Anglo-Saxon Synthesis questions #2

The Anglo-Saxons believed in fate or destiny, the will caused to bring a certain coming future. Fate and destiny are demonstrated in Oedipus the King by Sophocles and Beowulf translated by Seamus Heaney. Oedipus the King describes the story of Oedipus, as he, his mother, and his father attempted to escape the path set out for them by the gods. In Beowulf, on the other hand, Beowulf is able to defeat Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and almost the dragon as well through his own strength. No omens from God or predestined path guided him to do what he did and fail where he failed. It was all through his own will. Also, in the story, pagan ideas, such as Grendel and dragons, are intermingled with Christian ideas, such as man’s ability to determine his own destiny and overcome evil. During the time of the Greeks, the Greeks believed in moira, in which the gods intervene directly in human lives and decided their fates. They also believed their lives were already decided, following logically that no matter what they did in their lives, they would meet the same ultimate destiny. Because of this, they allowed themselves to justify on their decisions and actions. When the conversion to Christianity stressing the idea of a higher power of God came, all of these beliefs changed. Until the time the Anglo-Saxons converted to Christianity, they shared similar beliefs as the Greeks and the Romans. Ever since then, people believed that their fate doesn’t come until their death, and this caused the people to live their life morally.