International Journal of Language & Linguistics

Nature As a Christian and Pagan Symbol In Old English Poetry
Conchi Hernández-Guerra

Abstract
Old English literature has traditionally been characterized as being pagan in its subject-matter with some Christian incursions in the texts. Not all the texts can be described in this way as the prose texts mainly recall historical events from an objective perspective. On the other hand, Old English poetry includes translation of extracts from the Old Testament and other more heroic styles such as “Beowulf.”When dealing with Christian incursions the most common form is the use of annexed sentences which thank God for being the Creator, but not for forming part of their life. Nature, as an essential element in their environment and an element created by God, also plays a role in their daily and spiritual lives. I have found a gap in the interpretation of these natural elements in the studies done of the Old English period so far. For this reason the purpose of this paper is to analyze the extent of those Christian incursions in the poetry and to reveal the use of nature to this end. I shall also attempt to classify the texts according to these parameters, from which interesting conclusions are reached.

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