@article{esj 163, author = {Mary O'Connor}, title = {Pride and Prudentius: Beowulf and the Seven Deadly Sins.}, volume = {4}, year = {2011}, url = {http://publications.essex.ac.uk/esj/article/id/163/}, issue = {1}, doi = {10.5526/esj106}, abstract = {<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt -2.3pt 6pt 0cm; line-height: 22px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Sylfaen, serif;">The period during which <i>Beowulf </i>was composed was one of great transition. The poem itself embodies and represents the conflict between the culture of the pagan settlers and Christianity. A particular aspect of the Christian doctrine was the allegorical poem, <i>Psychomachia</i>, by the Roman Prudentius. This work illustrates how an awareness of the concept of the seven deadly sins influenced the <i>Beowulf </i>poet. The work also explores the conflict between the warrior culture of the pagans and the ideologies behind the Christian conversion. Drawing on comparative quotations between <i>Beowulf </i>and <i>Psychomachia</i>, the work aims to highlight how the internal struggle of the title character of <i>Beowulf </i>reflected the moral dilemma posed between wanting worldly glory, to be gained from a life of pagan warrior culture, and conversely the eternal life, to be achieved from religious spirituality. This conflict ultimately reveals the main societal issue during the British Christian conversion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>}, month = {11}, keywords = {Beowulf,poem,Psychomachia,moral dilemma.}, issn = {2633-7045}, publisher={University of Essex Library Services}, journal = {Essex Student Journal} }