf and A Knights Tale     In the stories of Beowulf and A Knights Tale, there ar many different themes. One of the major themes is the religion that runs through both of them, yet both stories have a very different view of religion. In Beowulf, it seems as if immortal has chosen where our life pass on end and where it will begin, everything happens by the will of God in a fair and just way. In The Knights Tale, we see Greek gods playing with the characters and when they play with them, there is no real pattern to how they choose things. Each vies is different and this affects the stories in different ways.   Beowulf has multiple references to God and how God chooses what happens in his life. For example on the very first page of the story (Beowulf, 27) we see that God saw the need for a king so he sent a king to the Danes. This shows us that God is able to see his people and in a fair and just way he sends them a much needed king. Later on , we see how God punishes those who go against his will. On page 29 we read that Grendel is from Cain.   For the eternal Lord avenged the putting to death of Abel. He took no delight in that feud, but banished Cain from humanity because of his crime. From Cain were hatched all evil progenies ogres, hobgoblins, and monsters, not to mention the giants who fought so long against God - for which they suffered repayable retribution. (Beowulf, 29)   This shows that for Cains sin of killing Abel, he receives a just punishment not only to him but also to his offspring.   Also in Beowulf, God decides when people will die in advance. This is shown many times by Beowulf himself. For example, every time Beowulf is faced with a major battle, he always goes in with the faith that if it is Gods will, he will be brought out alive. Also, God must give him the victory because he cannot win it by himself. Tonight we will do without weapons ... God in His wisdom must allot th e victory as He thinks fit.