Why do some readers interpret Beowulf as a Christian allegory?

Some readers interpret the Old English poem Beowulf as a Christian allegory because the text is deeply infused with a Christian spirit, despite its roots in Germanic heroic tradition.1

Scholars point to several key reasons for this interpretation:

• Symbolic Conflict: Beowulf is often viewed as a champion of goodness and light, while his monstrous foes—such as Grendel—are depicted as enemies of God, civilization, and the community.21
• Theological Connections: Grendel is described as a descendant of the biblical Cain, framing him as an embodiment of moral and physical evil.3
• Heroic Altruism: Unlike other Germanic heroes driven by the cycle of the blood feud, Beowulf acts with a sense of altruism, and his sacrificial death is interpreted by some as a fitting end for a virtuous hero fighting against the forces of darkness.1
• Cultural Context: Many critics believe the poem’s narrative structure reflects the emerging influence of Christianity in Anglo-Saxon England, positioning the hero's struggles as a symbolic victory over heathenism.3