the Eighth Century. Raffel notes that the social structure in the poem reflects the social patterns ascribed to Sixth Century Geats, Danes and Swedes. It is rigidly feudal, highly civilized and highly violent, and rather newly Christian (Raffel xi). Thus, we find in "Beowulf" layers of morality and piety intermixed with the glorification of war, death, and fame (Raffel xi). The intermixture of pagan and Christian beliefs in the poem likely reflects the intermixture of pagan and Christian beliefs in English life at the time of the poem's composition. For example, the Christian sentiments in the poem are joined with the more pagan code of battle-heroism-kingship:
. . . the poet's clear songs, sung
Of the ancient beginnings of us all, recalling
The Almighty making the earth . . . (90-93).
Raffel observes that this moving and eloquent "Song of Creation" seems to enters the poem abruptly following the introduction of Grendel (xiv-xv). One of the arguments surrounding the poem is that the Christian sentiments could have been added by monks who transcribed the poem after its composition. This would mean that the poem was originally wholly pagan. Raffel disagrees, however. He observes that there are other Christian elements in "Beowulf" that cannot be so easily dismissed. For example, Hrothgar cries "Let God be thanked!" when the Danes assemble to celebrate Beowulf's victory over Grendel. And it is God who leads Beowulf to victory over Grendel's mother once Beowulf has proved that he is willing and able to help himself (Raffel xv).
Neither the author nor the date of composition of "The Dream of the Rood" is available. However, some lines corresponding
...